Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-27
WEATHER STATIONS
ESTABLISED
Centennial State Legislator !
Warm Friend or Statehood
For The Territories
House Of Representatives,
washington. May ?. 1904.

MY Dear MI. Rndey.
Before leaving for home ! want "
express % You my very cordial APP
preciation Of your many courtesies
70 me and particularly Of the work
you did in matters whore New Mexico
and Colorado had d common interest,
notably on the agricultural appropfia.
tion bill. | remember very pleasantly
your earnest and effective help In the
matter of my efforts to secure an mp.
preparation for expsrlmepts In feed
ing and breeding in the arid states
and what you did for our friend Mead
III the irrigation investigations.
l hope the good people Of New Mex
leo will realizs, as Shhy get the To-
cal weather reports from Roswell,
New Mexico and Durango, Colorado,
that they are indebted 70 our Joint
efforts for the establishment Of these
two new stations.
l note in the press comments from
the west one matter about which !
want 10 say a word. II seems that
<here Ii some misrepresentation IN
New Mexico as 20 Joint and single
statehood and | have noticed y or
two criticisms that seem very III
timed OF your attitude on that ques'
tion. or course colorado's selfish In
terests would naturally be In favor Of
single statehood for the two territor'
sies, because The creation OF so large
n state as New Mexico and Arizona to
gether would by so much reduce ths
relative Importance Of the west in III,
senatorial councils OF the nation. !
appears TO me. however, that II Ii
very simple and practical question.
have watched the statehood debate
and the progress OF your measur'
with moro than ordinary interest AM
IL is clear TO me that II Is for tn
people Of New Mexico 10 say roy
whether or not they want 10 remain u
a condition Of territorial dependence,
for a period coysring at least III
life times 81 those now III younge
middle life. aud whether they woui
prefer to defer the enjoyment OF tina
which Is their present right in orde
that their children may have a full
err measure Of recognition.
As look at Il, IS is not open /
debate that II Is either join STATE
hood or nothing for many years !
come. The almost unanimous expire
sion or the Views of the members I
both houses, the very strong remark
In our republican caucus, and the Al
&parenliy universal sentiment of thos
who shape national legislation, a
bear out my conclusion.
di l am inclined TO think II might l
possible 70 pass through the house
fair measure for single statehood. bi
II would die there, and instead Of d
complishlng a real result you won.
simply have The personal gratiflcaiie
Of passing through the body of whis
you are a member a Ruthless mea
ure.
Times have changed aud The sem
ment Of the senate has material
changed since the admission of Il
northern Rocky mountain states, an
unless | very much mistake, thel
will be no more territories admitte
which have not relatively large pop
fations. many times that Of the stat.
last admitted At The time OF their a
mission.
The claims II some az your dem
cratic friends, that ~ the democra
in power, conditions would |
different, Is entirely without found
tion. The trouble lies. as l ha,
stated, w lDe senate and no prima
NY In the house, and II d democrat
president and house are elected III
fall not only Will 4 do no good 10 4
~ statehood Is concerned. but 10 n
Judgment II will crystalline al
strengthen the republican OPPOSITE,
10 any statehood measure, and IND
much as the senate viii surely i
main strongly republican will ther
BY defeat any measure. Particular
would this be the case ii your oy
territory should give a democrat
vote.
On the other hand, II conauions !
main as they are. from all that I G.
learn there q an excellent prospe