Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-07
STATEHOOD BILL is DEAD
Proposition Drops Suddenly and With
a Thud That Surprised Everybody,

a Thud That Surprised Everybody
Washington, Feb. 2S.-Tke statehood
bill is dead, The democratic senator's
abandoned 1t in caucus when they in
structed Senator Blackburn TO call up
the amended Littlefield antitrust bill
and press it at every opportunity. Quay,
leader of the fight for the territories,
abandoned his allies IN both sides OF
the chamber when he found hat votes
to attach the statehood bill to an APP
preparation bill as a rider could not be
obtained. Then Quay announced he
was goi.g to Florida to fish.
Quay has accomplished all he set out
to do and possibly more. lie has made
it impossible for the senate to consider
the eight-hour bill, the immigration
bill, the Philippine tariff bin and
measures which constituents regard as
harmful to their interests.
The senate can now proceed with the
transaction of necessary business. 1t
can pass appropriation bills and pos
sibly dispose of pending treaties. This,
however, is p~rohiematical because of
the opposition of Senator Morgan to the
Panama treaty and the desire of demo-
Gratis to be heard on the Cuban treaty.
A special session OF the senate seems
to be inevitable.
The bottom dropped out of the state
hood fight SO easily that 1t caused some
persons to wonder why there had been
so much turmoil and conflict for nearly
three months over the omnibus bill
The democrats in caucus indicated they
did not regard the bill as essential to
the future of their party. They Vaani-
mously rejected the compromise SUBJ
mitted by the republican leaders. The
--- a. $500 H. yyrifln1 hr
Senator Bate Of Tennessee. The caucus
discussed it three-quarters Of an hour
and decided without dissent that II
could not be accepted.
Democrats Explain Position.
The text of the communication a.
presented by Senator Bate follows:
The democratic caucus rejected the
proposed compromise statehood bill fol
the following reasons: When Arizona
and New Mexico were made territories
their areas were established for ulti'
mate statehood purposes and all the
interests and expectations Of the peo-
pie of the two territories have been in
anticipation Of the two states. 1t would
be gross injustice TO the people Of Notf
to Join them in one state. From east
to west, as railroads must be built, II
would be LOO miles across them. The
proposed state would be as large al
Texas, II X is toe large Tor III
convenient government.
The democrats have stood for TIT
statehood bill as it passed the house
They believe that each is entitled Il
statehood, and they have stood loyal.
by the republican minority in their eff
forts to give them statehood, but the!
will not inflict the injustice that prob
ably never can be repaired of forcin!
the people of the two territories into
state so large hat it would foreve
continue a burden they should not bear
Quay Finds He Is Helpless.
The democratic members on postof
fees and postroads were instructed t
ascertain if enough senators woul,
vote to keep the omnibus bill on tn
p~ostofice appropriation bill. Thes
senators began n anvaS of the dem
ocratic side and Senators Gay, Hans
brough and Gallinger made a canvas
OF the republican side. AS a resul
they ascertained that but thirty-eigh
senators out Of the necessary forty
five were willing to vote to retain tn
statehood rider. Later Quay and Ma
son visited the minority conference an
informed the democrats that the state
hood fight lad better be abandoned
The democrats thought SO too.
The committee on poStoffices an
p~ostro3ds subsequently authorize
Senator Mason as chairman to with
draw the omnibus bill as a rider {
the postoffice bill and the committe
on agriculture extended similar au
thorization to Chairman Proctor.