The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-25
AGAINST COMPROMISE
DEMOCRATS AGAINST TWO.
 STATE PROPOSITION.
Say They Believe That Omnibus Measure Has Been Used by Republicans as Buffer to Pre-
 vent Trust Discussion.

Washington. Feb. A.-The Democratic Senatorial caucus today rejected the two- State proposition for the admission of new States submitted by the Republicans.
 After the adjournment of the caucus the Democratic members of the Commit tee on Postoff1ces met the Republican members of that Committee who have been friendly to Statehood. They decided to ask the Chairmen of the two commit tees on Postof1lces and Agriculture to ! withdraw the Statehood riders which the Committees have placed on two appro- priation bills. They all decided to con tnue the fight for the omnibus bill as it came from the House. without amend ment but not to antagonize appropriation bills or legislative business with 1t. The Republicans have decided to pre- sent their compromise bill to the Senate.
 The questions are very strong that the question will receive very little If any more consideration during the session and the best friends of Statehood generally admit that there Is no chance for success at this time.
 During the caucus speeches were made by Senators Clay, Bacon. Dubois, Sim mons. Foster (Ia), Bate, Morgan, Pet tus and others All the speakers took positive grounds against the compromise piOpOoIGOus AL tll0 bes4tAo tune they Ia voIed placing the future course of the party with reference to the statehood bill as such. and also as a rider, in the hands of the Democratic members of the Committee on Postoffices. A Democratic Senator. member of the Committee on Territories, wrote the following, which, after submitting to several of his col leagues, he gave out for publications:
 ''The Democratic caucus rejected the proposed compromise statehood bill for the following reasons,
 "When Arizona and New Mexico were made territories their areas were estab- lished for ultimate Statehood purposes and all the interests and expectations of the people of the two territories have been in anticipation of the two States.
 Tt would be gross injustice to the people of both to join them In one State From east to west as railroads must be huilt. 1t would be 1,70O miles across them. The proposed State would be as large as Texas, and Texas is too large for its con- venient government.
 Many Democrats feel that the Repub- ltcan fight for Statehood has not been sincere, they having used the Statehood bill as a buffer to prevent trust discus sion and legislation. For Democrats now having stood almost solid body for the admission for the three territories, to ac- cept the proposed consolidation would be to have played into the hands of the Re- publican antitrust cabal.
 The people of Arizona are unanimous ly opposed to consolidation with New Mexico and the people of both the terri tories should be consulted.
 Three 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 entire State and experience has taught that after the interests of any area has been changed to a single State a majority cannot be secured.
 The Democrats have stood for the Statehood bill as it passes the House. They believe that each is entitled to Statehood and they have stood loyaly by the Republican minority in their efforts to give them Statehood; but they will rot inhict the injustice that probably never car be repaired of forcing the peo- pie of the two territories into State 80 large that it would forever continue a burden they should not bear"