The copper era., 1905-06-08
GOVERNOR KlBBEY
Talks In Tucson on Best Statehood
 Policy to Pursue:


 liver an address at the University commencement exercises Governor Kibbey was interviewed by the Tucsor Citizen as follows:
 "There is a feeling of -buoyancy throughout the entires territory" re marked the governor. Everything is coming along in first-class shape and prosperity is on every side"
 The governor is greatly pleased over the convention. In discussing it he said: Ut was unique conven- tion. There was no strife, no rivalry, no oratorical fireworks. Everything was harmonious. All were united for a common good cause. The delegates gathered to transact business and this they did without extended ora tory or any great hullaboo. Much good will result from the gathering. "
 "Governor, do you think the sug- gestion to petition congress to allow the territory to continue under its present form of government for the next decade good one?" was asked.
 "That is probably the most practi- cal solution," was the reply. "How- ever, a petition will be unnecessary. Congress, 1 think, will be content with a petition to let Arizona alone, if Arizona will have it that way.
 "Of course if an agitation for state hOOd iS keut nm cOnnrecc nav DOcci bl V step in and make Arizona a state, linked up with New Mexico. The representatives of the eastern states look askance at any proposition to disturb the present equilibrium ob- taining between the east and the west. They are loath to give the west any more power than is abso- lutely necessary for fear that the balance may swing to the western states.
 Congress, before admitting the territory to statehood would undoubt- edly make careful inquiries. It would find out what the resources of the territory are, what its population is and what it's future prospects sum up. It would in all probability if the demand were strongly made of it for statehood reply that Arizona and New Mexico make one state. It would probably state that~the com tories would justify this action.
 
 ''Of course we all desire statehood. Were we otherwise inclined we would be ur-American. Government by and not by an outsider is one of the inherent desires of the Ameri- can citizen. If there were but three of us in the territory we would still be inclined toward statehood.
 However, there are few who would not prefer the present form of gov ernment to be joined as a state with New Mexico.
 ''There is one thing about us and that is this-we would be more re- 5pected and have greater prestige the east if we were the state of Arizona instead of the terri tory of Arizona. The average citizen )f the eastern states associates the name territory with crudeness and awlessness. When he is told that Arizona is more peaceful and that fife and property are more secure lere than in his own state, the east erner is loath to believe this state nent. He is prone to put more re- lance in the fairy tales of the mou- tier rattlesnakes, the desperadoes md the terrifying sixshOoter. Many Ire even of the firm belief nhat the of a gun is one of the Ari- .ona necessities. Of course the illu- ion is quickly dispelled when visit s made to the territory"
 Gov. Kibbey has been travelling bout in Arizona for the past IT years. n that time he has had occasion to -isit all sections of the territory. He las been on ranches; in sheep camps, Il mining camps, all around in fact md not once in all that time has the arisen for him to be in leed of gun.