Arizona republican., 1902-11-02
MT. Smith and Statehood

MT. Smith and atehcco
 Having in a thoughtless moment committed himself to the absurd prop osition that Arizona will more readily obtain statehood by displeasing the re- publican members of the United States senate. Mark Smith sees no way out Of his predicament except to stick sullen- ly by his statement. Evidently, he IS prepared to ignore the fact that the af- front which he offers to the intelligence Of Arizona voters will not work to his own advantage hereafter. However. if Manning and Ives of Tucson are elect ed to represent Pima-Santa Cruz and Yuma counties in the council, and a legislature is elected which will be put ty in the hands of Ives and Manning. the Southern Pacific company may be forced to come down with that fat con tract for the furnishing of laborers and supplies to the company-and in that event Mir. Smith might afford to get out of politics He and Manning and Ives could then be on a financially easy street.
 We are sorry that it Tuffies Mir. Smiths temper when We allude to the absurdity of his position on the state hood question: He certainly cannot charge The Republican with unfairness toward him. This paper has taken care to give full credit for all that he has done for statehood and has repeatedly stated that he is entitled to the grati- tude of all Arizona people. Perhaps he feels that we should refrain from men tioning the great work done in the same cause by the republican dele gates from New Mexico and Oklaho- ma? It is pleasant for MT Smith, of course, to have the people of this ter ritory regard him as "the whole works in congress. and we do not care. But he should not feel aggrieved when his ridiculous arguments are punctured.
 MT. Smith is forced to admit that if Oklahoma goes democratic next Tues day, and Arizona goes democratic also, 'the present status of the omnibus bill will be disturbed" He wishes to leave the impression that both New Mexico and Oklahoma are sure to elect repub- lican delegates and his newspaper clac-- quers are industriCusly circulating the statement that the democrats in New Mexico will make it unanimous for Rodey, and in Oklahoma the democrats are organizing hunting parties for cleo ton day SO as to give a free field to the republicans" It is remarkable. when so much is at stake, that demo- crats should be so partisan as to put statehood in peril in order merely to give a comparatively insignificant office to J. F. Wilson.
 Every intelligent democrat in this territory knows that the chances are nearly all in favor of the democrats carrying Oklahoma by great majoIi- ty. New Mexico probably will go re- publican, although H. B. Ferguson. the democratic candidate. is making a most energetic canvass, and the
 
 carried the territory by nearly 1000 in / 1896. However. it is fair to assume that there is enough intelligence in New Mexico to re-elect MT. Rodey. In Okla homa the democrats are making the most aggressive campaign in the his tory of the territory. They arc insist ing that statehood for that territory is assured anyhow. and jeer at the repub- lican argument that the statehood bill should be a factor in the canvass. Ok lahoma is normally democratic by at least 5000 ma ajority The democrats of that territory are undoubtedly correct Oklahoma. with her coo, GOO people and one hundred millions of taxable wealth will be admitted this winter, regardless of the fate of Arizona and New Mexico. ] In the Kansas City Star of October 2S | is this dispatch from Guthrie, Okla homa:
 II am quoted as estimating that the