The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-08
NEW STARS FOR THE FLAG
Arizona Left Out Of Statehood Bill
Which Senate Passes.
New York Sun Special Service

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New York Sun Special Service.
Washington, Feb. 8.-Stars have been
added to the flag by the senate. Okla
homa and the Indian Territory, Joined,
were admitted as one state and New
Mexico as another.
For a long time it looked as if there
would be only one more star, for New
Mexico, after being admitted, was re-
jected. Then, by some skilful parlia-
mentary practice, New Mexico was adj
mitted again, and, as soon as the house
concurs in the bill as amended, and the
enabling act takes effect, there will
be forty-seven states instead of forty
five. No action was taken as to Arls
rial government.
The amendment Of the house bill and
the modification Of the measure, as re-
ported by the territorial committee,
came after the senate had been In con-
tinuous session for more than nine
hours. New Mexico was the storm
center.
Close Vote on Statehood.
The fight on the admission of New
Mexico as a separate state came after
New Mexico had been rejected. Mr.
Bard, whose amendments admitting
New Mexico had been once accepted
and once rejected, struck out the first
sentence, SO as to remove the point of
order against it, and again offered it.
It was adopted by a vote Of SO to 38.
Mr.. Kearns of Utah, who had first voted
for the amendment and then changed,
causing the rejection of New Mexico by
a tie vote, voted no on the final ballot.
Chairman Beveridge sought, by chan
ging his vote, to secure reconsidera-
ton, but Senator Foraker moved to
table Beveridge's motion, which pre-
vailed by the same vote of SO to 38.
This action rendered all further oppo-
sition futile and the bill as amended
was passed without division.
Sensation of the Fight.
The sensation Of the statehood fight
came early, when the amendment pro-
posed by Mr.. Foraker was adopted by
viva voce vote. There was no sug-
gestion as to division. Senator Bev-
eridge, chairman of the territories COM
mittee, who realized that this amend
ment prevented the admission of Ari-
IONA and New Mexico, made a bitter
grimace when it was announced by the
chair that the Foraker amendment was
| adopted, but did not ask for formal
| rollcall. Mr.. Beveridge understood
that two-thirds Of the senate favored
this amendment, and it was useless to
| prOtract the light against 1t.
The Foraker amendment inserts these
words in the clause providing for a
vote on the adoption of state consti-
tuition in the enabling act for the COM
bined territories Of New Mexico and
Arizona: Gin each of said territories -
Nice Little Scheme Failed.
| Without the Foraker amendment a
majority of the aggregate vote cast in
| the two territories would have con-
| trolled. It was expected New Mexico
could easily outnumber Arizona, and
| the state constitution would be adopted
4 whether Arizona desired it or not. With
1 the Foraker amendment the people of
| Arizona could reject the state constitu-
tion, and by so doing, the people Of
New Mexico could not secure state
hood.
Senator Smoot, who is alleged to IA
vor polygamy, which is said to prevail
in New Mexico, voted against admis.
sion.
Polygamy in New Mexico. M
Mr.. Burrows, chairman of the COM
mittee on privileges and elections,
been investigating Senator Smoot and
the Mormon church, declared that he
had learned that startling condition
Of things exists in both New Mexico
and~Arizona as result Of polygamy
/ being practiced. He could not vote
! to admit either Of these territories.
Z They should be left under the direct
control Of the federal government until
the evils Of polygamy can be eradi-
Gated. 81
4 In previous congresses New Mexico
has been repeatedly on the verge of Sc
curing statehood. The sentiment of the
8 house has always been more friendly
than in the senate The democrats Of
the senate have almost unanimously
favored the admission Of four states.