Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-01-24
MARROW MASSACHUSETTS VIEW.

MARROW MASSACHUSETTS VIEW.
The last states that may eyer be
admitted 10 the union are reaching
the goal with difficulty. For several
congresses the question Of admitting
Oklahoma. New Mexico and Arizona
has been discussed. Senator Quay,
the most lDsisent Of the advocates
OF the bill. is now dead, and Senator
B~eyeridgc. the chairman OF the cdm.
ml'tee on territories, has neyer hccn
at heart In favor of the creation of
states out Of New Mexico and Ari
IONA. by taking advantage OF the
opportunities for obstruction in the
senate, Mr., Quay, before no died, was
able 10 secure pledges from the
senate leaders that the statehood
bill should have the right OF way this
winter and that pledge Is being
honored But there Is n growing
prospect that the session will end
without the passage OF the measure.
When a former bill, providing for
the admission OF Arizona and New
Mexico, with Oklahoma, as separate
states. was before the senate the open
| opposition came mainly from the east
ern SENATORS, some OF whom. like
Mr.. Depew OF New York. frankly OBJ.
jected to the proposed increase In the
voting power In the national leeis-
lature OF the group OF sparsely popu.
lated Rocky mountain common.
weal,hs. And, In spite Of all the ar.
guments that could be urged in favor
OF the bill. there vas for 20 X. the Oh
lection, The east. generations ago
outgrew the fear which Gouyernedr
Morris expressed I'm the convention
that framed the constitution of II Q
United States. He wanted n ,ule of
representation fixed so that the At.
lantic coast states might always re-
| hAll "a ~ 'NloittiIiuilf NVttiS DtNNi '
the new states that might be admit
ted. Others In the convention agreed
with him. but the fathers as a
whole were too wise to embark upon
such policy of discrimination. Condi.
ever. are of a character TO justify OBJ
iections from the densely-inhablted
necessary multiplication of new states
IN the union,
The balance between population and
representation In the United States
senate should be kept, If possible,
within gunshot Of reason. and unless
New Mexico and Arizona have solid
prospects OF large growth in the fu'
ture, their admission as separate
states entitled To four United States
senator's would he open 10 grave
criticism.
The force of this suggestion led
The Republican, two DR. more years
ago. to suggest that a solution OF the
question might be found in making
one state of Arizona and New Mexico.
II the people Of the two territories.
| with whose natural aspiration for
statehood II was impossible not to
be in sympathy on general principles,
would unite. then let them come in.
This idea was lated adopted and the
present bill was framed for many who
had given attention to the question
| had about the same time reached the
same conclusion. The east accepted
the compromise, and In the present
debate very little opposition To the
measure has been manifested by
senators who formerly were mp in
aims. II was recognized that New
Mexico and Arizona were sure 10 be-
come states sometime, either sep.
arate or united. for no only had they
been promised statehood when they
| were coded by Mexico To the United
States, hut their geographical post
tion contiguous to the great body of
American commemorative made 1t
practically impossible To keep them
forever in the territorial status. II
now they would enter the union as
one state, as satisfactory q solution
would he found as the east and middle
west could EVER hope 20 see.
Intense opposition to the merger"
has been provoked In Arizona. and a