Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-11-26
SLAP AT STATEHOOD.

SLAP AT STATEHOOD.
 The conduct of Mark Smith at Phoenix in refusing to acquiesce with the people of Arizona and go before the senators with valuable data, and in officially insulting thereby the high motives behind the question of our admission, is to be regretted and also condemned. He openly stated to committee that his speeches in congress gave him a record and in addition to that the democratic min- ority in the senate would be rein forced with enough of his republican friends to pass the measure anyway.
 While that may be true and such may be the inevitable result, his naughty assumption of power and selfish regard to hold the great ques- ton in the palm of his hand, is not only reflection on the dignity of our senator guests, but likewise must it be considered by all men of all parties in Arizona and as a direct and uncalled for slap at our American citizenship. His conduct seems to
 be mere like that of czar than that of an ordinary delegate. What must
 the opinion of these senators be when their exalted station in life is lowered to the level of a delegate without a voice in only ward of the govern ment. and when also the sentiment of the entire country calls for united action of all partisans.
 Mark Smith, our official repre- sentative in Washington and also of statehood so far as It has progressed, balks on his self made track of per sonal influence and official dignity and which he would have the people welgh as higher than that of United States senator.
 How different is the case of Dele gate Rodey, of our sister territory, New Mexico. MT. Rodey was virtr- ally the main stay of the clean and intelligent work that has placed the omnibus bill where it is today, and when the senators were in New Mexico, it was him, as a delegate in congress, who went to the state line to greet and welcome them to bis territory, and more than that he was before them with facts and figures on every occasion. MT. Rodey is still tirelessly at it. MT. Smith was too digni6ed to flower" himself to attend when requested to do so.
 Another feature of the conduct of Mark Smith recently at Phoenix must be considered in a partison way but aside from the statehood move ment. If republicans in private life even of the prominence of R. E. Nor rison. B. A. Fowler, H. R. Latham, N. O. Murphy, John Metz, W. $. Sturgis, Andreas Reveil, F. M. Murphy, J. F. Metcalf, w. H. Shilliam and many others who are and always have been zealously and consistently the cause of statehood, had refused to even assist or openly encourage the statehood movement as Mark Smith did recently at Phoenix, the democratic press of Arizona would have been abIaze and in frenzy, and would have again and again branded these men with their customary arguments of sour rility and infdelity.
 The statehood movement in Ari- zona since the senators arrived has been blessed with harmony in every walk of life politically as well as in 1ustrially with the exception of this one act of Mark Smith, our demo cratic delegate in congress, and in justice to the cause, why does not the 1emocratic press of Arizona place Mark Smith before the people in the same light they have been pitieusly | ,lamoring for statehood and without | 'egard to political conditions. If Mark Smith was right in refusing to DOW to the will of the majority as others of equally more prominence willingly and enthusiastically did, why does not the democratic press Ill over Arizona throw away the mask ,f statehood and condemn either Smith or statehood. But not word S uttered and the silence that pre- 'ails gives one the impression that Delegate Smith is bigger man than he principles of statehood.