Bisbee daily review., 1903-01-25
ANSWER OF
 MARK SMITH
SMITH EXPLAINS APPORTlON-
 MENT OF DELEGATES.

MENT OF DELEGATES. The Washington Post, of January 6, printed the following communication from Delegate Smith:
 Editor PCs;:-I find the following in the Under the Dome" column of the Saturday Post, and was surprised to find it the.s, for your great paper justly deserves its wide reputation TOT truth, justice and fairness:
 The micl cscope has been turned on the omnibus statehood bill by its oppo- nents, and an African of no small di- nensions has been discovered in that part relating to Arizona. It appears tha: the 5il. divides the territory into districts, fer the purpose of electing delegates 10 he constitutional conven- ton and as the bill stands, accord ing 10 the ecent vote, the democrats would have 21 delegates and the re- publicans seven.
 Should -le republicans carry the territory by 10,O00, the democrats would cont. I the convention re- marked one senator.
 "Of course, that convention could make the .egislative apportionment, and that would mean two democratic senators beyond all question"
 "I don't k1ow why Mark Smith put that apportionment in there in that shape" remarked Senator Quay, when I. was brought to his attention.
 That's easy" was the retort. He put it in tG make Mark Smith sena- tor. though ne was sure of it on fair apportiOnu ent if this bill ever passes '
 From this one might conclude that the writer made a full investigation Of Arizona in a One-day and two nights trip in the private room of a Pullman car, "as the manner of some is" Now, compare this statement with the actual facts. The Arizona leg islature is composed by the organic act of twerty-Iour members of the house and twelve council men. or senatlor4 This legislature Enacts all laws for the territory just as state legislatures do for states The mem bers are aDporitoned among the diff ferent counties, according to popula- tion. The apportionment has not been changed for many years, and any change on account of the increased population of the southern democratic counties would be of advantage to that party. There has been little or no complaint anywhere and certainly none from any republican in Arizona. The present statehood bill provided that the constitutional convention shall consist of thirty-six members and apportioned delegates thereto among the different counties exactly as members of the legislature is now apportioned. The bill was introduced before the last election and had pass hOnSo hnfnrn nI was pending in the senate committee on territories.
 If an apportionment should be made based on the vote of the last election the democrats would be the gathers. l have passed three bills through the house of representative for the ad- mission of Arizona, and every one con- tained the exact apportionment No complaint was ever heard from any source. Gov Murphy represented Ari- Zona as republican in the Fifty fourth congress, and the committees of both houses reported favorably his bill for admission, which contained the exact apportionment of the pres ent. Col Wilson a democrat, succeed ed Gov. Murphy, and the bill intro duced by him contained exactly the hA OH lSlOl anu liO COLupldlul W dS made. Arizona adopted a constitu- tion and presented the same. to con- gress with bill for admission as a state. The bill which provided for that constitutional convention which framed the constitution (which was adopted almost unanimously by the vote of the people, was organized and conducted by delegates selected by the very same apportionment. If I had deviated from these established precedents, I could, with some show of reason, have been charged with T, 'aking an apportiOnment for personal .o- party advantage. No wonder it -ra1z,, red microscope to discover so snng1l a nigger in an unknown wood nile ,."he 'one senator" had even stronger glass when he saw my mo- tive in fse act. There is nothing the matter with Arizona. That territory by every rule is entitled to statehood; and every legislator here who loves justice and equality and freedom, who hates oppression and wrong, and who will keep the party's solemn pledges or will acquaint himself with the facts. will not only cease filibustering against the omnibus bill, but will give it his cordial support.
 NEADCITC SMITH