Arizona republican., 1904-10-15
t..Washineton- D c- Feh 5 1ana.


 can pass omnibus bill as it is I tired the date suggested some time ago.
 Marcus A. smith Ut will be observed that MT. Smith agreed with Judge Bibbey and others, and my apprehensions were dismissed as groundless.
 Tn spite of this emphatic expression of MT. Smith, that there was no danger of congress imposing joint statehood upon Arizona against its consent, remained of my opinion that such was the republican plan, and on the 14th of February, I wrote MT Smith let ter, of which the following is a copy as to material points
 "'PhoeniX, Feb. 14, 1903. "'HCn. NJ. A. Smith. House of Repre- sentatives. Washington, D. c.
 My dear Mark:
 e The newspapers here are intimat- ing that thei republicans may force through a bill joining New Mexico and Arizona as ore state whether we wish it or not If such a move should be- come imminent, I would suggest and urge that you endeavor to procure the following provisions in the same:
 "1 That the constitution of the new state shall not be effective until
 
 eacE territory voting separately.
 "'2. That Arizona has an equal rep resentation iri the constitutional con- vention with New Mexico.
 "'3 That we shall be entitled to separate statehood either upon attain Ing a population of 800, eco: or, upon the applica tion of either territc-y to congress and the favorable action of congress upon such action at any time previous. to our achieving the requisite population.
 The first one is by far the most inn portant. They could have no state without the consent of Arizona.
 ''I believe a suggestion to me by wire. which would be non -committal and which I could take as a kind Of a tip would enable me to secure the passage through the Arizona legisla- ture of a resolution consenting to joint statehood on these lines whenever you think that the present bill is hopeless.
 Yours sincerely.
 Eugene s. Ives "I received no answer to this letter." Although much of the foregoing mar rative is devoid of interest for anybody at this time, WIG permit MT. Ives to tell his story in Lis own way.
 He now approaches the interesting question of the famous telegram-the telegram from Smith which led the committee to adopt a resolution accept ing joint statehood with New Mexico on certain conditions.
 "On February 26," says cdr Ives, T received the following telegram:
 Washington, D. c, r-e0. 26 1903 |" Hon. ?. s. Ives (personaO. Phoenix, Arizona.
 60 The omnibus bill dead. killed by republican degertion on motion to Tlace 1t on postofice bill: statehood friends disappointed at such action. republi- cans threaten in next congress to make one state of New Mexico and Arizona. The legislature should now unanimous ly memnralize the next congress against such bill giving cog m. req sons for opposition.
 Mark A. Smith
 This is the telegram" says AI- Ives, with. respeot to which there has been so much lew spaper comment during this campaign.
 'I showed it to all the members f the council-democrat and republicans and also to you, MT. Sims Ely who were upon the floor of the council chamber together with MT. Vicke-s, the proprietor of The Arizona Republican, on the morning that the joInr resolu- tion was offered by MT. Burson.
 Unquestionably. as frequently stated in The Republican heretofore, a tele- gram was shown by Mir. Ives in conf dence to the parties he mentions. No body took more than one look at the message, for MT. Ives in each instance explained that 1t should be-read be- tween the lines in connection with a direct request from him for a tip as to what the legislature should do. Not the wording of the message, but it's secret meaning, MT Ives explain ed, should be considered.
 And is this the message? The copy now presented by Mir. Ives was yester- day shown to the few gentlemen in Phoenix who saw the original, and they were unanimously of the srecollec- ton that the original said more than is found in the copy here presented. There was no intimation that Mir. Ives would act in bad faith, but it was pointed out that as he was in daily communication with MT. Smith he may have selected the wrong dispatch as the famous telegram, when preparing this letter. But We don't consider it material whether the foregoing version of the message, or some other yer sion, should be accepted as correct.
 The material point, so often enpha- sized by MT. Ives is, that he wrote: "l believe suggestion by wire which would be non- cornmittaI, and which could take as kind of tip, would en- able me to secure the passage through the Arizona legislature of a resolution CONSERVING to joint statehood or these lines whenever you think that the present bill is hopeless" and that MT Smith did send a message which MT Ives assured his friends was the re- quired tip.
 Non-commit.aI? to be sure! MT. Ives