Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-02-10
New Mexico's Delegate to Con.
gress Wants to Probe the
Sentiment Of the Territory.
.FAVORS JOINT
STATEHOOD
He Wants to Put the 0nus Of Refusing
II Upon the Citizens Of
Arizona.

| A synopsis of his position upon the
statehood question, has been prepared
by Delegate B. S. Rodey for the press
of the Territory and the New Mexican
gives it verbatim although it cannot
agree with the delegate in his conclu-
sions. New Mexico people do not fav-
or joint statehood with Arizona. The
resolutions adopted unanimously by
the Territorial Republican Central
Committee voice the sentiment of the
majority of the people of this Terri.
tory. There is not the least doubt
about this. No one can foresee or
foretell what the next few years may
bring forth in the statehood fight and
therefore it is idle to say that if New
Mexico refuses statehood on the basis
upon which it is offered now, it will
remain territory indefinitely. If New
Mexico progresses and grows the next
ten years as it has in the past ten
years, it dare not be kept out of state
hood any longer. In fact, the Daily
New Mexican firmly believes, that af-
ter the presidential election this fall.
New Mexico will be given statehood
and that the joint statehood movement
is merely a mask for the time being
on the part of the Republican leaders
to cover a nasty situation caused by
broken promises to the territories and
that if in November, New Mexico gives
renewed assurance that it is Repub-
lican commonwealth, statehood will
follow as a matter of course. 1t is
worth while waiting therefore, and to
refuse a gift, whose acceptance would
mean the loss of so much that is dear
to every loyal citizen of the Territory,
besides the material harm and the con-
fusion that a union Of New Mexico and
Arizona into one state would cause.
But Delegate Rodey writes:
Delegate Rodey states that he
wants the people of New Mexico and
Arizona to express themselves on the
joint statehood question. He gives it
as his view that no bill can be passed
save one to admit Arizona and New
Mexico Jointly, and Oklahoma and In
dian Territory in the same manner
"He states that it is useless to dis
cuss the matter; that the people of the
United States have made up their
minds, as expressed through the col
umns of the press of the country, that
they will not admit them in any other
way, and Congress will obey this man
date. Oklahoma and Indian Territory
jointly will have a million and half
of people, and the nation will not stand
the admission of New Mexico with
100000 people and Arizona with 175,-
900 people, save as one state.
eff New Mexico and Arizona do not
accept joint statehood, then, in the
opinion of Delegate Rodey, the people
of these territories may as we'll make
up their minds to remain out Of the
union for at least generation. The
delegate himself does not believe the
people of New Mexico or of Arizona
want to do that Therefore, he wishes
% be fortified with their support both
n New Mexico and Arizona, and will
hank every person in favor of joint
statehood to write him a letter and
,ay so. He is now having the war of
lis life with Delegate Wilson. who is
Utterly opposed to joint statehood with
lew Mexico. Rodey is contending
hat should majority of the people
# New Mexico agree to the PROPOSE
ion, then Arizona is holding New
Iexico back. There is no use in ar
uing that each is entitled to come in
f right, everybody knows that; and if
hey won't let us come in as of right,
,e must come in as we can.
Delegate Rodey asks every editor
4 New Mexico to publish these facts,
s he cannot write every one"