Arizona republican., 1904-03-23
Wilson Admits the Danger.

! Delegate Wilson writes lengthy let | ter to his personal organ. the Phoenix i Enterprise to show that he and not i former Delegate Smith, has succeeded i in lining up the democrats of the house of representatives and of the senate of the United States against the consolidation of Arizona and New Mexico. With the controversy between the adherents of Wilson and Smith, and the bearing the controversy has on the prospects of either for the democratic nomination, we are not at present concerned. The important fact ! is that Delegate Wilson new urges that great danger confronts Arizona. Until recently, we believe, he was pooh -poohing the suggestion that pos sibly the two territories would be ad- mitted as one state. Apparently, he considered that he could defeat any proposed merger. A few weeks ago there was a joke smilingly current on the republican side of the house which emphasized Col. Wilson's faith in his ability to knock out the plans of the house committee on territories.
 Do you know what Wilson of Ari- zona says?" one mamber would ask another.
 INC; what is it?" would be the reply.
 Why, he says that if the committee reports bill joining Arizona and New Mexico, he i'll raise h-'!"
 We do not cite this fact for the pur- pose of disparaging Wilson. but to give point to the fact that he now believes the situation somewhat alarming. As we have stated before, our delegate has stood by the territory Loyalty, and deserves full credit therefor. Col Will ! son closes his letter with this state ment:
 Since the last conference, the house committee on territories has met and the republican majority has notified us that they intend to outrage us with a joint bill. We have notified them that we will undercut them with separate bill. It is going to be a : straight party measure, directed by a clear-cut party caucus, coming from the republican side. However, to do this formally, the following sub-com- | mittee was appointed: Republicans Hamilton, Powers, Spaulding, Rodey | Lillie and Sterling; democrats-Lloyd, I Moon, Robinson and Wilson
 'I am now engaged in preparing a ] separate bill for the four territories as a counter omnibus for the republican ! majority bill. The matter has grown ] into a direct party contest, and will | be fought out on the floor of the house |
 Some of the western republicans are resisting a party caucus. and if they ! refuse 10 go into caucus, and vote with us, we will pass the single bill. . The question is, whether or not they . will stand up, and l am not counting much on it; for too many times have i seen the effect of the party whip | fourished in the air by the walking delegates, styled party leaders"
 We fear it is not very encouraging to know that Col Wilson will insist upon measures admitting all four ter separately. He cannot hope to get democratic support fer the separate admission of Oklahoma and Indian ter ritory. The admission of those two territories as ore state is purely a demorcGtic scheme. It means a demo- cratic state with, a democratic ma jority of thirty thousand.
 And thereby hangs the whole state hood tale. Oklahoma has become so rich and populous that she cannot much longer be kept out of the union. The democrats, fearing that Oklahoma alone would be a republican state, in sist upon joining her to Indian terri tory, wherein reside many thousands Of Texas and Arkansas defhocrats Many republicans think the two terri tories should be admitted as one state regardless of politics, and so the pro- gramme originated by the democrats has been accepted. But the republi- cans seek to even things up by the ad- mission of Arizona and New Mexico as one state, which they consider would be republican by majority of eight thousand or more. In word, the whole question has become one of peanut politics, played by the demo- crats as well as the republicans. The impression has become firmly estab- lished at Washington that Arizona is l democratic commonwealth. hence the fix we are in on this statehood bust ness.
 We don't wish to rock the boat by ; getting into a row with our fellow of the democratic faith, for we must pull together at this critical ( time; but we cannot forbear reminding them that if they had not been so ram pant to elect Mark Smith or J. F. Will son to congress during the past few { years we should be in a much better position at Washington just now. !,
 
 EnoIiSh ROnLc IT., I,oo,, =.