Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-10
FOR. JOINT STATEHOOD
District Attornsy Llewellyn Thinks the
People Are Ready to Abandon
Fight for Separate States.

Maj. w. H. IA. LeweIlyn United States
district attorney OF New Mexico. and a
major i'm the Rough Riders In the Spanish
war, has been in Washington several days
and was at the White House yesterday. He
has come to the conclusion that joint state
hood for New Mexico and Arizona must
come. To q Star reporter he said,
'sThe sentiment favoring joint statehood
Is rapidly gaining much Roadway in New
Mexico. In my opinion tho people OF New
Mexico and Arizona win accept joint state
hood when the constitution is presented to
them for their approval, provided that the
constitution contains certain safeguard
which will be required by the business in
terests OF both territories. There must be
a provision limiting the Indebtedness which
can be incurred. This restriction must not
exceed per cent of the assessed valuation
of the property, as Is now provided In what
Is known as the Springer act in Congress
There must be a provision in the conStftu-
ton prohibiting the voting of bonds for
the construction OF railroads, as well as n
provision limiting the term of governor to
four years and disqualifyinE him from be-
ing candidate for the United States Sem
ate Immediately after his term expires as
governor. This Is to prevent the use of his
office as governor to elect himself a United
States senator.
Opposition to Joint Statehood.
lie oppoSltion 10 joint StdIenoou ~ VI d
dual character-one sentimental, on ac-
count of provincialfsm, and the other on
account Of the large area. New Mexico is
larger than New England. yet the joint
state will be smaller than Texas. although
slightly larger than California. The idea
that Arizona and New Mexico are divided
In business interests Is erroneous. The
new state would not be half as antagonistio
a. are the interests Of northern and south
ern California, which 10 governed harmon
iously rs one state. Ultimately the people
Will be proud OF their area, as are the peo-
pie OF California and Texas. where In the
latter case, to suggest the division OF Texas
into four states (which 1t has the right to
dob is to give mortal insult to the state
pride OF that great commonwealth.
Connected by Strong Ties.
Arizona, with her great copper mines,
and New Mexico. with her vast fields OF
coal. are connected by the strongest BUSH
ness ties, and the railroad lines now in
operation convey constantly to the great
copper camps OF Arizona thousands of cars
OF coke and coal annually. The irrigation
and grazing interests are identical in each
territory. There are people in Arizona,
who. unwttttngly, perhaps. Judge the peo-
pie OF Spanish descent, living in New Mex
leo, by the standard OF the laboring classes
or poems who come from Old Mexico to
Arizona to find employment. The Spanish
speaking people of New Mexico are con-
sentative, honest law-abiding and the best
citizens we have in the territory. They are
people who shrink from contracting debts,
but are the best debt paying people In the
world. They have ever responded with the
utmost promptness TO the call by the ma
tional government for troops in time of
war since the acquisition of that country
by our government. Speaking for myself,
personally. I would prefer single statehood
for New Mexico alone, but as that is out of
the question. 1 believe 1t is the part of wis
dom to accept what We can get, and there
are many business interests In both terri
tories. however, for economical reasons for
joint statehood"