The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1903-04-16
ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.


Congress from New Mexico has just
returned to his home, at Albuquerque
and expresses the opinion that Ari
iona and New Mexico will be made
one State. 10y repu blican party action
early in the next session OF Congress
Mr. Rodey says that no amount oil
opposition Oh the part Of Arizona can
prevent this. and he intimates that
New Mexico viii welcome the rela-
ton Assuming that Mr.. Rodey
who is "A republican. il speaking by
the authority Of his party leaders i'll
Congress, what are the people OF Ari-
iona going 10 do about it,
Ia time Of peace, prepare for war
Is an adagc both ancient aud wise.
Mess the people of this Territory
are willing that Arizona should be-
come Vassal province of New Mex
loo no time j. To toe lost in preparing
to fight the proposal. 1t should not
4 he lost sight Of that in the next Con-
gress the people OF Arizona will not
F have Mark Smith at the helm. Col.
Wilson may prove To he all that could
be desired but he has not had as
much experience as Mr.. Smith, is not
50 widely acquainted, and it is to be
doubted II he can exert the same COM
handing influence Oh the democratic
leaders in both Houses of congress.
Mr.. Smith prevented the anna CANA
, ton of Arizona and New Mexico dur.
ing the last session of Congress. For
this he is entitled to the eternal graft
tude of the people Of Arizona. In the
next Congress the question will again
be alive and unless the people of ATi
iona present a solid, determined
fighting front. Arizona will be Oblit-
Grated from the map Of the United
States.
This is the most serious public prob
lem now confronting the people of
: \ riZona. We believe that not three
per cent. OF the people of this Terri
tory are willing to join New Mexico
in Statehood. Government from
Washington is not ideal, but govern
ment from Santa Fe would be intoler-
able. 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
it force and effect.
4 committee of public safety
should now be organized. This
should be made up of men of all par
ties. The duty of this committee
should he to protect the common
wealth. Arizona is worth fighting
for as it stands. AS province of
New Mexico it would wither and de-
cay. New Mexico would tax Arizona
to death, destroy its industries, abOl-
ish its institutions. imperil its civili
cation. arizona wishes New Mexico
we'll as IA neighbor and friend. But
the highest effort or A rizona states
manship should be exerted to prevent
political amalgamatiOn with New
Citizen.
In some respects this article is an
injustice to New Mexico, as her in
debtedness is less than half that of
Arizona, and her tax rate is much
lower. Then New Mexico could not
tax Arizona to death" without tax
ing herself accordingly. New
Mexico has made most remarkable
growth during the past five years.
More miles eff 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 oues,
too, are springing into existence all
over New Mexico. Old conditions
are fast passing away in New Mexico,
and new era of great and lasting
prosperity has come. New Mexico is
beyond Arizona az an agricultural,
horticultural and stock raising coun-
try. Arizona, by combination with
southern New Mexico, would hold
the balance of political power in the
state. which would mean the removal
of the capital to Albuquerque. a
more central location.
But aside from these questions, the
bill would provide that Arizona
should become state when its popu-
latiOn shall have reached 200, 900,
which at its present ratio of increase
would in all probability he not longer
than five or six years. While the
ERA would much prefer to see Ari-
iona admitted singally, yet it be-
Loves that the only show for admis-
sion is in conjunction with New
Mexico, and even under those cir
cumstances it will welcome statehood.