Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-03
FIGHT FOR STATEHOOD
Delegate Smith Talks on the
Situation.
A CLEAR MAJORITY
he CLAIMS OMNIBUS BILL HAS
IN SENATE.
Says the Bill Will Pass or Look Out
for an Extra Session Of
Congress.
| CLEAR MAJORITY

Mr.. Mark A Smith, delegate in Congress
from Arizona, has returned to town from
a vacation spent at his old Kentucky home.
He comes back chuck full of fight in behalf
Of the omnibus statehood bill. In the pres
ent status Of the bill-it is in the Senate
he cannot do much more than stand out
side and hold the sponge while he cheers
on the fighters, but he is ready and willing
to do what he can.
THAT omnibus bill will pass Congress, or
there will be an extra session." he said to
Star reporter today. when / say that
1 do not mean to make threats Of obstruct-
ing the business of Congress on the part of
friends of the bill They are not the OBJ
structionists. In this case; it's the other
side that is doing the obstructing.
Has a Clear Majority.
'As the case stands the omnibus state
hood bill has a clear majority of six votes
in the United States Senate. That is the
minimum figure. There are four or five
more votes under cover. Now. all the
friends of statehood ask is that the ma
jorty of the United States Senate will be
permitted to express itself by vote.
1.-The friends of the statehood bill are
ready to have a vote on that bill after
the reading Of the journal in the Senate to-
w,
after-the sooner the better. The bill has
influential friends in the Senate among re-
publcans In my opinion it Will pass
There is some talk of going on with debate
on the trust bill. Well, if the Senate wants
to talk trusts they will find that Senator
Quay can talk too The interposition of
trust debate is merely obstruction.
The Opposition.
THE opposition to the bill comes from
the coterie of omnipotence in the Senate
that would rule everything their own way
The entrance of six more senators, provided
for in the bill, means the dilution, perhaps,
of the power of the coterie. 1t means that
six more voices will be heard in council
and in making committee assignments.
Mr.. Smith was asked his opinion OF the
suggestion to incorporate Arizona anu new
Mexico as one state.
THAT proposition is untenable. The state
would be an empire in area. The travelling
expenses of carrying on the ordinary busl-
ness of state officials would bankrupt the
community. The people do not want the
two territories combined. We want Wnat
the national conventions of both parties
have promised us, statehood lor Arl1oHa
and New Mexico.
eff policy of obstruction Is pursued py
the minority Of the Senate and this bill is
held up, look out for an extra session Oh
Congress-.
Senator Quay Ready to Resume.
Senator Quay, the leader Of the fight for
the statehood bill, who has been recuperat-
ing in Florida during the recess, Will be on
hand when the Senate meets next Monday
to resume the fight for his BILL He proposes,
it is said, to contest every motion that may
be offered to set other business before the
hill The bill has the right of way, as un-
finished business, and can only be displaced
by a majority vote of the Senate or by
unanimous consent.
Senator Hoar has given notice that ne
nronoses to address the Senate on his anti
trust bill next Tuesday.