Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-04-20
STATEHOOD QUESTION.
Opinions OF Two Influential Arizona
Newspapers.
ONE FOR AND ONE AGAINST UNION.

The Hon. b. S. Rodey, delegate to
returned to his home at Albuquerque,
and expresses the opinion that Arizona
and New Mexico will be made one
state, by republican party action early
in the next session of congress. Mr.
Rodey says that no amount of opposi-
ton on the part Of Arizona can pre-.
vent this, and he intimates that New
Mexico will welcome the relation. AS
Stunning that Mr.. Rodey, who is a re-
publican, is speaking by the authority
of his party leaders in congress, what
are the people of Arizona going to do
about it?
In time Of peace, prepare for war, is
an adage both ancient and wise. I'm
less the people of this territory are
willing that Arizona should become a
vassal province of New Mexico no time
is to be lost in preparing to fight the
proposal. 1t should not be lost sight
of that in the next congress the people
of Arizona will not have Mark Smith
at the helm. Colonel Wilson may
prove to be all that could be desired,
but he has not had as much experience
as Mr.. Smith, is not so widely ac-
quainted, and it is to be doubted If he
ear exert the same commanding influ-
ence on the democratic leaders IN both
houses of congress. Mr.. Smith prevent
ed the amalgamation of Arizona and
New Mexico during the last session of
congress. For this he is entitled to the
eternal gratitude of the people of Ari-
zona In the next congress the ques-
ton will again be alive and unless the
people of Arizona present a solid, de-
termined fighting front, Arizona will be
obliterated from the map of the United
States.
This is the most serious public prob
lem now confronting the people of Ari-
zona We believe that not 3 per cent
of the people of this territory are will
ing to join New Mexico in statehood.
Government from Washington is not
ideal, but government from Santa Fe
would be intolerable. Both houses of
the Arizona legislature by unanimous
vote passed a memorial to congress
protesting against Joint statehood.
This is the official vote of Arizona. The
people should prepare to back it up
to give 1t force and effect.
A committee Of public safety should
now be organized. This should be
made up Of men Of all parties. The
duty of this committee should be to
protect the commonwealth. Arizona is
worth fighting for as 1t stands. AS a
province of New Mexico it would
wither and decay. New Mexico would
tax Arizona 70 death, destroy its indus
tries, abolish its institutions, imperil
its civilization. Arizona wishes New
Mexico well as a neighbor and friend.
But the highest effort of Arizona
craftsmanship should be exerted to
prevent political amalgamation with
New Mexico.-Tucson Citizen.
In some respects this article Is an
injustice to New Mexico, as her in.
debtedness is less than half that of Ari-
zona, and her tax rate Is much lower.
Then New Mexico could not tax Ari-
zona to death" without taxing herself
accordingly. New Mexico has made a
most remarkable growth during the
past five years. More miles Of railroad
have been built in New Mexico during
the past two years than any other state
or territory in the union save one
Texas. New towns, and good ones,
too, are springing into existence all
over New Mexico. Old conditions are
fast passing away in New Mexico, and
a new era of great and lasting prosper.
ity has come. New Mexico is beyond
Arizona as an agricultural, horticul-
fnnal and cfnolr .nicinn nna,AA.. A.