Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-11
LESSER OF
TWO EVILS
Able aud Sensible Discussion
Of Statehood By Delegate
Rodey
ONLY ONE WAY
III New Mexico Doesn't Come III
With Arizona She VIII He out
Oflt For Many Years

= Washington. d. G, Feb. S. 1904. .
= Editor Daily Optic, =
= Las Vegas, NJ M =
My Dear Sir---I notice the =
+ stand you are taking in your =
= newspaper ON the statehood ques =
= ton. | firmly believe you are =
= d true friend Of the people of =
= our territory. | am here on the =
Z ground have in my humble =
= way made the best fight could =
+ for New Mexico's rights, but | =
+ think | have sense enough to =
4 know when a thing is tmpossL +
+ bic, | now say that ! know that =
= Il II impossible for New Mexico =
| + or Arizona to be admitted TO =
+ separate statehood In this gener- +
+ alton in all probability, know =
| + that the heart of every one OF =
+ our citizens will III with indigna. :
4 tion at this treatment of us by n
| y the national cogress. But what =
= are YOU going to do about Il? +
4 Is II not better TO come into the +
+ Union on favorable terms with 4
4. Arizona than stay out for a gen Z
= cration2 When we have at least 4
= three representatives and maybe =
= four in congress, and two sena =
4 tors In the United States senate Z
= we will have some power TO Z
+ strike back back at those who =
r are now lampooning US We =
= will nave some power 70 ask and =
/ = procure the confederation that z
= properly belongs TO us. Now 4
= IL Ia a fact that we =
= cannot get into this union In .
= this generation as n separate =
Il = state, however unjust that may =
= be. ii II not a fact that any per- =
= son In Mexico who will not ac- =
= cept the inevitable. puts himself =
= In the position Of saying then =
q LEI us have no statehood unless =
= we can have Il separator
Il Congress at this session or at least
during this congress. viii let In Okla
homa and Indian Territory one
great state. Its hearings before the
that the combined territories will have
house committee has demonstrated
a million and half people, The
press of the nation will applaud AM
approve the admission OF that state
irrespective Of politics. The day has
passed when the territory with less
than half a million Of people will be
admitted to the union ms state. y
. | the northwest territories were out
, sim they could not get IN. That II
universally conceded here In the
east II Ii n condition, not a theory
we are confronted with. Area counts
for nothing with eastern senators, oI
with thl people ~ the United States
III Ii population Intelligence AMI
wealth. but particularly population
that counts. size of state amounts tc
, nothing. There are three-qnarters ol
n million people from the states now
lIiying IN indian Territory and nearly
an equal number III Oklahoma, and
WI those areas are 10 be combined
The congress and the people and press
. OF The United States win not permit
less than two hundred Thousand peo
, pie In Arizona 10 Dc madc state. nor
viii they tolerate Or permit the grant
ing III statehood VI three hundred and
Hfty thousand people of New Mexico
New Mexico might have some chance
to get into the union alone now. II
Arizona did not exist but II does ex.
ist. and Il III milestone around New
Mexico's statehood neck
have made The best fight ] could
for the land of my adoption, ] sin.
cprcly regret my inability 10 achieve
the one object Of my humble llfe--to
bring our territory into the union
alone, Ny advice. which. II Il iS
worth anything, ! freely give 70 our
people now, Is 10 accept the newt.
able. What we often think is evil,
sometimes proves to be the best. This
may be 30,
| with best wishes 10 all our people,
irrespective Of politics. and asking
for their advice and support.
/ Respectfully yours.