The San Francisco call., 1905-01-07
BARD OPPOSES
THE MEASURE
CalifOrnia's Junior Senator
Argues Against Union OF
Arizona and New Mexico
ADDRESSES COLLEAGUES
Gives His Assent to PROPOSE
tion to Consolidate Okla
homa and Indian Territory
ADDRESSES COLLEAGUES
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SpeCldl DlSpatcn 10 Lie Noh'
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-Senator
Bard to-day occupied the entire time
of the Senate given to the joint state
hood bill.
Senator Bard presented mastery
argument on behalf of Arizona in her
plea for the integrity of her boun-
daries, that she be not forced to join
another Territory in order to become
a State. He followed the story of the
admission of Territories since Wiscon-
sin and showed that in the case of
Arizona the act creating the Territory
distinctly proved, as it did in no
other case, that while it's area might
be divided it could not be added to.
Bard long ago took the initiative on
the Republican side against this plan
of making one State of Arizona and
New Mexico together and has kept up
such a persistent and aggressive light
that he has come to assume the posi-
tion of the leadership of the opposition
how that the bill is fairly before the
Senate. It is largely due to his efforts
that the lively interest of a number of
Republican Senators, including, lately,
Senator Foraker, has been enlisted
against 1t. During the delivery of his
speech this afternoon Senator Bard
held the closest attention of the Senate,
the chamber being nearly full and the
Democrats occupying what vacant
seats were to be found on the Repub-
lican side.
At the conclusion the members crowd
ed about to shake Senator Bard by the
hand and congratulate him upon his
forceful espousal of the cause he has
at heart.
Bard began by reciting the history of
the pending bill. which had grown out
of earlier and separate bills providing
for the Introduction of Arizona and of
New Mexico as separate States, and
showing that the people of neither Ter
ritory had ever applied through their
Representatives or otherwise for state
hood other than as separate States. He
declared that no bill would come before
the session more important than this
statehood bill, affecting as it does the
destinies of a million Of our American
people, and proposing to terminate the
control of Congress over the only con-
tiguous territory belonging to the
United States.
Senator Bard said in part:
The creation of new States has often marked
some important epoch in the political history
of our nation, and too frequently has signified
the accomplishment of come selfish scheme of
political party which at the time controlled
the Government. > There does not appear to be
any circumstances by which either of the
great, political parties OF this day can secure
any sure advantage by either the enactment
defeat of this measure; and / believe that
the Senators cannot be persuaded to let any
hope for political advantage to either OF the
parties whose representatives are supposed to
be divided by the central aisle of this cham
ber, prevent them from considering this meas
only on the higher plane of duty to the
republic and to the people most directly inter
ested In 1t. / have objections to the pro-
posed Joining of Oklahoma and Indian Territory
to make State of the Union but I believe 1t
would be more consistent with the principles
of our Government to permit the people of each
of the Territories separately to vote upon the
proposition and to require vote OF a majority
of the qualified electors of each Territory to
ratify the proposed constitution of the new
State.
Bard then recited the conditions ex-
listing in the Territories, their immense
area and compared them in this respect
to their neighbors and to the Eastern
States. He recited the testimony of the
Delegates from the. Territories in pro-
test, as well as their Governors and
representative citizens. who said that
the people were united in their desire
for statehood, but equally united
against it on the terms proposed.
Continuing Senator Bard said:
The Territories of Arizona and New Mexico
are in chaotic state and entitled sooner OF
later to become members of the Union OF
States If they not yet prepared fol-
statehood Congress may justly deny their ap-
plication but Congress cannot justly unite
various sections of the country Is to be pre-
served.
The people of Arizona. particularly, are
earnestly protesting against the passage o.
this, measure. Through the fear of conse
quenees and injury which the bin would in
that Congress will at this time give Arizone
separate statehood, though such has been thei
ambition for whole generation. In surren
dering this hope now Arizona begs but begs II
manner that Is dignfied. though intensely
earnest that she may be spared the degrade
ton of the loss of her Separate autonomy ane
identity and the humiliation of having he
boundaries forever effaced, and forgetting IL
her distress the rights that she may claim al
most pitlfully says: Rather than incur tn,
New Mexico we request Congress to allow u
to remain as Territory of the United States :
On the conclusion of Bard's remarks
the bill temporarily was laid aside ant
the. Senate went into executive session
After the doors were reopened the
reading of the omnibus claims bill wa.
completed and after passing a few bills
OF minor Importance the Senate ad
journed until Monday.