Arizona silver belt., 1905-01-12
THE LEGiSLATURE'S PROPOSED
 JUNkET

The Bisbee Daily Review has com,
 forward with the suggestion that thu
 Arizona legislature, when it convene
 next Monday, should immediately re
 solve to proceed in body to Washing
 ton to make determined fight agains
 the passage by the senate of the join
 statehood measure. The proposal ap
 pears to meet with favor in some quar-
 ters and doubtless will be extremely popular with certain of our embryo statesmen, members-elect of the Twen
 ty-third legislative assembly.
 If the thing was legal and the junket of the solons was made to consume the full period of sixty days which the leg islature is authorized to continue in session, we would cheerfully give our approval to the plan, and add to our nightly petition to the Throne of Grace the prayer that the attractions of the national capital might prove so alluring that many of the Arizona con tingent, including few federal otiice- seekers, might be constrained to pro long their visit indefinitely. Weagree with the Tucson Post that the spectacle of an entire legislature proceeding to Washington would be extremely novel, and that Arizona would get a lot of free advertising, but whether of de- sirable character or not is another question. Col. Bill Greene and his notched "45" would be forgotten for the nonce, and Tom Lawson and Mrs. Chadwick would no doubt turn green with envy.
 Seriously, the suggestion is absurd, and such a junket would serve no good purpose. There is no authority for the legislature to vote itself money to be used for such purpose Arizona is now ably represented at Washington by trained public men. Delegate Will son, Mark Smith, and several other prominent Arizonans who have the ad- vantage of personal acquaintance among the members of the senate, on both sides, and who are we'll equipped to urge Arizona's claim to just treat ment. Petitions have also gone for ward from every board of supervisors and commercial body in the territory, declaring unalterable opposition to joint statehood for Arizona and New Mexico. Also, the question has been widely discussed and has been debated | in congress, and Arizona's objections I to the merger are we'll understood in | the senate of the United States. The | republican members of that body, fol | lowing the lead of Senator Beveridge, are well aware of the great injustice to the people of Arizona which the Ham, ilton bill contemplates, but they are willing to abet the crime for the sake of party and sectional advantage.
 The information coming from Wash ington is encouraging to the hope that Arizona will not be forced to relinquish her autonomy that if no other con- cession can be obtained from the ma jority in congress, the Foraker amend ment will prevail, giving Arizona sep arate vote on the adoption of the con stitution.
 It would not be amiss for the legis- lature to formulate and for ward through Delegate Wilson petition to the dem- ocrats of the senate to defeat the ob- noxious measure. as suggested by the Tucson Citizen, but with this action their duty in the matter would end. $ As Mark Smsth has advised, "rhe sen ate knows well Arizona's opposition, and there is no immediate necessity of i; 'he legislature as body. nor any one c 'lse, coming here to protest" V
 a