Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-12-16
MA. sANpEasoN HEARD FROM.

~ 80 b1Af F~A1
OF New Mexico and now OF Detroit.
Mich, who was severely taken to task
BY Che New Mexico press for the state
ment attributed to him by the Detroit
Free Press, that II New Mexico were
admitted To statehood the Pcnitentes
would cause a race war worse than
any the south had ever een
Sad 10 think that all the fnlmina-
tiona Of the territorial papers should
be robbed Of their power: sad that
the prompt and somewhat heated de-
Tense or Mr.. Sanderson by his New
Mexico friends should come TO naught.
Now comes Mr.. Sanderson's explana-
tion. He didn't say Il. Listen 10 what
he says.
sIn the first place. let me assure
You that ! did not write a letter TO-
the Free Press as yoiir article stated.
but the article In question was an
interview taken In the course Of q
long conversation with q member OF
the Free Press r%eportorial stan and
written by him without notes. This
being the case you a 500 that II
was possible for some things to be
said that | would never have written.
said not a word about a race war.
Being asked my opinion Of the state
hood problem | went on to give Il.
stating something Of the makeup Of
the t~erritory's population. This. !
said was about 100000. about half OF
which was made up Of Mexicans. and
Of these q considerable part Il did not
say half. or make and definite statae.
ment OF the number or proportion),
was composed Of P~enitentcs.
=
II am making these statements,
TO clear up any misrepresentation that
the Interview may have created.
know that the Catholic church Is
working to wipe out the ~fanatical ideas
OF the Penitentcs and TINT through ita
noble efforts and by means Of the gen.
cral educational movement In New
Mexico II will eventually disap
pear altogether"
Mr.. Sanderson says he had nc
thought Of saying anything thai might
be construed against the American
people OF the territory There is u
I. suit In those words, We are all Amer
leans ont here. We are working TO
! gether 10 build UP a unique, stronl
and harmonious civilization which
will represent the best elements q
/, the Latin and the Anglo Saxon blood
Every influence thai tends 10 push on
J OF the other race 4 the wall shoult
J be sternly combatted Mr. Sander
o says. Please understand tina
what 1 have said and written IL mad,
J up 81 my opinions II may gratif,
him 10 know, as a matter Of fact, tina
! what he pleases 10 d~iiiorcntiate as VI,
Mexican population average quite q
high In their political life. In theil
homo life. as Jurors as gentlemen IN,
{ as citizens, as do his so-called Amer
leans. The biggest political steal
. ever made In the territory, -far TN
|. larger part IL the bribery and dishon
esty and corruption have not bcei
&C the hands Of those who are nativ'
d 10 this soil. No such wrongs hay'
r ever been done TO the territory by tn
/ original owncrs MS have been perpe
!. trated BY the INSCRIPTIONS promoter
, who have utilized fake mining PROPOSE
tions to swindlc unMary people out 0
millions. Let us not be deceived; :
|. with statehood or without statehood
\ We have much more 10 fear from TIL
!. man from Pennsylvania. OF Michigan
OF Massachusetts,, q / Indiana than ~
have from The man from New Mexico
!. Mr. Sanderson can get no quarre
ont Of rs on the statehood question
We don't believe there Ii an immodi
, ate chance for statehood. anyway, AM
/, AZ much more concerned ~ tie ds
/. yrlopmsnt II ne most righteous priu
/, eipiel % esaupicnn government an
In tho conservation Of the Matef sup
, Dig IN The territory than We arc anon
Mr.. quay and his plans for The MI
mission OF New Mexico Thank tbs
Lord, We have never had I q point {,
anything in New Mexico SO d~lseracotn
as conditions In Grand Rapids. and
should we BE- admitted. We are capabl.
81 a higher standard u government
than Michigan We have respect fol
/. the opinion o. any man who believes
VII are lacking VI weaish, population
OF resources 10 cntltle lis 10 statehood
: hut We Do. under any and all cifcum
Stances, most serionsly Object ~ ans
M&&E% ME