Arizona republican., 1902-12-06

These eastern senators began their task
 in no frame of mind to reach favor
 able conclusion, notwithstanding the
 most honest efforts. They were handi- capped by prejudice against this region.
 acquired during all their past lives:
 none of them had been here before. and
 while they imagined that they knew
 a great deal about Arizona and New
 Mexico, they in fact knew extremely I little-and during their nasty trip their
 in the directions in which they most
 needed enlightenment Very naturally.
 they paid most attention to things
 which tended to confirm their previous
 impressions.
 But no excuse can be found for Sena-
 tor Bards position. The biographical sketch of him in the congressional di-
 rectory, written by himself, states he
 went to California in 1864, and has
 ever since resided in Ventura county,
 that state. where he has engaged in
 wharving and warehousing, banking, petroleum mining, sheep grazing. and
 uealing in real estate,''
 and the ignorance which he displays concerning Arizona might lead the
 charitably inclined to infer that he
 had never ventured outside the confines of Ventura county until he left for
 Washington to take his seat as sen ator.
 But as a matter of fact. Senator
 Bard has had abundant opportunities to learn something of Arizona people and Arizona resources. Why he has acquired no information concerning a great empire which lies next to his own state, we cannot understand.
 It is nothing less than a wanton in- suit to Arizona for Thomas Robert Bard to state to the world from his place in the United States senate that Arizona has reached the height of its development for the present." During the past twelve months millions upon mines and in the construction of Ari- zona railroads. The aggregate sum is probably greater than all of the outside investments which have been made in the great state of California during the same period. With majestic assur- ance. the distinguished senator from our neighboring state tells the world that Arizona's "irrigable land has been put under cultivation to a great extent. so far as there Is necessity for irri- gation." The implication is that there is no demand for an increased area or irrigated land! To show the idiocy of such statements, or even to take the trouble to controvert them. would hardly seem worth while, even for the benefit of the most ignorant classes of the east. The inflow of capital which would quickly follow statehood would convince the most obtuse-even Sem ator Bard himself-that the existing irrigated area has been but a mere be- ginning.
 As to the manner in which Mark Smith has sought to gerrymander the territory. there is merit in that objec- tion The republicans of Arizona are most concerned, however. There are numerous features of the bill which they recognize as unjust, and if the measure is amended at all they will suggest amendments in the line of fair ness to all political parties. But they are disposed to accept the bill without rather than endanger its passage. This situation was no excuse for Bard's vote against the bill
 There is no denying that the Cali 1 fornia senator's silly statements will do | Arizona great damage. He would have 1 the world believe that all the mines in | the territory are already developed and | in production-this in the face of the | most wonderful undeveloped mineral | region in the world-and of course | many people will believe him, and many | investors will hesitate to | come into a territory such as has been | pictured by the imaginative Bard.
 The senator did not need to go to | such lengths to write himself | down as wanting in ordinary | He was not required | to give reason for his vote He evi- dently forgot that many men have achieved reputation for wisdom by keeping their mouths closed.