The Tucson citizen., 1902-02-06
Arizona Statehood
Viewed by GOV. Murphy

From the Washington Post.
Arizona appeals for freedom said
Gov. N. o. Murphy. of that Territory.
to The Post yesterday. We make
our appeal" he added. not in sup
plant way. but vigorously as a mat
ter of right. Perhaps it would be
better to appear as ahumble mendicant
at the door of the higher branch of
Congress and timorously beg for ad-
mission. But this Ii contrary to true
Americanism and unpariotic. IT Ari-
IONA is entitled t, admission as a
state. this preferment should be grant
ed to her from principle and in simple
justice under the mantle of the Con-
stitution.
Gov Murphy bristles all over with
reasons why statehood should be
granted to Arizona ut is well
known" he says, that her people
cmbody the strongest types of Amer
lean citizenship and strenuous man
hood Her civilization Is as we'll ad
vanced as any portion of this Union.
Her public school system university.
and normal schools equal any in eff
| fciency. and the percentage of illtt-
eracy Is not lower In any state of the
| Union Her population has increas
ed 104 per cent In decade. He wealth
increased $4,000. 600 last year. and II 1t
were all assessed. would exceed $780,
900. 900 in assessable valuations. Ev-
cry industry Is prosperous. and the
Territory has a greater variety of
wealth-producing resources tnan any
other state or Territory In tho Union "
How about wealth and popula~
tion?"
We have more people and money"
was the response. than twenty-six
states of the Union had at the last
census previous to their admission. II
Is said by some. that the pclttics of
tho Territory are not In accord with
the national administration and the
riajority in Congress. The Territory
S very close. politically. and although
statehood is not a political question
and should not be so considered. 1t Is
| by no means certain-to the contrary.
l believe it to be very probable-that
| IL this Congress passes an enabling
act to admit Arizona as state. It
would be Republican at the first state
election. In any event. it is close po-
| litically.
Personally continued Governor
Murphy. Il believe 1t to be safely
Republican. But be that as it may
We have $4,000 people. made up of a
superior citizenship. We have one
hundred millions of asse ssable
wealth. If it were all assessed, al
though the last assessment rolls show
thirty-nlne millions. We are cap
able, financially. of maintaining gov
ernment We desire to govern our
selves as sovereign state. and no
good reason can be advanced why our
rights in this respect. under the Con-
stitution of our fathers. should be de-
MED. Very soon 1t will be impossible
for ~.Lgress 20 refuse statehood rn'
the three Territories because public
sentiment will become so aroused that
1t cannot be prevented. The nation
has insular possessions In hawaii
Porto Rico. the PHILIPPINES and indi-
rectly. Cuba. as well as the province
of Alaska. on this continent. which
present themselves. ample material
I for Territorial government for many
years to come. Even If there is a
doubt as to Arizona politically. the
! Republican party. with It's strong ma
jority in Congress. would take fewer
( chances In that relation now, in my
judgment. than at any subsequent
time. and would furnish the Re-
| pubiicans the very strongest argu-
ments with which to win the new
state to Republican principles, if,
with justice and J"ore' consideration
we are admitted to statehood this
winter"