Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-11
The Majority Report.

takes up the preparedness of the territories
under each of the requisites specified.
Accepting the unit of representation rule,
which, under the census of 1900, Is 1874 1s2,
it is found that New Mexico, with 1880
people, would come in, but that Arizona
would fall considerably short of the re-
quremeDt. The committee lays down the
general rule that while no new state shoulo
necessarily be as large In population as
any existing state it Is contended that 1t
should be large enough to bear some falr
proportion to the population of the rest OF
the republic" and it Is declared that IL
would be well if the rule could be adopted
that any new state should have popula-
ton equal to the average population of the
rest of the states. This rule would require
a population for any proposed new state at
the present time of 1,650,OOO.
Use of Spanish Language.
Referring specifically to the conditions ex-
listing in New Mexico, found by the sub
committee which visited the various terri
tories, the report discusses at length the
educational qualifications of the people and
refers to the use OF the Spanish language.
1t Is asserted that the courts of the Justices
of the peace are practically all conducted
in Spanish, and that interpreters are neces-
sary in the other courts as they are in the
legislature, in political conventions and even
In campaign speeches. 1t Is further assert
ed that while both Spanish and English are
taught in the schools the school children
generally converse among themselves In
Spanish, and that when the children finish
their school career their tendency is to re-
lapse into the Spanish, that being the Ian
guage used in their homes and in the af-
fairs of their daily life. Referring to the
illiteracy ,of the people. it is stated that
many jurymen sign their marks
The committee admit that there are many
excellent people among the Mexicans. and
say that when the territory becomes more
Americanized no will object to state
hood for this territory.
OF the so-called Americans, 1t is said that
some of them ARE net nearly so good cit
liens in conduct or in the understanding of
our institutions the Mexican element.
Such are the riff-raff, to use the expression
of United States Judge Mills, who first fol-
lowed the introduction of railroads, and
such other elements as are always seen on
any country's extending frontier
In the Case of Arizona.
Speaking of Arizona, it is said the educa-
tional progress of the territory has been
fair, and it Is pointed out that there is in
the territory a large percentage Of refined
people who have been attracted by the
health giving advantages of the climate
and by the opportunities for adventure and
enterprise. But it is stated that while
these clements are important and invalu-
able to the territory, and while their in
fiuence is altogether for good. and will
steadily grow, it cannot be truthfully said
that at the present time they are in suf-
ficient number to dominate the mass of the
inhabitants of the territory. This is proved
by the fact that saloons and gambling
establishments are, by the statutes of the
territory, permitted openly to run by night
and by day, on Sunday well as week
days, and attempts TO repeal this law have
been futile
The report then declares that "even were
all the people of the territory of the adj
mirable class above described, they would
be far too few to justify statehood" The
resources and development of the country
also are declared to be too limited to entite
the territory to statehood.
The New Territory.
Taking up the substitute bill, the COM
mittee says the two territories of Oklahoma
and Indian territory ha. a combined pop
ulation of about a million people. They
point out that of the people of Indian ter
ritory only $4,000 are Indians. Contending
for the union of the two territories they
say that Oklahoma is too contracted in
area for statehood alone, and that nature
commerce and all human conditions have
decreed that they should be united
For the Omnibus Bill.
Senator Quay presented to the Senate an
individual report in favor of the omnibus
statehood bill He says the republican
national convention in 1900 adopted the
following resolution: I'VE favor home rule
for, and the early admission to statehood
of the territories of New Mexico, Arizona
and Oklahoma" and called attention to the
fact that the President and certain sena-
tors. whom he names, were delegates to
that convention. The proposition to ex-
clude New Mexico and Arizona as recon-
mended by the majority of the committee
Mr.. Quay says is in direct violation of the
pledge made by the republican platform
Mr.. Quay says the Indian territory should
not be included in the state of Oklahoma
because treaty agreements between the
United States and the Five Tribes provide
for a separate political organization for In
dian territory, and extends the Jurisdiction
to the tribal governments to 1906, and adds
that lit would be dshonorable on the part
of Congress to violate those treaties and
agreements with the Indians"
Mr.. Quay says: Because of the ilfteracv
and crime within the limits of the five
tribes In the Indian territory 1t presents a
record more deplorable than exists in apv
state in the Union and adds that the CEN
sus of 1900 shows that 20 per cent of the
entire population of the Indian territory is
| illtterate. Mr.. Quay adds: Oklahoma is
ready for statehood. The Indian territory
is unfit in all respects to enter the Union
Faith Of the Nation Pledged.
Recurring to New Mexico, says Mr.. Quay,
1.-THE faith Of the nation was plighted to the
people Of that territory at the time of the
original occupancy by troops of the United
States when kearney, without opposition
occupied Santa Fe in 1916. He declared that
the people of New Mexico would be pro-
yided with free government without de-.
lay. This proclamation pacihed the terri
tory
The statehood bill, at 4:S5 was temper.
arily laid aside Mr.. Aldrich having secured
unanimous consent for the immediate con-
sideration of the House bill passed earlier
in the day to relieve the conditions growing
out Of the repeal Of the duty on tea. The
bill was passed and the reading of the ter
ritorfal report was resumed
At $40 the reading of the report was con-
GUIDED
Mr.. Nelson (Minn) asked permission to
withdraw the amendment or substitute Of
fered by him from the committee In order
to perfect the same.
Mr.. Quay. who had occupied his seat dur
ing the entire day and who had watched
every move. insisted that Ii withdrawn the
amendment should go back to the com
mittee on territories, as it was a committee
matter.
The chair held that Mr.. Nelson could
withdraw the substitute without its going
back to the committee.
Mr.. Quay gave notice that when the SUBJ
| stitute was again offered he would move to
| lay it on the table.
| The Senate at 5:15 went into executive
| session and at 5:35 adjourned.