Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1902-03-20
ARGUMENTS for STATEHOOD.
A Part Of a Letter Written for the
New York Tribune by New
Mexico's Delegate to Con
gress B, S. Rodey,

New Mexico proved before the
committee on territories that she /
contained a population of not less
than 100000 American citizens,
more than three-quarters of whom
speak, read, and write the English
language, and more thau three
fifths of whom are of Anglo Sax
ton blood. 1t futher proved that
the citizens of the United States
living within its borders of Span
ish or Mexican descent were the
best kind of people and fully equal
in all respects to the best citizens
OF the United States anywhere in
in the union. It futher proved
that the territory possessed taxa
BILE property of the value Of S3OO-
100000, and that, it's debt being
comparatively small, it would,
when admitted to the union, be the
lowest taxed community in the ma
ton. Itfuther proved that at the
present time it is making more
rapid progress than any other part
of the nation, The committee ex-
pressed utter astonishment at the
showing which it made.
l might here state some of the
facts presented. Its area is great
er than that of the state of New
York and all the states of New
England and the state of New Jer-
sey combined. 1t is first in the
lumber of sheep it possesses end
raises, and in the lumber of
pounds of wool it produces annu-
ally. 1t is second in the nation as
ia cattle grower. 1t is first in the
nation in the amount of money it
has invested in public buildings
per capite. 1t is first in the nation
in the non-sectarlan public school
buildings which it possesses per
capits, and in the money in
vested in them, and 1t is first In
the nation in the amount Of moray
per capita that it spends annua ty
in the education of its children.
1t is first in the nation in the nun
Der OF newspapers per capita that
are published within its borders,
and, although there were no
statistics upon the subject, l will
venture to say from my personal
knowledge, that it is first IN the
nation per capita in the amount Of
money spent for the purchase Of
newspapers, magazines and other
periodical literature.
The Territory of New Mexico
has been Under tha. form of gov
ernment ever since 1850, and has
been a part of the public domain
Of the United States for fifty five
years. It's people have forgotten
all other forms of government,
almost, 80 long have they been in
mis- condition OF tutelage. They
have a right, under the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo, to Ae admitted
into this union They have the
same right under the Declaration
of Independence and the Constitu-
tion OF the United States, and both
political parties have promised it
to them in their platforms repeat
edlY They possess every qualif-
cation that can possibly be rebuir-
ed, and more, and even if politi-
can one is required bv the party IN
power, they possess that also,
Then why should they longer be
keep out Of the union? The area
Of country thst forms California,
part Of Nevada, Utah and Colorado
was acquired from Mexico at the
same time as the area now emprac-
ed i'll New Mexico and Arizona.
THIS government promised the
people qf Now MrXiro that would
be admitted iuto the nnion ia
reasonable r'me, and thaa promise
vas pa b tho treaty by which the
.mpa Nas acquired from Nexico in