Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-12-06
ONT capital, and some others who

Joint capital, and some others VIII,
are personally interested,
During the past summer seyera
influential members Of the house Of
representatives have been down Their,
to Investigate the situation for them
selves, and every n Of them has
gone back convinced that neither New
Mexico % Arizona IL ready for state,
hood, and that the population of both
IL almost unanimously against the
passage OF the Joint statehood bill.
Thinking men Of both territories
who have no selfish interests at
stake. have suggested that the best
solution Of the problem IL to postpone
the agitation OF statehood for the
next five years. and then congress
can take the matter up again and do
what seems to be right.
James Graham McNary, editor of
the Las Vegas IN, M Daily Optic,
who was In town last week To protest,
to the president against Joint state.
hood for New Mexico and Arizona,
told some queer things to. illustrate
the ignorance of tie eastern people
concerning his part OF the country.
lie showed me a clipping from a Bos.
ton daily newspaper. dated Nov. IL
last, which gave a table showing tho
places Of residence in foreign coun
tries OF graduates OF tie John Hop.
kins Medical School," Listed with
China -FOUR. India (two) and Bolivia
(one). the territory OF New Mexico,
as q foreign country, 10 credited with
one graduate. But this Is not unusual,
Mr.. McNary says. Eastern people
write down there to ask the rates Of
duty charged on imports into the Uni.
ted States, and travellers getting off
the trains at Las Vegas. Santa Fee and
Albuquerque frequently inquire for
the custom house. II is common for
travellers In New Mexico to stick g.
cent postage stamps on letters to the
United States, and yet these same peo-
pie undertake to express opinions
concerning the propriety of admitting
New Mexico and Arizona to the
Union.
Mr.. McNary says that twelve news.
papers are cited as favoring joint
Of which seven are demo
cratic and are actuated by purely poll.
teal motives, and three are published
at Albuquerque, which expects to be
the capital Of the joint state II the ]
bill 10 passed.
Some people would kick II they
about to be hung" said Mr.. Nc.
Nary, earnestly. "A great majority
of the people Of Arizona and New
are bitterly opposed to joint
ire. Business interests, railroad in
mining interests, political in.
church interests, educational
interests. unite In protesting against
his unwelcome union.
why do the educational interests
1t? Because we would have
wo state universities. two akrlcul.
ural colleges, four normal schools.
OF these would necessarily be
disrupted and the labor Of years over
brown In the consolidating sprocess
which would follow. Half OF u cities
would be forced to give up institutions
which our people cherish and which
tand for culture, refinement and en-.
In their communities.
The factor OF distance would remove
educational opportunities farther
rom the reach Of their boys and girls.
1T Is a fact that the Presbyterian
'ynod, which takes in Arizona and
tew Mexico. and met In Las Vegas
n November, was almost to a man
to jointure. and would have
'assed a resolution to that effect but
or a feeling that It was not appr0-
'riate. Why do they oppose it? Be-
tucy NAVE cHCuuutcTcu TIC Ou-
Of distance and expense In
their assemblies, and, IRE.
pective Of the statehood proposition,
'eriously considered taking steps to
eparate into two syn0ds. The Metho-
list conference Of Arizona and New
meeting in Silver City in No
did pass Q memorial against
ointure. Business interests oppose It.
Why! For the same reason that the
BUSINESS interests Of Kansas and Ne
'raska would oppose jointure. Those
combined would make a magni.
icent state: SO would Vermont and
Few Hampshire, II they we're united;
nut business men believe In managing
heir own business. and that includes,
n this day, the management Of their
'ublic affairs. The agricultural and
took men Of New Mexico do not want
o be dominated by the mining wealth
i Arizona. The entity Of New Mex.
co Is as distinct as that Of any state,
nd SO IL that Of Arizona.