Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-21
Indicationssg'Now Point That
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TELLER'sas ULTIMAT0M
Delegates DISAPPOINTED AMI
bIsHEARTENED.
Speaker Cannon Won't Give an Inch,
~. but Insists on the House Bill
49, . or Nothing.

The statehood bill is regarded as dead
by nearly all Of its most ardent advocates
whether they have fought for single state
hood for the territories or for united state
mood IN the form provided by the bill as II
was passed by the House
statehood was not mentioned in the Sen
ate today in the proceedings. but without
ciamor and in the most matter-of-fact way
Senator Teller made it known to Senator
Bever'dge and othe- members of the com
m1ttee on territories that, of course, they
might call the bill up if they wanted to. or
they could go ahead with other business.
just as they pleased, but whether they did
the one thing or the other would make no
dlHerence in the result. He proposed that
the bill should not go to conference.
When this ultimatum on the part of the
colorado senator was pronounced and
news OF 1t was spread among the advo-
Gates Of statehood, there were looks of de-
lection that showed how completely they
mad lost heart over the situation. Dele
gate Rodey of New Mexico Delegate Nc
cure or Oklahoma, and others, had come
over from the House to hear what was
said about statehood when the bill was to
be called up Immediately after the con-
clusion of the morning business. They
sat expectant on the rear sofas of the
senate discussing the prospects of the
Dill IN low tones, and hoping against
nope that in some way or other the bill
mlgnt run the, gauntlet of the threatening
deadlock.
They watched the proceedings Their eyes
followed Beverage about the Senate. They
kept track of Teller and German, noting
each conference taking place between sem
ators, wondering whether it was for the
veal or Woe of the territories they repre-
sent.
t. Losing Heart for the Bill
Ihen the news came to them, and it came
to other senators throughout the chamber,
that the statehood bill would not be up at
all today; that Teller, who had consumed
half of the time devoted to the bill yester-
day, had said that. he would continue his re-
marks today: that they might waste their
time on statehood, or they might devote it
to other holiness possible of accomplish
ment; according to their own inclination
Rodey, serious. land evidently downcast
When ne heard the news of Teler's oppose
Ilon, turned to one of his friends on the
moor OF the Senate and said:.
ne bill is dead. 1 feel it. 1t is like the
shock or death. l have labored hard for
statehood during four years 1 have sacri-
need every personal interest and sacrificed
my own means to bring about statehood
and now. in spiteiof anything that it is pos
slpie 10 DO, the bill is becoming more and
more Embedded IN a deadlock of opposing
forces that simply makes it, impossible to
do anything for its passage"
Senators who Know the great struggle
that has been made by the delegates of the
territories, by many senators themselves,
by representatives and by men who have
devoted their time, to statehood sympathize
with the deep disappointment that today
has been experienced by the men who are
practically losing hope.
Speaker Cannon and the majority in the
House are standing absolutely pat on the
bill. 1t will be a double wedding or none.
ana they scout the idea of giving to New
Mexico and Arizona the privilege of voting
separately on the ratification of statehood.
The House has its mettle up. Speaker Cam
non Is determined. He does not propose to
have the minority in Congress change a
bill passed unanimously by the majority of
the House of Representatives, reported
from the Senate committee on territories
by the votes of republicans, a measure that
In the House is the result of caucus action
and in the Senate has had the support of
all but a dozen republican senators.
Speaker Cannon's Position.
Speaker Cannon doesn't propose to give
an inch in this fight. He has shown alb
solute determination to make the Senate
take the House bill. In the Senate there
is rather more disposition to conciliate to
compromise. Senator Beveridge and the
republicans who have voted with him have
stood pat, but many senators are Inclined
to believe that half a loaf is better than
none, and If In some way tacft under
standing could be arrived at, it seems pos
sible that senator's could be won over to it.
The trouble is the feeling is growing more
and more daily that when either side gives
way 1t will mean a complete surrender to
the other side. The minority will not trust
the bill in conference with two Of the
three Senate conferees known to be men
strongly opposed to the amendments that
were adopted in the Senate which change
the House bill.
They are convinced that with the con-
ferees standing five to one, which would
be the condition when they meet, so far
as their own personal preferences are con-
cerned, there would be little hope that the
Senate contention would be maintained.
On the other hand, Senator Beveridge
and others who maintain his side Of the
controversy are satisfied that whatever is
done In the last days of this Congress it
will be much easier in the next Congress
to pass statehood bill on the lines OF that
which passed the House of Representatives.
But the Indications today are that state
hood for this session is dead.