Arizona silver belt., 1905-12-21
EARLY FROST IN TUCSON
The Joint Statehood Convention Was
 Mucho Trio

A special from Tucson to the Arizona
 Republican has the following account
 of the great" joint stateh ood meet
 ing in that city December l6:
 ''The territorial joint statehood con
 vention here this evening was distinct
 disappointment to it's promoters, for it
 failed utterly in being a territorial as
 semblage. The audience, numbering
 $50, was made up entirely of Tucson
 people and of this number half were
 women. Of the men who were pres
 ent at least one-third were prominent
 Tucson business men who are openly
 opposed to jointure with New Mexico,
 but who attended to show that Tucson
 is willing to be fair in the statehood
 matter and willing to give the jointure
 supporters fair hearing.
 "The expected delegation from Phoe-
 nix, Douglas, Bisbee and Nogales fail
 ed to materialize, as did also the list of celebrated speakers from the various
 parts of the territory. In fact, Albu- querque, New Mexico, had a bigger representation than all Arizona outside of Tucson. Albuquerque sent a delega- tion of four politicians and ex-office holders: Ex-Delegate B. S. Rodey, J. J. Sheridan, w. B. Childers and E. A. Miera.
 "Col. Allen T. Bird, of Nogales, and Judge Charles F. .Ainsworth, of Phoenix, were the only outsiders present. Ed itor Bird was unable to explain the ab- sence of the enthusiastic Santa Cruz delegation. -Four persons expected to come, but for one reason or another they could not get away, was the lame excuse for coming alone.
 'Rodey was the chief speaker of the evening. His remarks were received very coolly. Rodey devoted most of his speech to his record as a delegate to congress from New Mexico. He stated that it was now or never if Arizona wished statehood and that President Roosevelt would veto any bill giving separate statehood to either Arizona or New Mexico. He declared that there | was nothing incompatible between the citizens of the two territories. He characterized Arizona's objection to jointure as 'cry-baby tactics. He re- ferred to the university, briefly stating that it would remain in Tucson, but that the possibility of it's re- moval would be forgotten in the great benefit which would result to both ter ritories from jointure.
 Judge Chas. F. Ainsworth, of Phoe- nix, made the longest speech of the evening. More than one-fourth of the audience left the theater while he was speaking. He declared that the oppo- ,ition to joint statehood in Phoenix was based solely on the probability that Phoenix would lose the capital.
 " Put provision in the jointure bill stating that Phoenix would be the cap- tai of Arizona the Great and all Phoe- nix will fall in with the band wagon 'aid Ainsworth. He asserted that re- ;ently more that fifty letters had been 'ent out of Phoenix by reputable citi- 'ens favoring jointure if two capitals were allowed with Phoenix as one of hem. He dwelt long on the statement hat the loss of the capital was the main contention in Phoenix. Ainsworth { .nocked Phoenix throughout his speech. ie said the legislators when they gave tucson the university and Phoenix the nsane asylum, they builded wiser than hey knew.
 "E. A. Miera and w. B. Childers 'ere the other speakers. No resolu- ons were adopted. C. F. Schumacher t 'as chairman of the meeting. Gov i rnor Hughes was not invited to oc- 2 lpy seat on the stage with the other n 'inture advocates.