Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-04-20
THE STATEHOOD QUESTION.

We agree with the Albuquerque pa
pcrs In their statehood position TO the
extent that, " congress passes a joint
statehood bill, We shall urge our PEG
pie TO adopt a Joint statehood consti-
tuition. We cannot, however. sub
scribe to the view that every hope OF
separate statehood Is at an end,
There IL at least as much chance Oi
the passage OF a separate statehood
bill through congress MS there IL OF
n joint statehood bill. And while the
people Of both Arizona and New Mex
leo are willing TO accept separate
statehood, there IN at least n grave
doubt whether they win accept joint
statehood. With a majority Of rep.
rcscntatives and senators IN favor OF
separate statehood, with a considera.
BILE element In congress that will
spare no effort 10 kill a joint state
hood measure. We do not feel like CIV.
ing over the fight for separate state.
hood without one more determined.
united effort.
In the course Of an able and well
written article In support Of the joint
statehood position. the Albuquerque
Citizen, while admitting that accord.
ing to the meaning OF the federal con
stitution, New Mexico is entitled to
separate statehood, declares that sep
arate statehood will be impossible
for fifty years. II says that the oppo.
sition to our admission Is not racial,
Is not political, is not constitutional,
but financial.
What, then, Is the cause Of oppo.
siti0n? It Is financial, pure and
simple. The financial control OF the
country Is % In the hands Of the
east and there the money power OF
the country proposes TO keep it,
With them. this control Is para,
mount to politics, to everything
else. In a word. The money power
named the two presidential candi.
dates in the last national election;
and the two candidates were as
alike as two black-eyed peas, apart
from their separate individualiiies.
The Citizen also says that il the
separate statehood biz should pass
congress. 1t would be vetoed by the
president.
W. are willing TO concede that The
supporters OF Joint statehood have
much upon which to base their argti.
ments. that the republican leaders
Will use every effort to kin a separate
statehood bill, that The great financial
forces are against us. that the prcsI.
dent IL in favor of joint statehood.
and that wen after we unite all the
forces In favor of separate statehood
In the nation, that the issue Is cx
freinely doubtful.
However. we do not believe that.
the defeat Of separate statehood puts
joint statehood any farther away from
us, that there liz moi a large measure
OF politics in the opposition to us,
especially we do not believe that the
president of these United States Is
the creature OF any financial combina-
tions In this country,
True. the money power acquiesced
Roosevelt. Il had TO. II was afraid
Roosevelt and tried 10 defeat his
but he had the people
him, and once and a while, even
this free republic. the peoples wish.
es are respected. President Roosevelt
giving the money power cause for
Its uneasiness.
The reasoning OF the Citizen APP.
pears 10 be that President Roosevelt
IS the creature Of the money power
The money power objects 10 the adj
mission of Now Mexico aud Arizona
10 separate states. because II endan.
gers the financial supremacy Of the
last. Therefore. IL the matter should