Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-12-29
COURSE Of
STATEHOOD
IS STORMY.
How TrIfIes Have Sealed
Territories Doom.
HANDSHAkE BY ELKINS
ONCE DEFEATED ADMISSION
Review Of Struggle to Enter Union
Shows How Congress HAS lug
gIed With the Southwest.
,rrespondenee Morning JournaI.

Correspondence Morning Journal.
Washington, Dec 24.--It often re-
quires an object lesson to impress the
house and get action, especially IL
question deals with the comforts or
necessities of the members.
The omnibus statehood bill, giving
statehood to Arizona, New Mexico and
Oklahoma had been favorably report
ed from the house committee on terri
tories and was under consideration OF
the fifty-seventh congress. Represen-
tative Overstreet, of Indiana, had Of
Tered an amendment to the bill to
strike out separate statehood for Ari-
zona and New Mexico and admit them
as one state Delegate Mark Smith, of
Arizona, was recognized in opposition
to the amendment. He made an earn
est feeling and eloquent speech
against the amendment. The members
crowded around him to catch every
word OF his argument.
Just as he concluded his strong plea
for single statehood, he was observed
to reel, and would have fallen had not
a member caught him. Mr., Wilson,
who represented the Brooklyn district,
was I'm the cloak room preparing to
leave the house, wheninformed that his
professional services were needed at
once Fortunately for Delegate Smith.
Mr.. Wilson had with him his pocket
emergency case, and by prompt in
lection of heart stimulant, Smith
was promptly restored 1t was then
that the house was impressed with
ha ..f
al, and the next day DR.. wilson intro
dpced resolution which ( set.nanI-
mously adopted, making provision for
the purchase of medical chest and
the fitting up OF room for the use of
the members who should be suddenly
taken ILL., The senate, It is perhaps
needless to remark, has long provided
for just such emergencies.
The speech OF Delegate Smith killed
the Overstreet amendment by an over
whelming vote, and the delegate from
Arizona is as bitterly opposed to joint
statehood today as he was when he
made his telling speech against 1t In
the forty-seventh congress.
The course Of statehood has not ruin
smoothly for New Mexico or Arizona,
and II they are admitted into the un-
ion at the present session of congress
1t will only be after great travail, ac-
cording to present Indications
Statehood Lost BY a HandshaIze.
Twenty-nlne years ago New Mexico
was much nearer separate statehood
than she is today She lost the great
boon by handshake. II the story
handed down from the old days Is
true. Stephen B. Elkins was delegate
in congress from New Mexico. and
Henry NJ. Teller was delegate from the
territory OF Colorado.
An arrangement had been made
looking to the admission OF both terri
tories, and the two delegates were
moving heaven and earth to accom-
plish their purposes,
Al that time Julius Caesar Burrows
was young and militant member of
congress from Michigan. The civil war
had not been forgotten, and II was
stlll favorite diversion of northern
members OF congress to wave the
bloody shirt. None OF the young and
aspiring members Of congress was
more eloquent or more impassioned
than the young Roman from Michl-
gan. on certain eventful occasion
he rose I'm the house and delivered an
Grafton that tore the bloody shirt to
tatters breathed threatenings and
slaughter TO the south, and impressed
upon a palpitatinR country the trem-
endous fact that II one war was not
enough, the north was ready and anx-
ious TO fight another II was glorl-
GUS effort. and Julius Caesar Burrows
sat down, breathless and perspiring. 10
receive the congratulations OF his
sympathizers.
Mr.. Elxlns' Break.
Seated next to Mr.. Burrows was the
delegate from New Mexico. the Inn
pressionable Stephen B. Elkins. In an
excess Of fervor. caused by the elo-
quence of the Mlchigander Mr.. Elk
ins jumped from his seat and threw
his arm around Burrows, giving him
hearty handshake In commentator of
his mastery effort This excess of
friendly sympathy was Instantly noted
by the democrats OF the south. aud
when the time came 10 vote upon the
admission OF New Mexico as a state.
the south threw It's vote almost unani-
nously against the proposition
Mr.. Elkins discovered. too late. that
handshake had been his undoing.
Henry NJ. Teller managed to repress
his enthusiasm over the bloody shirt
speech. and the southern members
made no objection TO the admission OF
Colorado as a state From that day to
this, New Mexico has often been ON
the verge Of bossoming Into a state.
but something has always thwarted
her ambition.
Oklahoma and Indian Territory
would have been admitted as single
state last year. but for the work Of
Senator Bard, Of California. A motion
to cut the omnibus statehood bill In