Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-09-20
JOINT STATEHOOD.

Con oKeefe, treasurer Of santa Cruz county, Arr
iona, wrote a letter to the Nogales Oasis, in favor Of
joint statehood, which is strong, conservative and unan.
swerable. The Oasis says that Le is one of the strongest
men in southern Arizona, and is also well and widely
known in the northern part Of the territory, where he
resided many years.
The Citizen can only sample Mr.. OKecfe article.
He says: why am l for joint statehood!
why think it a silly question to ask any thinking
business man with a business interest at stake. You
might as well go out and ask a farmer owning and cultl-
waiting acres Of good land if he would have any objec-
tion to taking an adjoining $50 acres, land a little better
for agriculture than his, absolutely free, without costing
him a cent. and your excuse for giving it to him that you
are going out of the business. Would ne tel you that
he doesn't want your $50 acres Of good land, because ne
don't like the hired men you had at work? While they
were good Americans all right, and competent men, Mt
for their work, which they did well, yet some OF them
are descendants of families that were Mexican prior to
1S4S, and some of them believe in the Old Calhohc
church. the mother Of Christianity, standing forth 1000
years, teaching peace and good will to all men. would
he object to taking your $50 acres of good land for a rea-
son so silly? Would Arizona refuse the cession of New
Mexico for reasons no better? believe not.
with the addition to Arizona Of the rich agricultural
districts, cattle ranges, coal and other mines of New
Mexico, taxation for support of a state government VIII
be less than if Arizona were made a state as she now is.
The general government offers to start the new
state into housekeeping with a cash appropriation of five
million dollars for school purposes. This with the big
given by the Hamilton bill out from the public do
main for school lands, in addition to the lands already set
apart for that purpose (sections 16 and 36 in each town
ship would give a fine impetus to the school system
in the youngest of the sisterhood of states, which school
system is pretty good right now, although laboring under
the disadvantages of a territorial condition.
With such a commonwealth launched, its govern
ment conducted under a reasonable rate Of taxation, at
the helm strong men from among her own people elected
by the people theselves, with domain and resources big
enough to support a state government without hardship
to the people or taxing them to death Cas would be the
case with Arizona territory today admitted as a state,
ruled by a few corpOrations), you will see substantial
capital flowing into the new state, for development of
our agricultural resources, our cattle industry and our
rich mineral regions. All these great resources would
draw the bone and sinew of the land, its brain and CAPT
tai, from the north and the south, to contribute to the
development of Arizona the Great; but with statehood
saddled on Arizona as it is now, with consequent heavy
burden of taxation, there would be a check to the flow
of the forces needed for DEVELOPMENT. j..
The sentiment of every thinking citizen with whom
l have conversed is that if the question of joint state
hood be left to a vote of the people at a regular constitu-
tional election, called to ratify a constitution, it will car.
ny in every county in the two territories-except, per-
haps, Maricopa county and the city of Phoenix in partic-
uar.
Now, Mr.. Single Statehood. Advocate, confine your
self to substantial proofs. Show how we will be benefit
ted by single statehood as against the joint. Eliminate
your old tactics, which are principally personal abuse.
We hear all that kind of stuff through the regular polit-
ical campaigns. But this is a matter which goes to the
root of the form of government. 1t is a subject for de-
liberation; and while we are not all from Missouri" we
will ask you to SHOW us" Remember, joint statehood
first: there is more economy in running one government
with the taxable property of two commemorative to sup
port it; but there is more economy in a territorial gov
eminent than in a state government taxing to death the
people of a small state.