The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-16
RICH MINE LOBBY
FIGHTS STATEHOOD
Mine Owners at National Capitol
to Block Admission Of
is Arizona. aae sssy Esss4t{i
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal. ~. ' a@
Chicago, Dec 16.--Walter Wellman,
in a Washington special to the Record.
Herald says:
Hobbies are thick in the corridors of
the national capitol these days. There
emily maintained, But the most streh-
nous and dangerous, as well as the most
picturesque lobby of all is the mine
owners lobby from Arizona, here fight
ing statehood for that territory. It is
picturesque because of the bold methods
it employs, and because it has at least
two United States senator's among it's
because of the possibility that graves
scandals may result from its operations.
It is lobby with hundreds of mill.
ions of dollars back of it,. The agents
and manipulators Of it's schemes are too
smart to offer outright bribes. : But
they have mining stock for sale-stock
which is sure to earn a\big; rofit-stock
. that will ''pay big to all who get in on
the ground food. And just nov. we are
, letting little Of it out to our friends ,
Beware the Mining Stock.
Senators and representatives who
value their good names should beware
sleek fellows who have Arizona mining
: stock to sell. Take warning from the
fate of Senators Burton and Mitchell
and the Oregon congressman. Some day
ton Of Arizona mines and speculations'
and stock sales.gS Men who are caught
owning such securities will not be COM;
Portable. .sg#t - <f.@tss5 u ssyzs., i
1t was knowledge of the operations
of this mine owners lobby that led the
leaders of the house to call the caucus
on statehood which was held Thursday.
Speaker Cannon and his heutenants
wanted to line members up on the ques-
ton in order to defeat the Vaccinations
of the lobby and also to protect mem
bers against the insidious influences
that might be brought to bear upon
them.
1t is not often that a lobby is able
to fill the minds of party leaders with
alarm for the safety Of their flock. The
Arizona operators may take little
are not successful in preventing state
hood. AS energetic and courageous mem
BEES of the third house, they have estaD-
lished record, and men who would en-
gage in such an enterprise are natur-
ally of the sort who would take pride in
even that much of a success.
They Own the Territory.
It seems rather strange that the rich
mine owners of Arizona should be here
fighting statehood, either single or
joint, but the reason for it is not far
! to seek. They own the territory now.
They run it. They are lords of the
estate. Naturally, they do not want
to run any risks by a change to state
hood. These mining corporations have
had things their own way all along the
limo but in no nortiou1ar 90 amnh -.
cally as in the assessed valuation of
their property upon which they are
called to pay taxes.
For instance the Tombstone Con-
,solidated Mining company is corpora
ton in Arizona that has put out $l5,-
amount $6,000,000z already have been
sold. They bear interest at the rate of
per cent and this interest has been
promptly paid. This great property is
assessed at $4,000.
Then there is the United Verde Cop
per company, mainly the property Of
Senator Clark of Montana. 1t has been
by this company have been yielding
about $10,0O0,00O annually for some
years, and that there ISL $150,00O000
worth of ore now in sight. This almost
inexhaustible mine of wealth is as
sessed at $312,923 and the company
$582,5O the total assessment being
about equivalent to one, month s in
Come from the property
Opposed to Statehood.
These powerful corporations do not
want statehood. They can operate more
Independently and proftably under a
territorial form of government, and
they stand ready to devote a big share
of their millions to the work of nre-
venting the passage of a bill giving
Arizona either single statehood or joint
statehood with New Mexico.
There are other members of the
United States senate! who are interested
jim these companies beside Senator
Clark.
The influence of the lobby is being
felt Up to this time, as far as is
known, it's operations have been within
the lines of propriety. There have been
rnmors atloat, however, that members
of the house and senate may find an
opportunity for gilt-edged investments
iii mining property if they are so
minded. These investments would be
on the square,; actual cash would be
way be classed as brides. But the OPP
portunity to get into such real%" good
things is not enjoyed by everybody.
In fact, most Of these bonanza mining.
propositions are in the hands Of close
corporations and an outsider is con-
sidered wonderfully fortunate to be let
in on the ground floor. 49,
If the lobby operators do try to lead
statesmen up into the mountain with
their gilt-edged Investments, it is to be
hoped for the reputation of the Amer
ican congress that none will yield to
the temptation. .l,.'