Williams news., 1905-01-21
SENATOR BARD'S
 TELLING SPEECH

The most effective speech yet made in the senate against joint statehood was delivered by Senator Bard. The dispatches had told how the California senator's re- marks had been received-how the full senate listened intently to his masterly argument against the pro- posed jointure-and how the con viction was forced upon many sen- ators that it would not only be a deplorable mistake but a velita ble outrage to unite Arizona and New Mexico as one state. But the Con- gressional Record, at hand yester- day, which contains Senator Bard's speech in full, makes it clear why the senate was so strongly impressed The deliverance of the junior sena- tor from California lays all Arizona under obligations to him. His calm, lucid arguments are unanswerable.
 At the outset of his remarks he pointed to the fact that the bill had passed the house and had been laid before the senate without consider ation in the lower house. In a membership of nearly four hundred but three hours and half had been afforded for debate" Under the rules no amendment could be offer ed except such as were presented by the committee which reported the bill. and the measure was not even read to the house of representatives, The senater was clearly right in urging that it was absurd to assume that the bill represented the delib- crate judgment of the house.
 No attempt will be made here to do the speech justice by quoting at length from it. Every paragraph was a blow from the shoulder. The senator made convincing showing as to the sentiment of the people of this territory on the question. Every channel of information, he contended, brought the same tale the unalterable opposition of the people to the bill and their prefer ence to remain in territorial vassal- age for years as the alternative.
 Senator Beveridge inquired what injury would be done by giving the people chance to vote on the prop osition, at any rate. AS the sena- tor from Indiana put it.
 Accepting at it's face value, and more, the statement of the senator from California, upon the authority which he cites in support of it, that the people of Arizona are practically a unit against this bill, and the statement which he quotes from the governor of New Mexico that the people of New Mexico are practical ly unit against the bill, I ask the senator what harm can come from submitting this question to the people themselves, and letting the people themselves say at the ballot box whether they do or not, and whether or not that would be a more accurate expression of their desires than the statements of gov ernors appointed over them?"
 Senator Bard asserted that it was not alone from official and personal sources that he had lis information. It was not alone from Governor Brodie, ex- Governor Murphy, Chief Justice Kent, Delegate Wilson and other men of prominence, in and out of office, who voiced the sentiments of the people of Arizona. The newspapers of the territory were unanimously against the bill, as was the bar association and ev- cry avenue of expression. He then Senator Beveridge in this fashion.
 "It is said that it is not the pur- pose of this bill to compel Arizona | to unite with New Mexico into one state, but that it simply gives the people of the two territories the priviledge and opportunity of com