Arizona republican., 1902-03-03

The narrow and selfish view of the
statehood question which is held by
only too many people
ONE EASTERN in the east, is shown
VIEW OF in the editorial from
STATEHOOD. the Philadelphia Led
ger which We quote
below:
The reported decision of the house of
representatives committee on terrific
ries to recommend the admission o.
Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico as
states will, if correct, speedily bring
this. question before congress. 1t is
understood that the request of the In
dian territory to be admitted also
either as an Independent state or as a
part of Oklahoma will be denied and
that some new form of territorial gov
eminent will be provided instead. The
promoters of this plan of dealing with
these four territories assert that Ii
will have the Endorsement OF the house.
but that the decision of the senate IS
in doubt.
The public has not given much atten-
ton to this subject, more pressing ques-
lions having absorbed interest. 1t is
doubtful, however, if there is a senti-
ment authorizing such a wholesale
creation of new states at the present
time as the committee is said to favor
Arizona has a population of only 122.-
900, which is about 1900 below the
quota required of the states for q rep
resentative in congress. 1t is true that
Wyoming and Nevada have even less
populati than Arizona and that
Idaho has not much more. But if mis-
takes were made in admitting these
territories too soon there is no reason
why they should be repeated And
while New Mexico has probably enough
population to authorize a representa-
tive in congress the character of that
n2opulation as well as it's size should
taken into consideration in granting
esta tehood.
The case of Oklahoma stands on DIFF
ferent grounds. 1t had population
in June, 1900, OF 3eS. 331, and this has
probably increased since to nearly $780,
600. This population is superior in in
telligence and enterprise to the pop
ulation of either Arizona or New Mex
leo, and so is better fitted for self-g gov
eminent. 1t was hoped that Okla
homa and Indian territory could be
consolidated and admitted as one state.
The latter had a population of 392, Oe0
in 1900 and has now over 400, COO The
area of the two together would be al
most exactly 10000 square miles and
the population about 10000. This
would be an admirab BILE beginning for
4 new state. But there are said to be
objections to consolidating the two ter
ritOries owing to the great difference
in the character of the population and
its fitness for government. These
objections may be tenable, and if so
should have their weight. In such a
case Oklahoma can be admitted to the
union alone.
The admission of al three of the pro-
posed states would have small effect
only upon the house of representatives.
They would send four or five repre-
sentatives, or about one in ninery-sIX
of the house to be elected under the
present apportionment. The effect on
the composition of the senate would be
much different, however. Each state
would have two senators. or six in all,
one in fifteen OF the present senate.
Z The country saw a few years ago the
result on the senate Of admitting a
number of new states. It came near
giving the free silver cause a majority
in that body. The craze is over, at
least for the present, but there is no
assurance that another as harmful will
not take its place. For this reason
the public will ask that congress in
form itself and reflect we'll before it
votes to admit a number of new states
to the union.