Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-11-14

territory, that no move will be made
by the people Of Arizona for state
hood except To oppose by every means
In their power u merger with New
Mexico, believing the territorial condi.
ton for an indefinite time preferable
10 such an alliance, The misrepresen'
tations which have been Industrious
ly circulated In this regard are surely
misleading and injurious, The terri.
tory Is TO be congratulated ON having
been visited during the past few
months by a number OF members OF
congress, who came 10 inform them
selves upon conditions relative to the
statehood question. They did not
rush through the territory. occasion
ally taking testimony behind closed
doors and hunting industriously for
material with which to make an ad-
verse report to congress. but they
carefully and without prejudice In
vestigated the territory's population
| and resources. educational advantages
and the claims to congressional
recognition They were thorough In
their search for correct information.
and they found a commonwealth sur.
passing In every way all that had been
claimed for It by It's most loyal citi.
zens; they found that instead Of hav.
ing practically reached It's limit OF
development AMI productive power. as
had been reported by the chairman OF
the senate committee, that the growth
, during the last few years had been as
! tonishing In wealth. population and all
kinds Of resources. natural and devel.
oped: they found a civilization up TO
date In every respect. an enlightened
people. with an educational system
second to none. and superior to the
systems OF a majority Of the states Of
the Union. They found the construc.
tion Of railroads and the development
Of great mines most marvellous; they
found wonderful agricultural grazing
and timber resources beyond anything
Of which they had previously heard
or believed: they found that the terri
tory increased over 100 per cent IA
population during the decade previous
to the last census. and that the In.
crease had been In a greater ratio
since 1900. They found that the peo-
pie we're practically a unit against
jointure with New Mexico. md they
saw for themselves why such a mer-
ger would be 20 Objectionable to Ari.
IONA. The congressman who came
here are of unquestnned honor ana
reliability, and we have faith that
their voices will be raised and their
influence exerted in the Nfty-ninth
congress against forcing Arizona into
an undesirable alliance agaist the
Will Of her people. and contrary to
what investigation has proven would
be wise and just legislation.
1t has been reported that the presi-
dent favors the admission Of New
Mexico and Arizona as one state, and
that he Will probably recommend the
jointure in his forthcoming message
| hope and believe that the report Is
without foundation. He is too true To
his avowed principles of square deal
ing to favor such legislation. unless
he has been misled by representations
which he will surely resent when un'
deceived. All the people Of Arizona
ask from the president and congress
Ia a square deal" OF this question,
. and I feel sure they will not be dis
appointed. especially in view Of thu
. incontrovertible evidence which con
. WINGED the honorable congressman and
the specific pledge Of congress EN-
bodied in the act creating the terri
tory Of Arizona
N. o. MURPHY.
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