Gilpin observer., 1903-02-26
NO FURTHER HOPE
FOR STATEHOOD

Washington, Feb. 25.-The Demo-
cratic. senatorial caucus has rejected
the two state propositions for the ad-
mission of new states submitted by the
Republicans.
After the adjournment of the caucus,
the Democratic members of the COM
mittee on postoffices met the Republi-
can members of that committee who
have been friendly to statehood They
decided to ask the chairman of the
two committees on postoffices and
agriculture to withdraw the statehood
riders which the committees have
placed on the two appropriation bills.
They also decided to continue the fight
for the omnibus bill as it came from
| the House, without amendment. but
| not to antagoniZe appropriation bills
\ or executive business with it.
| The Republicans have decided to pre-
sent their compromise bill to the Sem
| ate.
The indications are very strong that
the question will receive very little il
any consideration during the session.
and even the best friends of statehood
generally admit that there is no chance
OF success at this time
Speeches were made in the caucus
by Senators Clay. Bacon. Teller. Du-
bois, Simmons. Foster of Louisiana.
Bate. Morgan, Pettus and others All
the speakers took positive grounds
against the compromise proposition,
and several of them spoke emphatical-
ly against the proposition to put the
statehood bill on any of the appropria-
tion bills as rider. At the same time
they favored placing the future course
OF the party with reference to the state
mood bill as such, and also as a rider,
in the hands of the Democratic mem
Ders or the committee on postoffices
A Democratic senator who is q MEM
Der of the committee on territories, on
being asked for a statement of the rea-
sons for rejecting the compromise
proposition. wrote the following
which, after submitting it to several
of his colleagues, he gave out for pub
lication
The 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 ulti-
mate statehood purposes and all the
interests and expectations of the peo-
pie or the two territories have been in
anticipation of the two states.
1T would be gross injustice to the
PcoPie VI potH 10 JOIN tnem In one
state. From east to west, as railroads
must be. built. it would be / ZOO miles
across them. The proposed state would
be as large as Texas. and Texas is too
large for its convenient government.
THE people of Arizona are unani-
mously opposed to consolidation with
New Mexico. 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 ex-
perience has taught that after the in
terests of any area have been consoli-
dated as single state, n majority
cannot be secured for separation.
THE Democrats have stood for the
statehood bill as 1t passed the House.
They believe that each Is entitled to
statehood. and they have stood Loyalty
by the Republican minority In their
efforts TO give them statehood but
they Will not infict the injustice. that
probably never can be repaired OF
forcing the people of the two terrific
ries into state so large that It would
forever continue burden they should
not and could not bear"