The Tucson citizen., 1902-11-20
THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

Now that the investigating members
of the Senate Committee on Territories
have come and gone, it will not be dis
respectful, we hope, to ask what did
they come for? It's true they have had
opportunity to get an expression OF the
opinion of the people. They will not
doubt that the people of Arizona are al
most unanimous in their desire for
Statehood. A few n1arplots here and
there to recommend the making OF haste
slowly, oreto urge the amendment of the
Omnibus bill as an easy indirect method
of killing it,, furnished the exception
that wise men invariably utilize to prove
the general rule.
But neither the people nor the re-
sources of Arizona can be seen from the
windows of Pullman car, nor encoun.
tered in four cities. The members of
the committee made 700 miles dash
through Arizona, only getting off their
train at Prescott, Phoenix, Tucson and
Bisbee. We think it entirely safe to
say, that 80 far as the public opinion of
Arizona is concerned. the members of
the committee were able to get q fair ex-
preston of it from the people they en-
countered in the four cities named. But
what idea could the visiting statesmen
CLEAN of Industrial, cultivated Arizona,
in their forced march through the Terri
tory? They know nothing of the won-
derful valley of the Colorado that in ex-
tent and richness surpasses the valley of
the Nile. What do they know OF the
populous and prosperous valley of the
Gila, stretching from New Mexico to the
Salt river? Did they familiarize them
selves with the wealth-laden forests of
the Catalinas and the Mogallons? Have
they any idea of the farms and planta-
tions and ranches OF the Santa Cruz and
San Pedro valleys, with their thousands
of prosperous and happy families? What
can they know of the fonrishing city of
Nogales and its hundred arteries of trade
and commerce! Can they imagine the
immense industrial activities at Clifton
and Morenci? The hearsay about re.
surrected Tombstone is but a poor
substitute for an ocular examination Of
the wonderful work now in course of
completion in that town. Douglas and
Naco we're neglected, Patagonia and the
rich Washington mining district were
forgotten, Globe and Florence and Yuma
and other centers of population, wealth
and industry could not be seen nor un-
derstood from car window.
We are glad the members of the Sem
ate committe having jurisdiction of the
Territories, visited Arizona. but We re-
gret that their time was SO limited that
they could not make their examination
and Investigation thorough. We would
prefer that they could see for themselves
rather than depend upon hearing or i'm
agination. Arizona covers big spot on
the map and the main lines of railroad
40 not penetrate Its most favored reg
ions. The visiting statesmen were in
Arizona, but they had very little oppor-
tunity to see much of it. Of the many
institutions of learning in the Territory
they saw only the Indian schoo! near
Phoenix ard the University Of Arizona.
They have only vague idea of what
Arizona is. They had not time to see for
themselves. Let us hope that if they
were in doubt of our ability to govern
ourselves, and of the sufficiency of our
resources and population to maintain
State. they would have taken the time
to make more thorough investiga ton.
It Is only fair to assume that they were
satisfied with the sample, and are ready
TO do justice to the whole.