Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-01
ADMISSION OF STATES
The Fight to Be Resumed at
the Next Session.
CHANGE OF SENTIMENT
STRONG DEMAND FOR ONE STATE
IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.
Schemes at Work to Boom Single-State
Movement in Indian Territory
Mining and Liquor Interests.

'NN''AeHStdhu'hS Inc VI lUe Dili
providing for the admission of two new
states at the last session of Congress a
determined effort will be made this winter
to secure the passage of a two-state bill
based upon the admission of New Mexico
and Arizona as a single state. Since last
March the factors opposed to and fayorng
this proposition have been hard at work
In both of those territories. From adj
vices received in Washington recently
there is evidence that great progress has
been made toward the end of securing a
demand from New Mexico and Arizona for
the joint admission of those territories
One statement Is to the effect that two
thirds of the people of New Mexico now
favor joint statehood. The chief oppo-
sition to this proposition comes. it Is
said. from the present governor and
the territorial ofice-holders, who nat
urally wish to continue their Offices,
which under joint statehood would be
vacated. In Arizona where at one time the
fercest opposition to joint statehood de-
veloped, that cause has made material
progress and four of the leading news
papers in the territory now advocating
admission along with New Mexico In
addition to these influences that are making
for joint statehood a number of the most
prominent men of Arizona earn
estly advocating the passage of such a bill,
both in the public press and on the stump.
The list of these advocates of joint state
hood includes Col. f. G. AnSworth, who
was United States district attorney under
President Cleveland, and D. G. Chalmers,
speaker of the twenty-siXth general terri
torial assembly.
Mining and Railroad Interests Opposed
The center of opposition in Arizona is
Phoenix. This is natural because that city
fears that in the event of joint statehood
1t would lose the state capital. The min
ing interests of the territory are also
against it. it is said, because they do not
want a bullion tax law passed, which would
make them pay taxes to the state. They
now control the territorial situation, and
it Is believed that they would control the
situation If Arizona We're admitted as
separate state.
1t is also claimed that the Santa Fe
and Southern Pacific railroads are opposed
to the measure of joint statehood, which
would give only two senator's in Congress
instead of four falling to Arizona and New
Mexico If admitted separately.
Finally, the politicians as a class are
rated as opposing joint statehood because
under dual statehood there would be twice
as many Offices
A Crafty Game In Indian Territory.
AS to Oklahoma. and Indian Territory 1t
is understood that quite recently scheme
has been devised by a newcomer. in the
latter to secure separate statehood for In
dian territory. InOSe DeHlnu tnlS move
ment have worked very crafty. 1t is
understood that they have gone to the
Indians and told them that If the Indian
Territory is admitted separately from Okla
home the Indians will be In complete control
OF the situation. They then have gone 10
the whites and told them that the way TO
get rid of the Indians Is TO have the terri
tory made a state. They have secured the
division of the territory into counties and
have started a county seat fight in each
Of these organizations requiring everybody
to vote on the constitution before they vote
on the county seat. In this way towns
that are against the proposition of sepa-
rate statehood are likely to vote upon 1t
and perhaps for 1t for fear of losing their
chances OF securing county seat town;
There is no belief among those who adVo-
cate the two-state measure that bill pro-
viding for separate statehood for Okla
homa could ever pass. 1t is still the In
tention to combine Oklahoma and Indian
Territory as one state organization, and
there is little doubt that such a measure
would pass on its own merits.
The Liquor Interests.
There is still one more factor in favor
Of separate statehood for Oklahoma the
liquor interests. On account of the In
dams an amendment granting prohibition
to the new state of Oklahoma was added
by Congress last session to the bill that
failed The interests of the liquor men are
naturally menaced by this provision and
thew believe that with Oklahoma standing
separately from Indian Territory they
would have a chance Of admission without
the prohibitory clause, whereas they fear
that if the two territories came IN To-
9ether that clause would again be en-
acted