The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-25
h Caucus Majority of Senators Decide to Reject Pr0pOs-
 ed Compromise
WILL NOT PLAY INTO
 HANDS OF TRUST SCHEME
People of Arizona Unanimously oP- pose Consolidation With New Mex ico and Their Wish Will Be
 Respected By Democrats.

Washington February 2L-The demo- cratic senatorial caucus today rejected the two-state proposition for the admis- sion of new states submitted by the re- prblicans.
 After the adjournment of the caucus tho democl atc members of the committee on postoffices met the republican members or that committee, who have been friendly to statehood. They decided to ask the chairman of the two committees on post offices and agriculture to withdraw the statehood riders which their committees have placed on two appropriation bills. They also decided to continue the light for the omnibus bill. as 1t came from the house without amendment. but not to antagonize appropriation bills or legis- lative business with It.
 The republicans have decided to pre- sent their compromise bill to the nate
 The indications are very strong that the question will receive very little, # any more consideration during the ses-s sion, and even the best friends of state- hood generally admit that there is no chance for success at this time.
 Prominent Senators Speak. During the caucus speeches were made by Senators Clay, Bacon, Boies. Simmons, Foster of Louisiana, Bate Morgan, Pet | tus and others. All the speakers took pos | tive grounds against the compromise pre- l position. At the same time they favored
 placing the future course of the party
 with reference to the statehood bill as such, and also as a rider. in the hands l of The democratic members Of the commute tee on postofhces. A democratic senator. A member of the committee on territories. wrote the following, which. after snbmit- ting 1t to several of his colleagues, he gave out for publication:
 'rhe democratic caucus rejected the proposed compromise statehood bill for the following reasons: When Arizona and New Mexico were made territories. their areas were established for ultimate state- hood purposes and all the interests ana expectations of the people of the two ter ritories have been In anticipation of the two states.
 .It would be gross injustice to the peo- pie of both to join them into enc state. From east to west as railroads must be built, 1t would be 1700 miles across them. The proposed state would be as large as Texas, and Texas Is too large for It's con- venient government.
 uemOcTdIS Ieel lIdt lHe itpup- lcan fight for statehood has not been sincere, they having used the statehood bill as buffer to prevent trust discussion and legislation. For democrats now hav- Ing stood almost in a solid body for the admission of the three territories to &C., cept the proposed consolidation, would be to have played into the hands of the republican antitrust cabal. Arizona's Wish Respected. "The people of Arizona are unanimously opposed to consolidation with New Mex leo and the people of both the territories should be consulted.
 "The provisions in the consolidation bill for ultimate separate statehood are snare The question of separation into two states must be submitted to the voters of the entire state and experience
 has taught that after the interests of any area have been consolidated as single state, a majority cannot be se- cured.
 "rhe democrats have stood for the state hood bill as 1t passed the house. They be- ieve that each is entitled to statehood and they have stood Loyalty by the repub- lican minority In their efforts to give them statehood; but they will not infiict the injustice that probably never can be repaired of forcing the people of the two territories Into a state so large that 1t
 would forever continue burden they should not bear"