The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-05
ARIZONA CAMPAIGN OPENS IN EARNEST President Writes Letter to an
 Old Friend URGES HIM TO VOTE RIGHT Believes That if Arizona Does Not Now Accept Statehood the oppor-
 tunlty Will Not Come
 Again Soon.

Washington, July 4-(Special.)-Ihe Presidents letter to Mark A. Rogers of Arizona, soliciting his support for joint union with New Mexico at the approach ing bi-territorial election under the state- hood act is the opening gun of cam paign which from now on will be energeti- cally waged to combine the two conn- tries.
 National leaders are expected to go into Arizona by the score, and the President will likely be heard from at frequent in- tervals In behalf of union. The statehood advocates are in addition said to be well supplied with money. Nothing will be left undone to carry out the wishes or the administration The point upon which the greatest stress will be laid Is that 1T Arizona declines fits present opportunity it will never get another chance, at least until the democrats get in power
 Information from Oklahoma, by the way, is very encouraging to the dem- ocrats. They are certain to get the two senators and the chances for the elee- tion of all five of the democratic con gressional candidates for seats In the SlXly-llTSI OOilSIcos'
 Text of Presidents Letter.
 President Roosevelt's letter, which was received yesterday, reads
 ''The White House, Washington, June 21.
 Dear Mark A Rogers Secretary Ari- zona Statehood association, Tuscon' Ariz':
 My earnest hope is that the people of the territory of Arizona In their wis dom will decide to enter the union as part of the great state or Arizona- No man can foretell what will happen m the future But 1t is my true beler that the people of Arizona let this chance go bv tbev will have to wait many years before the chance again offers itself, and even then it probably will be only on present terms-that is on condition or being joined with New Mexico.
 "If the people of Arizona come in now they will achieve what every self- respecting American ought to wish 10 achieve-that is, the right or selt-goNefn- ment If they refuse what IS proHereo them-and what in my opinion is profrer- ed on the only proper and permissible terms-they condemn themselves to an in- definite continuance of condition Of tute- lage.
 Has Peculiar Affection.
 .I have peculiar affection for the people of four territories, which, under the act of congress I have just signed, now have the opportunity to enter as two states in our federal union. These territories are filled with men ond women of the stamp for which l grew to reel so hearty a regard and respect during the years that myself lived and worked on the great plains and in the Rocky noun talns.
 'It was from these four territories that I raised the regiment in which took part in the Cuban campaign.
 "Assuredly under no circumstances would I advise the people of these terri tories to do anything that considered to be against either their moral or their material well-being. I feel that for them to refuse to come into the union as states would be at the best mere folly.
 "Very wisely the people of Oklahoma and Indian territory and believe the peo- pie of New Mexico. also have abandoned an attitude which forbade their thus as suming the great priviges and responsi- bilities of full American citizenship l cannot express too heartily my hopes that the people of Arizona exercising their sober second thought will come to look at the matter in the same light.
 Theodore Roosevelt