Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-02
Is rnE OPTIC mlsTAkeNa

congress have united upon joint state
hood The majority Of the repnbli-
cans Of the United States are against
separate statehood II we decline 20
accept what Is offered, the blame will
ha placed at our own door and state.
hood will probably be denied us for
many years.--Las Vegas Optic
rThe esteemed Las Vegas Optic is
mistaken in the above editorial which
appeared IN its columns Saturday
last
The manner In which the esteemed
Now Mexican afirms thai The Optic
is mistaken In the above editorial" Is,
10 say the least. surprising. AS q
matter Of fact. It Is possible for The
Optic, and even for the New Mexican,
10 make mistakes. Moreover. While
We don't mind being told franklyethat
we are mistaken. we naturally expect
10 be- shown, wherein the error Hes.
In the above article The Optic made
Ave statements. which VIII be consld.
cred In order.
First, that the people of Santa Fe
are keeping up the fight for separate
statehood. This is the only statement
OF the i've which the New Mexican
attempts TO answer. 1t says, III Is
not tho people Of Santa Re. but q
great majority Of tho people OF the
territory who are opposed ~ combined
statehood with Arizona" AS TO this,
The Optic judges by the fact thai.
beyond all question, the predominant.
Ing sentiment In Las Vegas anil San
Miguel county is for joint statehood
rather than no statehood II also
Judges by the sentiment OF Albuquer-
que and Bernalillo county as reflected
In the Journal and Citizen. both of
which favor Joint statehood rather
than territorialism. These two daily
papers. with Tho Optic, the three rep.
r~escnting the two leading counties 81
the territory, are united In the belief
that New Mexico will do well 70 take
Joint statehood II II is now offered TO
her. The New Mexican, on the other
hand. Is opposed to joint statehood
under any conditions, and Il claims 10
represent fiye-sixths OF the people Of
the territory! The Optic wonders at
It's presumption
The second statement. In which we
are said TO be mistaken, Is that the
fight for separate statehood has be-
come a hopeless fight. The republi-
can press on the country says so:
says so what greater proof
could any IN ask than that the In
Rodey has given up the
1ght7): Quay, after h or the most
remarkable struggles ever Witnessed
Iii the United States senate. has given
II up. The proposition needs no proof.
Every intelligent man In New Mexico
knows that tho word hopeless" &C,
.curately describes the situation 80 far
as separate statehood Is concerned.
Our third proposition. in which we
arc said TO be In error. was that the
republicans In congress have united
or agreed upon a Joint statehood bill
AZ u compromise. As It's authority for
this. The Optic simply has tho tesii-
mony OF the entire press OF the Unit.
Cd States. which has been confirmed
by a direct statement from our dee
gate III congress.
The fourth statement, In which We
are said 10 BE mistaken, Il that i ma
jority OF tho republicans Of The uniso-
"a States are against separate state
hood This Is self eyident other
wise NJ would have received recogni
tion Of ON rights Gre this,
The nth and last statement IL The
Optic. which has been called q mis-
statement was that II We are offered
Joint statehood and refase III the
blame VIII be placed nc our own door.
and statehood viii probably he denIod
rs for many Years OF course, the
blame viii be placed where IL belongs
that is, on our own heads. The
majority rules in lhis country No
nan or set OF men can demand a right
aud be sure of getting II. We have de-
manded what We believe 10 be our
right. Tho majority says you can't
have 4. That settles a thing In demo.
cratic government Now the minor
who have done their utmost 10
secure statehood for Us and have fall
I'd, have persuaded the minority %
compromise With them and give us
iului hAtAfnppus hMh w say Nb, -
will not have Il. VIZ will take single
statehood Of nothing Who doubts
that our friends who are Ia the mins
GRITTY will say that We aro a stiffneck
ed AMI stubborn generation. viii give
% tho hopeless struggle and look for.
something newer and more interest
III the kaleidoscope Of national AZ