The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-04
HOTEL LOBBY GLEANINGS
j. WIGHT GIDDINGs, OF ARIZONA
AGREES WITH MIR. BEvERIDGE.
The Territory Is Not Ready for State
hood, the Tucson Man Says
Visitors at the Hotels.

j. Wight Giddings, a Tucson, Ariz., man,
who is a guest at the Denison. agrees with
Senator Beverage that Arizona is not
fit subject for statehood honors.
az hope that Senator Beverage will win
in the fight he is leading" said Mr.. Gid
dings last evening. 81 believe that Arizona
is not yet In a condition to justify admis-
sion to statehood and know that many OF
the prominent citizens of the Territory
agree with me. There is opposition in the
Territory to the proposition to make Arr
iona State and this opposition comes not
only from Republicans. but from many
prominent Democrats as well.
There is no particular reason why Ari-
IONA should be made a State at this time
except to give the Democrats two more
United States senators. While 1 am salts
fed that Arizona will develop rapidly, and
that some day it will make good State,
its business is not now on a sufficiently
stable basis, nor is it's population large
enough or sufficiently Americanized, to
justify admission to statehood. The prin-
cipal industry is mining and in Nevada we
had a fair illustration of how variable a
basis that is on which to build State.
Arizona's mines are being rapidly de-
veloped and / believe there is a great flu
ture in the mineral resources of the Ter
ritory, but 1 believe it would be better to
wait two or four years before pressing the
statehood proposition.
''In the interim Arizona may show some
startling agricultural developments under
irrigation. Wherever irrigation has been
tried in the Territory marvellous results
ly fertile and is adaptable to all kinds of
gardening and farming. 1t will produce
anything and everything. One company
that has a large tract under cultivation
near Tucson cleared between $4,000 and
$4,000 last year. L believe that as Terri
tory the irrigation system will be more
extensively developed, because the Govern
ment will be more inclined to take hold
of 1t.
ARIZONA POLITICS.
II had hoped TO see Senator Beveridge
while 1 was in your city, but l understand
that he has returned to Washington. / be-
lieve he will win his fight, although in
Senator Quay he has a formidable oppon-
emit"
Mr.. Giddings has only been resident OF
Arizona little over a year He is inter
ested in mining venture with the Weldon
Gold and Copper Company, which controls
a large property located about a hundred
miles from Tucson. The nearest railroad
| to the property is at Tucson, but a line is
now being surveyed to the company's
mines and it will be constructed this
! year.
Mr.. Giddings formerly lived in Cadillac
| Mich, and he was lieutenant governor OF
| Michigan for term, having beer
elected with Governor Rich in 1892 He
| naturally is taking some interest in the
| politics of his adopted home and he said
/ last evening that he believed Arizona
would be in the Republican column within
| few more years. The Democrats carried
the Territory at the last election only by q
| plurality of about 500 and the Republicans
are hopeful of cutting this lead down ma
terially at the next election. Arizona is
growing rapidly in population. he said, anC
a great number of immigrants coming
| from the Middle States. A large percentage
| of the inhabitants at present are Mexicans
| Tile Territory now has a population Of
| from 175, 600 to 100000.
Mr.. Giddings has been on the lecture
| platform for several years and he is nov
out on his winter tour under the direction
of one of the well-known lyceums. He lee
lures in Dublin, Ind, Monday night anC
| will go from Indiana into the Easter
| States. His lectures of the popular
character and the two for which there /!
the greatest demand are "Uncle Sam.
People and 1.-THE Evolution of the Dema
| gogue."