The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-02
GREAT SPEECH BY
SENATOR CLARK
Montana Statesman Advocates Sep
arate Statehood.
PLEA FOR THE TERRITORIES
REMARKS GIVEN THE CLOSEST
ATTENTION.

REMARKS GIVEN THE CLOSEST
ATTENTION.
Especial to The Herald
iEI ASHINGTON. Feb. Senator Clark
w of Montana made a notable speech
in the senate today on the state
hood question. Recent speeches on the
statehood bin have not attracted much
attention. but that of Senator Clark to-
day was closely followed by al OF the
members on the Democratic side Of the
chamber and by a large number of Re
publican members. At the close OF his
remarks Senator Clark was warmly
congratulated by his fellow senators ana
Teller. the veteran orator on the Demo-
cratic side. said it was the best speech
that had been delivered on the statehood
question. In part Senator Clark said:
Joint Statehood Injurious.
Having an intimate knowledge and &C
quaintance with two territories involved,
that TO say. Arizona and New Mexico.
by reason Of large industrial and mining
interests in both of them, / feel l would
be derelict in my duty TO the people OF
these territories and also. as 1 firmly
believe. to the interest of this govern
ment and country at large were TO
j main silent when an attempt is being
made as I interpret the meaning and
significance of this bill. to inflict great
injury upon at least two of these terri
Oklahoma and Indian Territory.
Il never visited Oklahoma and Indian
territory with view to studying their.
both arc prosperous and prepared for
statehood | learn further, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that each of these territories has
4 population approaching close to halt
"a million of people which is increasing
Very rapidly, particularly in Oklahoma.
Both territories contain large areas of
al nj 10
streams of running water and are IA
Vored with sufficient rainfall to preclude
the necessity of irrigation. ] will say
this much with reference to these two
territories, that they are both undoubted-
y entitled TO statehood admission, and IL
il is the desire of these people separately
expressed to be thus admitted. they
should scornfully protest against the
attempt to consolidate them into one
state From the best information l can
obtain / fully believe that So per cent
of the people OF Indian territory are in
favor of statehood for themselves, and,
further that a great majority of the
People OF Oklahoma entertain the same
opinion as to that territory.
Should Be Admitted.
IF. therefore. these territories or
either Of them are Of their own volitiOn
knocking at the door of congress seeking
admission into the union of states. 1 can
should not be granted.
Il would consider that an expressed
territories for joint or separate statehood,
each speaking for themselves alone,
should be deemed necessary as an alb
SV,utc condition precedent to any action
on the part of COM ress and my vote Will
10 cast strictly in accordance with this
theory so far as these two territories are
concerned
Now. Mr.. President. I will leave these
two territories TO work out their own
destiuies. promising them my cordial
support in every effort they may make
10 reach the goal of statehood.
Arizona and New Mexico.
The other proposition involved in this
bin is to couple the two great territories
oi Arizona and New Mexico and make
them one sovereign state. To this scheme
] am unalterably and emphatically Op-
posed Senator Clark then pointed out
i'm a fOrCeful manner the claims OF Ari-
Zcna and New Mexico TO be admitted
independent of each other as separate
sta tes lie gave an interesting historical
review of New Mexico and Arizona and
of the efforts which had been made for
many years TO obtain statehood for New
Mexico He presented the resources and
D. OduCtiOns of the territories in man
ner which attracted attention and point
&C. out clearly that each was capable of
statehood He alluded to the disadVan-
ges OF territorial IOrms of government
and said he was of the opinion that the
time had come when, with the possible
exception Of Alaska. territorial govern
mcnts should be eliminated ard the re-
naming territories made states. Sena-
sons why New Mexico and Arizona
should not be joined in a single state.
Arizona's Great Work.
Arizona under its enabling act as ter
rltOry has devoted its energies to the for
nation of a model government in the es-
Enlistment of territorial institutions. to
the building up of admirable school
system adapted to its own conditions and
requirements for the education of its
children; TO the adoption of a cCde and
and. Mr.. President, conditions there are
totally different from those which exist
I'm New Mexico, where the dominating
population ~ OF Mexican origin, in every
respect dissimilar in habits, customs,
laws, language. religion and traditions.
New Mexico Also Deserving.
IT desire ii to be distinctly understood
that / do not intend to draw any fnvfd-
ious comparisons as between the inha Bit
ants Of these respective territories The
people of New Mexico arc inteIIircnt in
dustriOus and law-abiding. and are equal
" deserving of separate statehood. and
on this basis my appeal for that territory
is equally as earnest as for Arizona. Ari-
iona has, however, built UP certain con
ditions adapted to its own needs and re-
quirementS. and hence 1 ask, Mr.. Prcsi-
dent would 1t be fair just TO ask il to
sacrifice the work of nearly half a CEN
fury and share its hard-earned advan-
tagcs with others without adequate com
pCnsatiOnT Mr. President, these two ter
ritories are almost as widely different as
AAlE sAlAlDOuGS-
Diverse Conditions.
Lying on opposite sides Of the great
continental divide, topography. geology,
climate and resources are diSsImiiar
In New Mexico, while there are vaIu-
able mines of precious metals, and the
people are largely engaged in coal min
Ing, agriculture and pastoral pursuits. in
Arizona agriculture, stock raising and
fruit growing are largely pursued but
it's greatest industry is the mining of sill
Yer. gold and copper ores and the reduc-
ton OF the same
People so absolutely separated as these
by natural barriers and with such diverse
pursuits and prOclivities, should have sep
arate state governments. 1t is absolutely
impossible TO harmonic these interests
In either the enactment of laws or exc
cution Of the same, with any semblance
OF justice TO all.
Consent of the Governed.
Mr. President. ] think it is generally
conceded by all fair-mnded men who APP
preciate the blessing of a republican form
Of government that the consent Of the
governed should always be respected 4
submit. then, whether or not in this in
stance we should ascertain the wishes or
the people of these respective territories