Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-02-12
MORE ABOUT STATEHOOD.

Under date of February 9Th, the
Rocky Mountain News, has the fol-
lowing interesting dispatch from
Washington:
ut is reported today that the repub-
lean friends of the omnibus statehood
bill and its republican opponents have
agreed upon a compromise measure
that will admit New Mexico and Arr
zona as one state, and Oklahoma and
Indian Territory as another state
though the provision may be that tho
law will not operate as to the Indian
Territory for five or six years to come.
This is on account OF treaties with the
five civilized tribes occupying the Ter
ritory offering some obstruction.
I'm anticipation of such a measure
Senators Carmack, Teller, Dubois,
Patterson and Rawlins met last night
TO take counsel about it. These and
all the other democratic senators
have stood Loyalty by the omnibus bill,
even refraining from debate that the
opponents of the measure might soon
er express themselves and a vote be
secured, but THEY WILL NOT APP
PROVE ANY MEASURE THAT CON-
SOLIDATES NEW MEXICO AND
ARIZONA. They declare that the Ter
ritories nae better remain without
statehood for twenty years than the
outrage of consolidating two Terrific
ries each as large as Colorado into
one state shuld be per%petrated, and
they give out the likelihood Of the
democrats talking the compromise to
death if Quay should surrender to the
enemies of separate statehood for the
two Territories. They don't object
to the consolidation Of Oklahoma and
Indian Territory, for both of these are
small relatively to New Mexico and
Arizona. Indeed, they believe that
the consolidation of the latter would
be the best solution, but they are rad
ically opposed to consolidation of
New Mexico and Arizona.
Delegate Rodey will be favorable to
the measure if he becomes convinced
that the omnibus bill can't succeed,
but Delegate MarkSmith and the popu-
lation of Arizona almost to a man and
woman are opposed to the consolida-
ton. and will fight it to the end.
There are those who do not believe
that Senator Quay will desert his dem.
ocratic allies who have stood by him
in his fight for statehood so unani-
mously and un~finchingly. The coming
week will determine whether he will
or not"
We cannot believe our democratic
friends in h senate are wise in re-
susing to consent to a consolidation
OF Arizona and New Mexico. True.
this consolidation and admission will
lose to the west two senator's, but
there is no certainty under present
conditions that statehood will come II
now defeated for the next flftyy year,.
Admission even under the proposed
merger. gives the west four additional
senators, and it Is far better that we
have the aid of Jour additional strong
senators, than that we wait forty or
fifty years in the vain hope Of getting
two more. "A bird in the hand is
worth two in the bush.", Let us not
foIg get this Old adage.
Four senators to stand up for west
ern interests commencing soon, while
Hc need them. Is far setter than the
years of delay which must come If We
miss this opportunity.
Discussion and further ccnsidera-
ton will produce a change of senti.
ment in Arizona. Her people must on
calm reelection see that years of Ter.
ritorial waiting will come il we fail
Of adm. ssior now. IT IL to be hoped
tho ccmccratic senators. il the omni-
bus bill fails, will join Senator Quay,
consent to the merger proposed, and
bring in these Territories In some
form as states in the union.