Arizona republican., 1903-12-08
The house Committee on territories


awaited with considerable interest III
/ Arizona, chief concern centering, OF
/ course. upon the committee on territor-
les. All statehood bills will be referred
| to this committee before the house
I takes action thereon. and a failure of
the committee to report, or its adverse
report. would make it practically i'm
possible to get a statehood measure
before the house for consideration.
As given out Saturday, the following
representatives and delegates now con-
stitute the committee:
Republicans: Edward L.. Hamilton
chairman, of Niles. Michigan Abra-
ham /. Brick, South Bend. Indiana:
Adm B. Caprcn, saltwater, Rhode Is
land; George NJ. Southwicb, Albany.
New York; Llewellyn Powers. Houl-
ton. Maine; William II. jackson. Sal
isbury, Maryland; Burleigh f. Spald-
ing. Fargo, North Dakota; George L.
Lilley, Waterbury, Connecticut; John
l.. Sterling, Bloomington. Illinois,.
Democrats: John a. Noon. Chstta-
nooga, Tennessee; James T Lloyd,
Shelbyville, Missouri; James NJ. Rob-
inson. Fl Wayne. Indiana; John r.
Thayer. Worcester. Massachusetts,;
Gordon Russell, Tyler. Texas: Charles
c. Reid Morrilton. Arkansas; Bird s.
Mcguire. Guthrie. Oklahoma: John p
Wilson, Prescott, Arizona.-S.
Following the precedent set by
Speaker Henderson. Speaker Cannon
divided this committee as nearly as
possible between the two parties. Civ
ing the republicans a majority of one.
As forecast in The Republican some
time ago. Representative Hamilton is
chairman of the committee Although
he acquiesced in the favorable report
on the omnibus bill in the last con-
ed to the admission of Arizona and
New Mexico. agreeing with the speak
e. in this regard. The appointment Of
Mr. Hamilton does not necessarily
mean, however. that tie speaker is de-
ternined TO defeat statehood at all
hazards, as reported by some of the
Washington correspondents. Mr.. Knox
of Massachusetts. who was chairman
of the committee in the Fifty-seventh
congress, was not reelected, and as
Mr.. Hamilton was next On the list he
succeeded to the craftsmanship by viz
tue OF seniority.
But it is apparent at glance that
Speaker Cannon was determined to
make up the territorial committee
from the old members. Hamilton.
Brick, Southwick, Powers and Jack
sen, republicans, and Moon. Robinson.
Thayer and Russell, democrats. were
members OF the committee in the Fiji
ty-seventh congress. Thus nine of the
present members served togethr in the
o. the omnibus bill. In
addition to these former members Of
the committee, Spalding and Canron.
republicans. and Lloyd and Reid, dem
-crats, were members of the Fiftv-sev-
nnth and several preceding congresses,
so that thirteen members Of the COM
mittee have been i'm the house together
for number Of years. Only four mem
beers of the committee were not I'm .na
congress. They are Lii
ley and Sterling, republicans and Nc
CURE and Wilson, democrats; and Del
egate Wilson served in the Fifty-sixth.
The democrats are fond of claiming
That their party stands a solid phalanx
fer the admission of the three terri
tories. although this Of course IS not
true; there are many democrats i'm
both the house and the senate who are
either opposed for the admission Of
Arizona and New Mexico, or are i'll
different on the question. But if the
democrats arc able to line up their
eight members on the committee in IA
yor Of statehood, they ought to be rca- !
'cnably sure to get some republicans to
stand with them. For example. Mr..
Powers Of Maine, when here with the
Hearst party, expressed himself as
favorable to the admission of Arizona, |
at least
When it comes to casting about for
republican support. however, it must .
be admitted that the committee as
made up is geographically against us.
Dur fate is in the hands of Michigan.
Indiana. Rhode Island, New y York
Maine, Maryland, North Dakota, Con
necticut and Illinois. And with the ex-
-ept.on Of Mr.. Powers. who did have
'h opportunity to learn something
ibout the territories while with the