Bisbee daily review., 1905-05-07
STATEHOOD CONVENTION.

at the head of the Territorial Repub- Iican Committee. and Hon. E. E. FL lnwood, chairman of the Territorial Democratic Committee. will call a meeting of the two committees to be held at Phoenix on the 27th day of the present month. The Board of Trade of Phoenix will also invite the commercial bodies of the Terri tory to also send representatives to Phoenix on that date.
 The purpose of this gathering of prominent citizens of Arizona at the territorial capital is for the purpose of consultation regarding the threat ened danger of joint statehood and de- wise the method of inaugurating a fight in this Territory against the proposition to join this Territory with New Mexico into one state.
 Never was there a meeting propos- ed in Arizona of such monumental importance to the future welfare and progress of our people than the one to be held this month in Phoenix.
 In all the Territory of Arizona it is hard to find anyone who will ac- quiesce in the joint statehood prOposi- ton. still there are United States Senators and Congressmen who as sert that there is slight opposition to the joint statehood bill in Arizona, and that if it was passed it would be accepted by our people. We here in Arizona know there is no such sentiment here, and to make en un- mistakable and undeniable demOnstra- 1ion of this fact is the purpose of the proposed meeting in Phoenix. The importance of this meeting is ac- knowledged by all members of all parties who have recently visited Washington. B. A. Fowler, on his return from Washington. urged the people to take action in making plain the determined opposition of Arizo- na to the joint statehood bill: Col. Wilson. on his arrival from Washing ton, told our people that they must not remain inactive if they hoped to escape the curse of joint statehood, and only last week, when Hon. Mark Smith returned from the East, he lost no time in warning his constituents of the impending danger. and of his belief that it was more serious now than ever before.
 Arizona must fight now for the preservation of the rights of her citi- zens, and there should not be sin gle excuse on the part of anyone for non attendance 2t Phoenix or May 27th. Every committeeman and ev- cry delegate named by the commer cial bodies of the Territory should be there. The meeting should be made the largest gathering Of public and prominent members witnessed in the Territoy; sufficient in itself to attract attention of the country to the bitter and unrelenting opposition of our peo- pie to the joint statehood proposition.
 And when the convention adjourns the fight against joint statehood should be from that time on by a systematic and determined organiza- ton reaching into every county and town.
 Arizona is entitled to single state hood as much as any othor Territory in the west at the time it was grant ed the boon of statehood; there is no western state which has made a more rapid development Of it's resources than has Arizona during recent years; no state has better prospects for fu- ture advancement than has Arizona today; here we have 6 high class and progressive citizenship; here we have wholesome laws enforced by honest officials: here We have a public school system affording a free edu- cation in the Territory. In fact. we are lacking in none of the qualified tions which should entitle us to state hood. With all these qualifications cur people ask for the same treat ment which has been granted to oth- CT territories. If we can not get such fair treatment as we are entitled to, then let our people pray for indef- mite continuance under our territo- rial government, rather than be yok- ed in statehood with New Mexico, where we would be thrown in with a people to whom we are strangers and with whom we have nothing in com mon, either in our system of laws or in progressive spirit.
 On to Phoenix. when the statehood l conference meets on May 27th.