Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-02-26
PROPOSITION REJECTED
DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL eau.
Gus DECIDES AGAINST TWO
NEW STATES.
TAKE POSITIVE GROUNDS
All the Speakers EmphaticalIy Pro.
test Against Putting Statehood G
on Any Appropriation Measure as a
Rider-One Senator States Reaso,
for the Action Of the Democrats en-
the Compromise Submitted.
the Compromise Submitted.

Washington. Feb 25.-The Demo
cratic senatorial caucas during the day
rejected the two-state proposition for
inc admission of new states, submit
ted by the Republicans The matter
OF further negotiations was left with
the Democratic members of the com
m'ttee on postoffices. which has
charge Of the appropriation bill with
the statehood rider 1t has been
agreed. however, to withdraw the rid
er. The Democrats will not accept
anything on basis Of two states.
All the speakers in the caucus took
positive grounds against the compro
mise proposition and several of them
spoke emphatically against the propo-
sition to put the statehood bill on any
OF the appropriation bills as rider
At the same time. they favored plac-
Ing the future course of the party in
reference to the bill as such and also
rider In the hands of the Democratic
members OF the committee on post
offices
Democratic Position Stated.
| A Democratic senator who is a mem
ber of the committee on territories.
gave out the following for publicity:
The Democratic caucus rejected
the proposed compromise statehood
bill for the following reasons: When
Arizona and New Mexico were made
territories their institutions were es.
tablished for ultimate statehood pur-
poses and the expectations of the peo
pie have been to that end ever since
1t would be unjust to discriminate.
''rhe proposed state would be as
large as Texas. and Texas is too large
for convenient government. The peo-
pie of Arizona are opposed to consoli-
dation with New Mexico
THE provisions in the consolidation
bill for ultimate separate statehood
are a snare. The question OF separa-
ton into two states must be submit
ted 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 ma
jority cannot be secured.
Each Entitled to Statehood.
"The Democrats have stood for the
statehood bill as it passed the house
They believe that each is entitled to
statehood and they have stood Loyalty
| by the Republican minority in their eff
forts to give them statehood. but they
will not infiict the injustice that prob
ably never can be repaired of forcing
the people OF the two territories into
state so large that 1t would forever
continue a burden they should MOI
bear
After the adjournment of the caucus
the Democratic members Of the com
mittee on postoffices met the Repub
lioan members of that committee who
have been friendly to statehood. They
decided to continue the fight for ths
omnibus bill as 1t came from the
house. without amendment. but not t.
antagonize appropriation bills or ex
ecutive business with 1t.
The Republicans have decided Il
present their compromise bill to tht
senate. The indications are yer,
strong that the question will receive
very little if any modification durine
the session. and even the best friends
Of statehood generally admit that there
is no chance for success at this time