Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-11-19
with being overwhelmingly opposed to

with being overwhelmingly opposed TO
this proposition
We sympathize with our sister ter
rit0ry In this aversion 70 our society
and can assure her that II has always
been entirely mutual. II would still
meet with our opposition were II not
that we believe to persist In such q
policy would be biting OF our loses
to spite u faces. BY uniting our
fortunes we can probably win the
fight and mutual benefits will follow.
II we can both gain from this associa-
tion why stand out against 1t? The
two territories would make a grand
state. We have the same resources
TO d~eyelop,the same natural difficulties
to overcome. the same battles TO fight.
II we both oppose this solution OF the
dificulty joint statehood will not Ike
" be thrust upon III and who can
say that we will not remain In our
present state for years-years that
might have been marked with I'm.
precedented progressPndprosparityif
we had been willing to accept and
make the best Of what was within our
each instead OF trying to accomplish
the impossible. The Optic processes
70 know beans when the bag Ii open.
We have TO choose. for the present,
between remaining a territory OF &c
cepting joint statehood with Arizona,
The article In the Globe. Democrat
above referred 10 says. Representa-
tive Edward Il. Hamilton Of Michigan
will be chairman OF the committee on
territories II the present plan Of the
speaker Of the house ID carried out.
II Ii understood that the chances Of
statehood legislation at the present
session of congness are most remote.
Mr.. Cannon holds that the territor.
lea Of the southwest are not yet ready
for statehood. The speaker believes
that some mistakes were made In the
past By p~recipitate action on state
hood bills, and that the country gen.
orally and the territories In question
would have been IN better shape II
statehood had not been extended 10
them so early In their history. Pnr-
haps Mr.. Cannon win admit that
statehood for Oklahoma would not be
a bad thing. but II Is diiicnit IL get
him to ~differentiate as between the
territories of the southwest. Nothing
In tho direction Of statehood can be
accomplished at the first session Of
the FIfty-eighth congress, MS II II well
understood that only the most neces-
sary Legislation VIII be permitted to
30 through by the republican lea.teas.
Senator Beyeridgc. chairman of the
senate committee on territories. was
asked as 10 the prospects, OF statehood
legislation, and Indicated that nothing
In the line of an omnibus bill, such as
was offered last session. would ever
again get tho parliamentary adyant.
age Il secured during the Fifty.sev.
anth congress.
He is also Of the opinion that no
legislation will be considered which
does not recognize the wisdom OF the
proposition put forward as d compro
mise last session, that Of uniting Ariz
n and New Mexico III QUO state and
indian Territory aud Oklahoma IN an
othsr state. Oklahoma can hardly
shake on the friends Of New Mexico
and Arizona who want 10 ride into
statehood on her back. rs admittedly
she can make a better showing than
tho other territories She is further
handicapped by the existence Of In
dian Territory. which II IL thought the
part Of wisdom 70 admit as 4 part u
Oklahoma.
The interior department officials
hold that IL would be unjust Ia the
Indians to admit the territory nj this
time and before the treaty agreements
with the Indians car be carried into
effect. A proposition 10 make Indian
Territory 4 part ~ Oklahoma later hy
provisional legislation does not mret