The Grit-advocate., 1903-02-27
NO FURTHER HOPE
FOR STATEHOOD

Washington Feb. 25-The Demo-
cratic senatorial caucus has rejected
the two state propositions for the ad-
mission of new states submitted by the
Republicans.
After the adjournment of the caucus,
the Democratic members OF the COM
mittee on postoflices met the Repubii-
can members of that committee who
have been friendly to statehood. They
decided to ask the chairman of the
two committees on pOsLOliices and
agriculture TO withdraw the statehood
riders which the committees have
placed on the 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 it.
The Republicans have decided to pre-
sent their compromise bill to the Sen
ate.
The indications are very strong that
the question will receive very little if
any consideration during the session,
and even the best friends of statehood
generally admit that there is no chance
Of success at this time.
Speeches were made in the caucus
by Senators Clay. Bacon. Teller, Du-
bOis, Simmons. Foster of Louisiana.
Bate. Morgan. Pettus and others All
the speakers took positive grounds
against the compromise proposition,
and several Of them spoke emphatical-
ly agains; the proposition to put the
statehood bill on any of the appropria-
tiCn bills as Il rider. At the same time
they favored placing the future course
OF the party with reference to the state
mood bill rs such. ana also as a rider,
in the hands OF the Democratic mem
Ders OF the committee on pOStOfiiceS.
A Democratic senator who is a mem
Der Of the committee on territories on
being asked for statement of the rea-
sons for rejecting the compromise
proposition. wrote the following,
which, after submitting it to several
of his colleagues, he gave out for pub
licatiOn.
The Democratic caucus rejected the
proposed compromise statehood bill for
the following reasons: When Arizona
and New Mexico were made territories
their areas were established for ulti-
mate statehood purposes and all the
interests and expectations of the peo-
pie 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 cast to west as railroads
must be built. it would be | 700 miles
across them. The proposed state would
be as large as Texas. and Texas is too
large for its convenient government
The people of Arizona are unani-
mously opposed to consolidation with
New Mexico, and the people of both
the territories should be consulted
THE provisions in the consolidation
bill for ultimate separate statehood are
snare. The question of separation
into two states must be submitted to
the voters of the entire state. and eX-
perlonce has taught that after the in
teresis OF any area have been consoli-
dated as a single state. a majority
cannot be secured for separation.
The Democrats have stood for the
statehood bill as il passed the House
They believe that each is entitled to
statehood. and they have stood loyally
by the Republican minority in their
efforts to give them statehood; but
they viii! not inflict the injustice, that
probably never can be repaired. of
forcing the people of the two terrific
ries into state so large that it would
forever continue a burden they should
not and could not bear"