Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-06-29
THE CONVENTION AND STATE.
HOOD.

MEFaW
The republican convention ut Chi
cago deserves credit ut least for hay.
ing refused. or al least tailed, q per-
Ioetuate the almost farcial promise Of
granting statehood % the territories
Of Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mex,
leo. The subject q not mentioned
III the prearranged platform prepared
under the censorship oil Senator Lodge
and q select cortcrie Of New England
members Of the congress who have
always looked with dread and fear
upon the prospect Of the center OF pc.
iitieal influence being shifted to the
central west by the admission of the
three territories as states, statehood
IL this time utterly ignored.
II n half d century now since New
Mexico was promised admission Nv d
republican convention. For years
the national convention Of both par
ties have pledged prompt legislation
admitting the territories. but when
bills have been presented In congress
providing for the fulfillment Of these
pledges the eastern contingent in the
senate has raised the block signal
and prevented the passage of the
measures. Two years ago. ID the de-
bate over The statehood Bill lii the
house. General Groavenor Of Ohio
frankly declared that the republican
platform declaration In favor Of state.
hood IN 1900 did not mean anything.
lftbhat i bed been eQuigeeds into The
Fpiarforuiy. and that the party was not
bound to carry our its promises. no.
day Oklahoma has 4 population II
nearly 100000 active. honest. indus.
trious american citizensl Indian
Territory has about 500. ooh peoeple
IN her borders, without schools. with.
out HOSPITALS for The insane, without
roads, without facilities for local gov.
ernmdnt, without half the privileges
that have been granted to thu semi.
eisihJed residents Of the Philippines
and Porto Rico, New Mexico has 4
population 81 some 100000 people. 81
per cent o. whom we're born under The
american flag and are as loyai "a
ne citizens OF Massachusetts. Arb
'ona has shown an Increase IN pd,ula.
ION and wealth, and all Of the terri.
Dries have met every requirement for
ecognition as component parts Of The
isterhood Of states. The republican
latform ignores them entirely. II ii
robabie that, N case OF the admis-
ION 81 the three territories. okla.
oma and Arizona would send four
amoerats to the United states SEN
e. New Mexico Is safely republic
N. Politics aslde. the admission Of
g three territories as states wonld
ID to The United States senate six
embers Whose interests do not rest
The select coteric of New Eng,
lders who have auccraded FOR some
'nsenfionn 4 S~thtehaood
ars ~ controlling legislation and
apins administrative policies. Thisl
probabiy the real secret 81 the nc.
y OF Tho Republican platform MAX.
p isnorirfR the appeals Of recogni.
y from the territories.
rhe statehood question cannot he
an issue ID mo campaign. and.
'retorr- the actpn of The rapuhlI
! u irnofi9eat Ma not N counted
y 70 intsrs the ticket In The cleo. I
9 The sufferers from this ap,ar ,
breach Of fai,h are the 1000 900 !,
abitants OF the territories whose i
mes investments present work, ,
future hopes are hound mp In 10. !
tics that receive less attention and :
sheraton from the federal governed !.
u than III the Inhabitants III thel
ndf of the Pacific. thousands of
= away Y leaves the resident /
Sew Mexico. oklahoma. or Arizona }
e Of a political oyphan today than =
tnhahitant of Porto Rico. incl
! consolation be has Hes In tirs 4
that u" republican party in !
ventlon ~ Chicago has moi made
faSe promises about statehood.
Arlington Post u
a
advfcsg from R0e rnai. ~