Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-02-05
THURSDAY EVENING FEB.
JOLT STATEHOOD.

commenting on the Dill Creating
n state of New Mexico n Arizona,
a compromise measure said TO have
been agreed to by Senator Quay yes
terday, the Roswell Journal remarks
that If it be true that joint statehood
for New Mexico and Arizona can be
secured as a compromise measure,
and if it be true that a majority of
the people of the two territories real
ly desire statehood, they will do well
to take advantage of an opportunity
to come in as one state. The iron
is hot. 1t may be a decade before
statehood question viii again receive
the prominence and attention it re-
ceives at the present day, and a fail
ure to lake the advantage offered may
be recalled in future IS a lost oppor
tunity. Ae between single statehood
and joint statehood it is merely a
question of sentiment, as no serious
argument for or against the PROPOSE
ton is being advanced. Il would kill
q few prominent boodlers and poll
ticians In this territory, perhaps, Y
who cares for that. A new regime
at the capital would be a blessing.
After the information had been pub
lished exclusively in The Optic last
evening that Senator Quay. fearing
opposition. would accept the extra
session rather than pass the omnibus
bill and advised acceptance of the
plan proposed by the opposition to
admit Arizona and New Mexico as a
single state. a number Of citizens
were rung up by telephone for an eX
preston OF opinion on the matter. a
fe wdid not care to be quoted for PEI
sonal and other reasons n sons
hadn't duly considered the matter.
Among those who made ready re
plies were the following:
Chief Justice w. J. Mills: Il am in
favor OF double admission If we an
not secure single statehood and pre-
fer Santa Fe for the capital"
jefferson Reynolds: 1T strikes me
that the admission of the two Terri
tories as one state would be very
favorable. especially the feature Of
expense of running one state instead
of two. On account of the historic
connection of Santa Fe, | would Hike
to see ii remain as the capital of the
new state. The large republican ma
jority in New Mexico and the large
democratic majority in Arizona would
be equalized in a manner that would
prove very beneficial to the business
interests. The large mining business
interests. The large mining inter
ests of Arizona would be an encour
agement for the investment of cap
ital, and. if we can get the name OF
Lincoln for the new state. it will re-
lieve tn sister Territories of a great
burden"
Judge Elisha V. Long: Il favor
statehood in any form. New Mexico
and Arizona Joined together would
make a great state and would save
expense in administration. Let Al
buquerque OF Gallup be the capitol
and let the new state be given the
name of jefferson. Bring the two Ter
ritories into the union at this session
of hongress without fall
A. A. Jones: I'VE would be better
on as one state. However. the two
Territories combined have sufficient
wealth and population L support a
state government without and great
burden. The selection of a capitol
might be deferred for eight or ten
years"
ID. c. Winters: AS an American
citizen, / favor statehood under any
conditions. either singly or jointly, |
with Lincoln as the name of the joint
state. The location of the capitol will
be an easy matter TO range after
the passage of the statehood bill"
nj. w. Browne: Il would rather
e the Territories admitted singly
and not come into the union jointly. |
/ would suggest Mexizona as the name
of the proposed new state. l think the
capital should remain at Santa Fee"
Thomas Ross: Instead of the
two Territories being admitted as
one state, 1 am of the opinion that
II would be far better for them to be
admitted -singly. They are already
too large. The capitol should be To-
Gated right here in Las Vegas"