The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-25
Caucus of Minority Senators De
cides Two-State Plan Would
Be Unfair to Arizona.
REPUBLICAN TRUST CABAL.
Decide 10 Continue Support of On
nibus Bill-Little Hope for
Legislation at This
Session.

Washington. Feb 2i.-The Democratic
senatorial caucus mas rejected the two
State proposition for the admission of new
States. submitted by the Republicans.
The matter of further negotiations was
left with the Democratic members Of the
Committee on Post Offices. which has
charge of the appropriation bill with the
statehood rider
The object ia to ascertain whether there
Is a majority of the Senate willing to vote
the rider upon the bill. Unless there is an
assurance Of success, the Democrats Will
not vote for the rider.
The Democrats will not accept anything
on d basis of TWO States.
THE Democratic caucus rejected the pro-
posed compromise statenood bill Tor the iol-
lowing reasons:
When Arizona and New Mexico were
made Territories their areas We're estab-
lished for ultimate statehood purposes, ana
all the interests aud expectations OF the
people of the two Territories have been in
anticipation of the two States.
1t would be gross injustice TO the people
of both TO Join them in one State. From
east to west, as railroads must be built, IL
would be LEO miles across them. The pro
posed State would be as large as Texas, and
Texas is too large Tor convenient govern
ment
REPUBLICANS TRUST CABAL.
MANY Democrats feel that the Republic
can fight tor statehood has not been sin
cere, they having used the statehood bill as
Il buffer 10 prevent trust discussion and leg,
islation. For Democrats now. having stood
almost solid body TOR the admission oil
the three Territories. to accept the proposed
consolidation would be to have played into
the hands of the Republican trust cabal.
Speeches We're mace in the caucus by
Senators Clay Bacon Teller. Dubois Sim
mons. Foster Of Louisiana. Bate. Morgan,
Pettus and others.
. All the speakers took positive grounds
against the compromise proposition. and
several OF them spoke emphatically against
Saft i'm 70 rarIT In rRt nnh
ON any of the appropriation bills as rider.
At the same time they favored placing
the future course of the party with refer
ence 10 the statehood bill as such and also
as rider in the hands Of the Democratic
members of the Committee Post Offices.
REASONS FOR REFUSAL
Democratic Senator. who is a member
of the Committee on Territories, OH being
asked for statement of the reasons for
rejecting the compromise proposition. wrote
the following which. after submitting to
several OF his colleagues. he gave out for
publication:
opposed to consolidation with New Mex
leo. and the people of both Territories
should be consulted.
."The provisions in the consolidation bill
for ultimate separate statehood are a snare.
The question of separation into two States
must be submitted to the voters of the en-
tire State, and experience has taught that,
consolidated as single State, a majority
cannot be secured for separation.
ne bcinOCTdlS. nave StOtu 1Or the state
hood bill as it passed the House. They be-
lieve that each is entitled to statehood, and
they have stood loyalty by the Republican
minority in their efforts to give them state
hood, but they will not infiict the injustice,
that probably never can be repaired. OF
forcing the people of the two Territories
into State so large that it would forever
continue a burden they should not bear"
LITTLE HOPE FOR ANY BILL.
after the adjournment of the caucus the
Democratic members of the Committee on
Post Offices met the Republican members
of that committee. who have been friendly
to statehood. They decided to ask the
chairman of the two committees on Post
Offices and Agriculture to withdraw the
statehood riders, which the committees
have placed on 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 IL. s
The Republicans have decided to present
their compromise bill to the Senate.
The indications are very strong that the
question will receive very little, if any,
more consideration during the session. and
even the best friends OF statehood generally
admit that there is no chance for success
at this time.