Arizona republican., 1903-04-05
Murphy and Bard.

A few days ago, while ex-Governor Murphy was in the California metropo- lis, the San Francisco Call printed an interview with him on Arizona affairs generally, in the course of which the former governor said on the statehood question:
 All of our people are sorely disap- pointed over the failure of the omnibus statehood bill, and We feel that Sena- tor Bard was clearly more directly re- sponsible for it's defeat than even Sem ator Beveridge, chairman of the senate committee on territories. Senator Bard's vote would have insured q favorable report from the committee at the long session and would have secured practically the passage or the measure.
 Why he would not go on record for right, and justice is difficult to under stand, especially as it is assumed that the interests of his state would be ad- vanced by increased western represen- tation. While sectionalism should at all times be deplored. the far eastern senators cannot conceal their motives in opposing statehood for the terri tories. They simply are determined to prevent, if possible. the adding to our representation in congress, and for us to find an enemy where we had every reason to believe we had a warm friend, was a bad blow.
 Two senators for Arizona would have meant four senators for the great state of California, for there is abso- lutely no conflict of interest between the two localities. and all the repre- sentatives would have worked as one man for the common interest. It is inconceivable that senator from Cali fornia should take the position as- stunned by Senator Bard. However, our fight will be resumed in the next ses- sion of congress and will be continued until Arizona has gained her statehood.
 We are all grateful for the attitude of the press of California in our strug- gle. The papers of your state, with few exceptions, supported very earnestly the bill for the admission of the terri tories, the Times of Los Angeles being about the only one that indorsed the arguments of the junior senator from California;
 Governor Murphy said that the feel ing against Senator Bard in Arizona is extremely bitter. but the fact would in no way discourage them in their plans for another fight when the bill again appears before the national legisla- tors''
 The legislature to be elected next year will name Senator Bard's success sor, and there is already considerable fall of haa ino Made nervous by Governor Murphy's forcible statement of the fact that the interests of California were directly in- jured by the defeat of the statehood bill, the senator undertook to answer the interview. His lame excuse for opposing the statehood bill called out the following pointed editorial from the Call of Thursday last, in reply:
 The very full statement of the state hood issue as far as it affects Arizona made by eX-Governor Murphy brought from Senator Bard what appears to be a rather inconsequential response. The senator declares that he is unable to see how statehood for Arizona affects California. We trust that he can be
 
 in the light of it's effect upon this state. The fact is that the admission of every state this side of the Mississippi river has affected California. It has meant an increase in the voting strength of the west in congress, and that strength has been used continually in the devel- opment and protection of western in terests, inclusive of the vast and vari- ous interests of California.
 Take, for example, our transporta- ton interests. Ever since the passa g. of the interstate act and the affirma- ton of it's constitutionality by the su- preme court it has been more and more apparent that the whole subject of rail- road rates has drifted toward federal control the political control of the ma jority in congress We are interested our marketable surplus production and consumption lie far apart and are con- nected by the longest railroad lines on the continent. Our products compet with similar or approximate products Of the country east of the Mississippi. That country controls the political ma jority and therefore the policy of the government. In flush times we may not witness any attempt to cancel our competition by public control of trans portation rates. But the hour is sure to come when competition will assert it's strength, and then we will need western votes.