Arizona republican., 1904-03-03
MARK SMITH SPEAKS
Interviewed on Dispatch Stating That
 President Is for Joint Statehood.

The Tucson Citizen day before yes terday printed an Associated Press dis patch, which on the same day appeared in the Phoenix papers. stating that the governor of New Mexico had re- ceived telegram from Delgate Rodey of that territory, saying that he had just had q conference with President Roosevelt and that the President he'd informed him that he favored a joint statehood bill for Arizona and New Mexico and that he would use his in- fluence for it's passage by the present | congress. Upon receipt of this dispatch the Citizen interviewed Hon. Marcus A. Smith, who repeated what he said | at the statehood meeting here, that the | only hope of the territory lay in the fil- | Clustering ability of the democratic | members of the senate. Said Mr | Smith
 II am not surprised at the presidents | course in this matter, for he plainly re- vealed that purpose in the long fight | for statehood in the last session of | | congress. But I am surprised at Gov ernor Otero, of New Mexico, who time and time again pledged me in Washing ton that he would use every effort, per sonal and official, to defeat a joint statehood measure, come from what source it would. This only goes to show-if another proof were needed how completely good men fall under | the bad influence of those who ap- point them to power.
 Arizona has had in her time many enemies, but never one so willing and so potent as President Roosevelt to work her utter ruin. Yet Arizona re- | publicans will no doubt send a delega- | tion to Chicago to whoop up the Roose- welt boom for president. There is no one thing so fraught with destruction | to every interest and aspiration of Ar izona as this proposed measure. What becomes of her capital city when all | public functions shall be transferred to- Santa Fe. 500 miles away? How do the people of Maricopa county view the charming prospect? Will the governor, who made so convincing public speech against this measure at a. mass meet l ing in Phoenix little while ago, lead a Roosevelt delegation from Arizona to the republican national convention at Chicago?
 What an argument for statehood is found in the willingness of presidential appointees like Governor Otero to cur ry executive personal favor at the mon strous price of thei neighbors' and their country's ruin.
 'I am alarmed at the situation. If Governor Otero is correctly reported which I can't help but doubt-then what can we expect-what can we hope from federal appointees, both in New Mexico and Arizona, in this the most important question which will ever confront our history. This dis patch which you have shown me, if true, manifests the intention of the dominant party in house and senate to infiict on Arizona. regardless of her protest. a union which can bring noth- ing but years of pickering, contention, injustice, strife and wholesale disas- ter.
 Our only chance is the democratic
 help which the senate may haply af- : ford us. On the democrats of the sen
 ate alone our hope now hangs. re- publican delegation instructed for Roosevelt from Arizona means
 izona republicans acquiescence -Arizona's endorsement-of joint state
 hood. Is it possible that such can oc- cur' We will see.
 Speaking for myself alone, would l even a brother, who would threaten or
 wink at such an outrage to the peo- , pie. What do all our public protests amount to when the whole east sees an i, instructed delegation for Roosevelt in the next national convention? Such an . act will belle every protest which has been forwarded.
 If every appointee of the president, from governor down, would refuse to : stand by the president in an outrage like this and if need he, send in their resignations rather than be classed as traitors to their expressed sentiments and enemies of the territory, it would have such an effect on the republicans in house and senate as to defeat this unhOly, this monstrous scheme.
 This is a clean cut fight between politics and patriotism. Where will Arizona stand? Are there any men amongst us so lost to patriotism, so craven, to prostrate themselves be- fore nower and with their own hands place it's foot upon their necks and ap- pealingly pray for political aims? We shall see.
 No man in Arizona having any in terest in its prosperity any feeling of human kindness for his neighbors, will do one act or thing that will give aid, comfort or support to a purpose-no matter by whom supported or advanced which can have only one effect, calam- ity to the people of Arizona. Politics is good enough in it's way, but may God in his mercy save us from any pol itics of any kind which will sink the peoples rights in the pestilential pool of it's avarice and greed
 --o-----
 Puts flavor in hot cakes. Toboggan | Manlp Svrun