Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-11-21
l.

It is a very pretty building which the New Mexican
puts up concerning the passage by the approaching SEES
sion Of congress of an enabling act for New Mexico, the
same not to become effective till 1905; but, unfortunately,
the building not only rests upon sand as its foundation
but it is also constructed Of cards. It is more fragile,
less useful, and vastly more temporary than a childs
play house.
If Colonel Frost could get things done just as he mas
mapped them out, there would probably be but little OPP
position on the part Of the people OF this territory. But
what prospect is there that congress will do as Colonel
Frost has SO wisely planned? Absolutely none what
ever. 1t is doubtful whether the coloners plan ever
reaches beyond the New Mexican sanctum. II is al
most certain that no one will bring the plan before con-
gress. and it is absolutely assured that the house COM
mittee on territories will not report it.
What has 1t in its favor7 The delay. says Colonel
Frost, will placate those who object altogether to the ad-
mission of New Mexico. 1t will please those who want
only one instead of two states from the Rocky mountain
region. And the growth OF New Mexico, in the next
three years, in population and wealth, will silence those
who have presented the present attachments of the ter
ritory as reason for keeping us out OF the union
Colonel Frost does not say these things in so many words
but these are the forces of opposition which his bill must
meet and overcome.
Now, what will be the reply of the last named classY
They will certainly say one of two things, and probably
both. They will say: This growth in population and
wealth, which you promise, is altogether problematical.
You have no assurance to give that such will be the
case. Wait till these promises become actualties. and
then we will talk TO YOU about statehood. II is a poor
practice to count your chickens before they are hatch
ed. Else, they will say; Granted that in three years
your territory will have 100000 people and $5O0OOO,O00
in wealth, a big jump in the latter case, from SAC, 10000,
what will you then be that you should have as much
representation in the United States senate as New York
with its millions of people and billions of wealth? There
would be no more justice in admitting you then than
there is now.
What will those say who declare that the southwest
must be satisfied with four senators instead of eight,
because the political and monetary power of the east
must not be endangered by the west? Will they not be
as fully determined in this course at the end of three
years as they are today? Will they not tell us that they
offered us statehood once, but we did not want it, and
now we may continue to cool our heels outside the door?
And finally, will not the sentiment which has kept us
out for so many years be just as strong three years
from now as it is at the present? Will not our name.
our use of interpreters, our printing of laws in two lam
guages, our schools conducted in two languages-wil not
these things, things of mere sentiment without sense, be
as strongly urged against us in three years as they are
now? In a word, what advantage will three years hence
have over now? On the contrary, delays are dangerous.
Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.
Let us take any kind of statehood we can get, provided
we get it now.