Bisbee daily review., 1905-01-15
SENATOR BARD'S
 PLEA FOR ARIZONA.

PLEA FOR ARIZONA.
 It was a cogent argument in favor of AriZona's autonomy that Senator
 Bard made on Friday in his speech before the Senate. IL was an earn est. logical and judicial plea for the lconstituticnal rights of California's
 territorial neighbors. And it was by all means convincing because of Ser-
 ator Bard's personal acquaintance with every phase of the issue involved in the odious Arizona-New Mexico state
 hood proposition.
 One feature Of the Senator's argu- ment is new and the presentation of l it must nave been effective. It is
 based on the enabling act whereby Arizona was taken from New Mexico and made a separate territory in 1863,
 forty-one years ago. This provision c3 the enabling act was cited by the Sen ator:
 Provided, that nothing in the pro visions of this act shall be construed to prohibit the Congress of the United States frcm dividing said territory CT changing it's boundaries in such man neT and at such times as it may deem proper"
 l. will be noted that the provision clearly defines the power reserved by Congress. and hence the absence Of provision for destroying the territory's $ autonomy virtually indicates that no such authority is reserved. But that is not all As pointed out by Sen ator Bard in every one of the twelve acts creating territorial governments lpassed by Congress from 1886 to 1863. excepting only the act relating to the territory of Washington. there was a preservation of the right to attach any portion of the territory to any other state or territory of the United States"
 It is evident, therefore. that to de-
 prive Arizona of is autonomy after fOrty-one years of territorial inde- pendence, and to merge it substantial y in New Mexico, would not only be
 an outrage upon the people of ,he territory but a clear violation by Con gress of its own compact.
 Senator Bard made an eloquent ap- peal from his standpoint as a Califor- nian for our neighbors on the other lside of the Colorado river. He. said: l;-As my residence is in the southern part of California, which is especially thus closely connected with Arizona have the opportunity of knowing the sentiment of the people in respect to
 statehood"
 Then followed this earnest plea to Ilhe Senate: T am pleading for Ari
 zona; not that she may now be exalted to 1ire rank and dignity of sovereign state Of the union, but that she may be spared the humiliation of being de prived Of her separate autonomy, which has been recognized for more than forty-cne years, and that she may not suffer the degredatiOn which the bill proposes to inflict by forcing her ! poole against their wishes and protest.
 under circum3 3tances which are be- yond their power to prevent and upoa unequal terms. to be joined forever with her sister territory of New Mexico
 This .orceful and convincing speech lby Senator Bard presents the state hood issue in a new light from the judicial viewpoint and is impressive as a general appeal for the right. There ] is reason to believe that the speech will have powerful influence in con vincing senators that it would be an outrage to force Arizona into the state hood yoke with new Mexico.-Los An geles Herald.