Bisbee daily review., 1902-11-21
OPPOSING STATEHOOD

 which is one of the pioneer newspa- pers in Arizona, should now be op- posing statehood. The Star professes to be in favor of statehood, but at the same time it is urging every con- ceivable objection to the omnibus bill now before the senate, and is clamor- ing for amendments which would be of no benefit to the territories, but which if adopted by the senate might endanger the passage of the bill in the house. where it is known are powerful enemies or statehood in eV- cry form.
 The Star protests vigorously against the apportionment of delegates to the constitutional convention The ap- portionment provided for in the state hood bill is the only one that would be considered by congress. The ap- portionment is the same as the legis- Iative apportionment in Arizona. Who would take the responsibility of arbi- trarily changing this apportionment? Had Mark Smith attempted such a thing then it is safe to say that the Star would today be lambasting him for his action
 So far as the constitutional con- vention in Arizona is concerned it's labors will be light. Ten years ago a constitution was framed by the ablest men il Arizona That consti- tuition may require alterations 10 meet changed conditions, but in the main it will be fully sufficient for our or ganic law
 While we will all colcede that there is some inequality in the present ap portionment in Arizona still there IS no palpable injustice to any one. Take the three most prominent counties and their representation is about evenly balanced so far as representa- ton is concerned in the legislature. Maricopa would have. five members in the constitutional convention, Yavapai would have four and Pima four. Co chise would also have but four, still Cochise is a third larger than Pima. Graham county is much larger than Pima still Graham would have hut three delegates in the constitutions! convention The objection of the Star on account of the representation fixed in the constitutional convention is capricious and is only used because the Star does not want to openly fight statehood, because of the known strong public sentiment in favor of it. There may be two or three coun- ties whose representation is too large; there are at least two whose repre- sentation is too small; Pima county in any re-apportionment would prob- ably lose; it certainly now has all that it is justly entitled to, when it's population is measured with that Of the balance Of the territory.
 The frequent exhibition of hatred and malice in the Star office towards Mark Smith has led many people to believe that the Star would leopard ize statehood and sink every future prospect of Arizona rather than see Mark Smith in the United States sen ate. and that it's attitude now on state hood is in the hope of delaying it at this time in the hope that something may occur at some future time which would prevent Mir. Smiths election to the senate Certainly there is no req son why Pima county or the Star should be dissatisfied with the appor' tionment in the statehood bill Don't be capricious, Brother Hughes Let us all hope for the passage of the om- nibus statehood bill just as it now lies before the senate.