The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1903-10-23
W. r. Hearst on Statehood.

OctODer 10, Mr. Hearst sBy6:-AmouS tue
iuiquities that congress will be called
upon to correct is the deprivation of hun
dreds OF thousands of American citizens
of their right of self-government,
To serve political purpose, New
Mexico, Arizona aud Oklahoma were
refused statehood during the last ses-
sion of congress,
That is an injustice that must be
remedied.
There is no reason for keeping
these communities in the swadling
clothes of territorial self-governmentj
that is a condition designed under the
constitution to continue ouly TO such
time as communities shall become
fitted in population and progress for
membership in the sisterhood of
states.
That these territories have arrived
at maturity, is doubted only by those
that are ignorant of them.
The census reports show their tit
ness in point of numbers, and their
schools, colleges, churches and tre-
mendous Industries answer the other
question
To the end that the men that have
the .destiny Of these American COM
monwealths in their hands should ap.
preciate the injustice that has pre-
vailed against them, Representative
William Randolph Hearst invited
representative delegation Of congress-
men and senators to visit the south
west, and the train is now on its way.
Both democratic and republican
members of the national Legislature
are among the guests, for the question
involved should not be one of par
tisan politics, but Of justice,
Oklahoma, with lis population of
nearly 400, 200; New Mexico, with 1885,
30, ana Arizona, with l22,93l in the
census of 1900, qualify for admission
as states better than most of the states
that have come into the union slbce
the revolutionary war. OF the thirty
two states admitted since the original
thyteen formed the union. twenty-five
had, on their entrance, ess popula
ton than New Meyico has today, and
seventeen had less than Arizona pos.
sesses.
II more statistics are required to
point out the unfairness of continuing
these territories as federal dependen-
cies, the presence in the union .as
states of Wyoming with 05,53l peo
pie, and Nevada, with only 42335,
furnishes them. There are eight
states in the union, including Yer mont,
with less population than Okla IONA,
and four states, including Delaware,
with less population than New Mexico
Is it any wonder that the people of
these territories protest against the
discrimination that keeps from them
the right to conduct their own af.
fairs?
They are progressive, wide. awake,
up-to-date American communities and
yearly the statistical absurdity Of
treating them like sparsely populated
wildernesses becomes more manifest.
The senator's and congressman that
are nov bound on their voyage of in
vestigation will learn these things,
and, it is to be hoped, their voices
and their knowledge will overcome
the present selhshhess and the hide.
bound conservatism that have served
in the past to deprive these communi-
ties of the privileges and dignities Of
statehood which are their rights.
f. @. Perkins returned last evening
from Aztec, where he had four cases
In court. and won all four. He says
the demand for railway through
that country is becoming more and
more apparent every day, The freight
ing and stage business have grown tC
great Importance aud thinks that in
asmuch as San Juan county has made
such great progress when so badly
handicapped for want of a railroadj i
will take still greater strides when i
does get one. The mossbacks and ob
structionists have been rooted out ant
the couEtry is peopled by progres
sive, up to.date class, AS an lnstanc
of the pressing need Of a railroad, i
may be mentioned that it takes thre
days of weary travel to go from SAINT
Fe to Aztec or Pennington, it beln
necessary to come by Antonito, to Du
range. where stopover of one nigh
is made, when the rest Of the journe
is made by stage. With rail conneC
tions the trip would consume onl
part of day. Under present cond
tions mans business would indee
be pressing that would induce him t
make such trip. Durango Herald,
+. B. Andrews.-Tn compulsory edu
cation lies the only hope for the upif
ing Of the race. Only through it can W
hope that humanity can resist the retrc
grade tendency which keeps it at
standstill in spite Of the eflotts of phi
anthropists. Such a system of publ
schools as our own, raised to a high de
gree OF perfection, will create con
tempt among the poverty stricken in
habitants ct the slums for their low
grovelng canine conditions OF life. c
course other forms will have to be efiec
ed in the schools first BY means of
stringent, truant system, compulsory e:
ucatiou up to the age Of fifteen can b
onforood iy;n1ar0ortat sy,Faro o.