The Tucson citizen., 1902-05-29
ABOUT STATEHOOD.

The action of the Senate committee
on Territories yesterday in formally
deciding not to set day for considera-
| tion of the omnibus Statehood bill does
not necessarily mean that the members
of the committee are either Indifferent
or antagonistic to the admission of the
three Territories to the Union. 1t has
been pretty well understood since the
passage OF the bill by the House that
the Senate would be unable to give
consideration to it during the present
Eession. and the best that has been
hoped is that the bill would be taken
up and considered next winter. The
session is now so far advanced. and so
many bills regarded as of first i'm
portance are pending, that the time of
the Senate has been already parceled
out. The isthmian canal bill and the
Cuban reciprocity bill are the two
great stumbling blocks In the way OF
consideration of what Is regarded in
Washington as minor legislation. Both
these bills are, in a sense, administra-
ton measures. and both are sharply
antagonized by Republicans. This will
lead to an extended debate that will
carry the session well into July or
perhaps August, and hence the COM
| m tt0r
bility of being able to get consideration
for the Statehood bill at his session
The news from Washington regard
ing the altitude of the Senate on State
hood is by no means discouraging.
The Democrats are solidly In favor of
the measure. and the western Republi-
cans are friendly The friends of the
measure. too, are In a majority in the
committee on Territories, so. on the
whole. there is no reason to feel dis
couraged
In the meantime activity is essen
tial. and no opportunity should be lost
to induce western Senators to take an
active interest in the bill The Wash
ington Post. the great newspaper of the
capital, is enlisted in the good cause.
and few days ago had this to say on
the subject: At
Public sentiment in the United
States so far as We can Judge by the
newspapers Of all parties and all sec
tons-is with the House of Repre-
sentatiyes on the question of State
hood for ARIZONA, New Mexico and Ok
lahoma. II the Senate would prompt
ly pass the bill for the admission of
those three well qualified candidates
into the family of States-the bill that
passed the House with enthusiastic
unanimity-it would perform an act
well pleasing in the sight of an over
whelming majority of the American
people. The question of their fitness
for this promotion has been answered
aftirmatiVey by official figures. 1t
has been carefully studied by the
House committee on Territories and
dHS"eIcu III tne same way. 1T was
considered by the House, and the an
swer was a prompt and loud affirma-
tion.
Oklahoma is young. but her pro- !
gress has been phenomenal No one
doubts that she will. before many
years. he one of the strong States of |
the Republic. The growth of Arizona
and New Mexico has been less rapid.
but 1t has been steady and solid.
Congress has treated them very much
as Laban acted toward Jacob In the
matter of matrimony. only more so
They have not tried, as Jacob did. to
indemnify themselves with any
'speckled and ringstreaked" tactics,
but have commended themselves to
national respect and confidence by
faithful continuance in well doing
The Senate can. If it sees fit, refuse to
concur in the action of the House. 1t
AN slam the half-opened door in the
aces of the three candidates. Bnt we