Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-19
STATEHOOD FEELING
In Arizona It is for the Single
Brand.
NO TERRITORY UNION
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT A
NoN-PARTIsAN CONVENTION.
How Senator Beveridge and His As
sociates Went Through the Coun-
try-The Rough Riders.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence OF The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.


Special Correspondence OF The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
PHOENIX. Ariz., August 10, 1905.
The people of Arizona, members of both
parties alike the business element. the
miners, professional men and farmers, as
well as the politicians, are determined in
their opposition to union with New Mexico
and with one voice declare that they would
rather remain a territory forever than be
admitted to the Union under the same gov
eminent as New Mexico. Mr.. Rodey, for
merly delegate from New Mexico in Con-
gress, told me in Albuquerque the other day
that public sentiment was changing very
rapidly; that joint statehood leagues were
being organized all over Arizona; that 90
per cent of the people had already declared
themselves in favor of joint statehood, and
that the inhabitants of the two territories
would march into the Union arm in arm.
People down here say they never heard Of
such a thing as a joint statehood league,
and they are willing TO bet their last dollar
that it has no members in Arizona-not one.
For Single Statehood.
Last June a convention was held here to
take action on the joint statehood question.
1t was called by the chairmen of both po-
litical parties, and 200 delegates were pres
ent, representing every county in the terri
tory, half of them republicans and half
democrats. This convention expressed unan-
imous and emphatic opposition to joint
statehood on any terms or under any cir
cumstances. The republicans and the DEM
ocrats met separately and adopted resolu-
tons. Then they met together and adopted
more. They made speeches in which they
declared that it was better to remain out of
the Union a single territory than be adj
mitted as a double state. The resolutions
say that while we entertain for the people
of our sister territory the most kindly feel
ings and sympathiZe with them IN their ef-
forts for admission state in the Union,
yet we profoundly believe that the union Of
the two territories as one state would be
inmical to the best and highest interests of
both, and particularly harmful to the people
of Arizona TO be compelled against
our will and desire to lose our identity and
be merged into the proposed state, in which
we would have so little voice. wounds our
pride and violates our sense of business and
fairness. Therefore. patriotic and law
abiding people, We confidently appeal to the
Congress of the United States to avert the
disaster that threatens us. and, rather than
force upon us this proposed union, to allow
us to remain territory indefinitely
This protest, accompanied by those adopt
ed separately by the republicans and demo-
Gratis, which are expressed in similar terms.
will be presented to Speaker Cannon and
the Vice President to be laid before both
houses of Congress; the governor will make
pie through the Secretary of the Interior;
the Speaker and the Vice President will
be formally notified that no one Is author
ICED by the people of Arizona to intro
duce bill for or to encourage joint state
hood in any way; the President will be
formally requested to embody In his annual
message recommendation against joint
statehood, and If the bill is passed a pc
tition will be presented asking him to in
terpose with his veto power. If he should
approve the bill it is proposed to carry the
matter to the Supreme Court. to determine
whether, under the constitutional princi-
pie that a government derives its just pow
ers from the consent of the governed. Con-
gress has any right to impose statehood
upon an unwilling community.
This expresses the sentiment Of the peo-
pie of Arizona. They propose to use every
means in their power to prevent a union
with New Mexico and they give good rea-
sons therefor. At the same time they
claim all the necessary qualities for single
statehood, and will urge upon Congress the
admission Of the territory as 1t stands.
Cannot Understand Joint Statehood
The people down here cannot understand
why Senator Beverage and others should
be SO determined to unite the two terri
tories. They see no reason why he and
other outsiders should be so keen to place
them under the domination Of the Mexicans,
and assert that no person who has any in
terest whatever in Arizona has ever asked
for or approves of the amalgamation of the
two territories. Senator Beveridge is even
more unpopular down here than he 10 in
New Mexico. and amusing stories are told
OF the manner in which he made his recent
tour of investigation. When they first
learned that he was coming the governor
and other officials Of Arizona arranged a
program and itinerary over the different
railroads, SO that the committee. by spe-
cial trains. would be enabled to see all of
the principal towns and mining districts,
nd he r1fatiX oft ~ Or,
section. In the meantime the boards of
trade and other local organizations pro-
ceeded to prepare information bearing upon
the resources, developments and conditions
of the territory, so that the committee
might be fully posted as to its qualifications
for statehood. A great deal of trouble was
taken in making preparations for the In
struction and entertainment OF the party,
and the program required fifteen or sixteen
days of travel and inspection.
Imagine the disappointment and chagrin
OF the territorial officials and the commit
tees when Senator Beverage and his COM
panions rejected their hospitality, repudi-
ated their plans and spent only three days
in the investigation of the merits of Arizona
for statehood They reached Prescott lit
tie before SHUTDOWN were driven around the
city for half an hour, spent the evening at
the residence of one of the leading citizens
and left the next morning at IL o'clock.
They stopped at Congress mine and went
down about $500 feet deep into the earth.
They arrived at Phoenix after dark, where
several citizens called upon them at the
hotel. The next morning they attended the
opening of Justice Kents court, took a
drive of two hours. and authorized Gov.
Brodie to select two representative citizens
to furnish the information desired. A good
part Of the afternoon was spent in the
cross-eXamination Of the gentlemen select
ed. social reception was given the dis
tinguished strangers at the Adams Hotel
until midnight, when they left by special
train for Tucson. There they spent an hour
and a half In the investigation Of the condi-
tons and resources of that part Of the terri
tory. They were then taken by special train
via Benson to Bisbee, where they arrived
at dark. After looking hastily over the
town they resumed their train and rushed
on to Deming in the night, and the investi-
CATION of Arizona was completed.
The committee was furnished with a good
deal of written and printed information, but
1t Is evident that little of 1t was examined,
because Of the frequent misstatements in
their report. Altogether, the sd-caIled in
vestigation was ridiculous farce. and Sen
ator Beveridge and his associates must have
behaved in a very undignified manner.
Range Of the Rough Rider.
Ar31opo &c tho roppa oP tho pouub pI5a,