The National tribune., 1905-12-21


New Mexico and Arizona to admitting
the two Territories as a single State.
Naturally the politicians of the Terri
tories prefer to have four Senators to
two, and two Governors to one, and
other State officers in proportion. The
first objection is as to the size Of the
proposed State. Arizona has 1890
square miles, with New Mexico having
122,460, making altogether 235,3S0.
This would make a much larger State
in area than any other in the Union,
except Texas. The census of 1900 gave
Arizona population of 122,931, and
New Mexico 1880; making a total of
1924. AS the ratio for representa-
ton is about 100000. this would give
the new State two Representatives,
since it would have a majority fraction,
and therefore there would be no loss
on that account. The Arizona Anti
Joint Statehood League is sending out
literature in opposition, and in which
it says:
"Ninety-nine per cent of our people
are unalterably opposed to this obnox-
ious union which Senator Beveridge is
trying to make a party measure in
Congress. Without any real investi-
cation he has grossly misrepresented
the facts. He has stated that the boun-
Diary line between the two Territories
crosses sandy plain easily traversed
by railroads and wagon roads. In real
ity, the settled communities Of Arizona
are separated from those in New Mex
leo by hOgback mountain ranges, many
of which are 1000 feet above sea level
and form probably the toughest noun
famous district in the limited States
From Yuma, Arizona, to Santa Fee,
New Mexico, the proposed Capital of
the new State, is 791 miles by the near
est route. 1t requires 80 hours to make
the trip, and the fare one way is near
ly $40. There is not a town in Ari-
iona of any size that is nearer to Santa
Fee than 400 miles.
1.-THE area of Arizona and New Mex
leo is greater by 10000 square miles
than that of the New England States
and California combined. New Mexico
has twice the voting population of Ar
iona, and q majority of the voters are
OF an entirely different race, race as
different from ours as oil is different
from water.
Senator Beveridge contends that
Arizona has not sufficient resources, de-
veloped or undeveloped and never will
have a sufficient population to justify
Statehood within her present boun-
daries The mountain ranges which
separate Arizona from New Mexico are
largely unexplored, yet besides the
large production of precious metals,
Arizona ranks second in the production
OF copper, and next year will probably
rank first. Such mineral wealth is in
exhaustible.
1.-THE pine forests of Arizona cover
an area of over $4,000 square miles.
and there are nearly 100000 acres
OF grazing land. The Federal Gov
=, nd IN,
contemplation reservoirs for the stor-
age of irrigation water which will sup
ply $4,000 acres The Tonic Reser-
voir within two years will frrigate 2O0,-
600 acres in the Salt River Valley
alone. This area is equal to all the ir-
north as far as Santa Barbara, which
supports Los Angeles and many other
large cities.
1.-The people of Arizona do not now
ask for Statehood; but with these un-
developed resources and with a pro-
Northern and Eastern States. the time
will come when the whole people of
the United States will demand the adj
mission of Arizona as a single State
within her present boundary lines.
Union with New Mexico now would be
an outrage. We would lose our iden-
tity and become subject to the domina-
ton of people different in race, with
different laws. industries and ideals"
1t is believed that Congress will pass
the bill admitting the two Territories
as one State. The question then comes
up on the peoples acceptance of It, If
Congress allows both Territories to
vote independently upon the PROPOSE
ton it will be lost, because Arizona will
not accept it, IT, however Congress-
directs that the vote of the two Terri
tories be counted together the bill will
pass, since the New Mexicans are so de-
sirous of Statehood that they will vote
for it and overcome the opposition in
Arizona.