Las Vegas daily optic., 1906-06-23
LVIeHS OF LEADING
g eMEN ON STATEHOOD
The OPTIC kenexs. Foremos, Men Of Temloy Con-
cemins - 81 Paramount lnieres.---Whh One
Voice They Declare in Favor Of Accepting What is
Ofered---Tems of Bill Regarded as Liberal.

| thorough believe thar IL both terri
tories do accept. while there may b.
some difficulties 10 overcome ~ firsi
On account n sectional feeling which
may exist, that II viii only be q mat
ter Of short time until both terrific
ries are 10 thoroughly amsigamates
that they will wonder how they oouit
ever hare regarded the union viii
disfavor. They are all energetic aud
pssriotie American citizens and there
cannot be any radical differences be
tween them on account OF the draw
Ing Of an imaginary line In the year
1854. separating into two parts wha,
WAS originally one territory"
censissu u Mese liesssl.
Hon. solomon Luna, Republican ns'
tionai committeeman for Neu Mexi
GO. = few days after the pssssspe n
the enabling act. gave out the follow
ing interview 70 the Albuquerque
citisea:
mir. Luna" said the reporter.
what do you think Of the statehood
bin.-
Mr.. Luna replied:
Z consider it the most liberal en-
ablinG art ever passed by congress.
u know OF no state In all tie
foEty-five now composing the union,
to which so fair a heritage was offer
ed as that which will be the malpiass
portion Of the proposed state Of All
zona. There was nothing asked oi
congress. In the way Of endowment
for the new state which was rot
granted. Five million d1liars In cash
for our schools and ssa.uoo. 900 In
lands for the schools and other nee
essary state institutions. constitute a
bequest never before imagined. much
less realized, In the admission OF the
thirty.two states which have come in
to the Union since the joirtare of tile
original thirteen that gaiaed their in
dependence. The gifts made by con
aress, which viii never again he dupli
Gated, whether the twin territories ap.
ply separately or Jointly. will at osce
make the state OF Arizona one of the
wealthiest and with the lowest taS
rate known In the Union. while the
immense sise and varied industries af
the state WIN attract immigration as
no other pist O the United States ,ias
ever done. of course. regret the
ioss OF our historic and tims-honc-ed
ranie. New n, leo. but We cannot
hase everyth' ig in this wa,it. We
must take everything as II comes. the
bitter with the sweet. The greater
advantages a statehood leads me to
overlook some. minor matters which
may NOT be just ss would have them.
The statehood bill opens a grand and
attractive prospect before New Mex.
leo and Arizona and think that eth.
er OF them will be very foolish which
shall reject the opportunity.
Mr.. Luna, how do you think the
vote will stand in this territory. Will
II be yes or nos"
Il do not think that there ia any
doubt on the subject. There is but
little opposition in this territory to
joint statehood. Some prominent
men would rather have us continue as
a territory. l will not suggest who
they are. Others OF the peopie have
become angered at the viliification OF
New Mexico, especially by speakers
and the press Of Arizona and in their
anger they prefer indefinite territorial
condition than jointure with Arizona.
] think that such are. largely in the
minority and that most of them can
be influenced BY calm and sensible
argument. However, the friends OF
jointure must not be indolent or idle
Much must be done and the time is
short. / do believe, however, that with
proper effort very large majority
may be secured for statehood In New
Mexico. All the opposition in this
territory Is chiefly that OF sentiment.
II can be overcome by fair arguments
and. as already said, IL proper efforts
are put forth do not have any fear
that the result at the polls win be
overwhelmingly for statehoosf.n
New Mexico has been a persistent