Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-07-19

read and speak English, he lives in a
new world. He learns what Is going
on and fits himself to take part in
: it. 1t takes him out of his shell. It
makes him able to learn for himself
what he ought to do in politics and
makes him independent of the politi.
clans who have for half century of.
ten used him for their own purposes.
Therefore, ! believe jointure would
! be the best possible thing for our
Spanish speaking people. What has
been one of the very strongest argu.
ments urged in Congress against the
admission as states of both New Mex.
leo and Arizona, for many years past?
Study the statistics of iliteracy in the
various states in the last census report
! of the United States and you will get an
| answer: Both territories stand nearly
at the head of the list as to illiteracy.'
This cannot be truthfully all laid to
the Mexicans. We have no doubt made
some progress in the last six years,
but We have yet long hard road to
travel before we reach a satisfactory
point, SO far as education Is con.
cerned. Compared with the resources
OF either territory, the educational
work needing to be done is enormous
might almost say appalling. The
President and Congress have recog.
nized this and have made munificent
provision to meet the emergency
Shall we lightly toss 1t overheard and
go on in the old way with our limited
resources?
Territories Should Not Be Driven.
Il do not take unlimited stock in
the theory that, If Arizona and New
Mexico do not accept joint statehood
now, they will not get statehood oil
any sort. in fifty years. Neither terri.
tory should be driven into Ia. re they
cannot join hands for good reasons
they should not join hands at all.
But | do believe, If we fail to ac.
cept the present enabling act, neither
territory will ever get one half so LIBERAL
in It's provisions. The value of land
is increasing by leaps and boundsl
everywhere in this country and in five
or ten years, five million acres might i
easily look as large in the eyes of the
Congress as twenty million acres do
now. What either territory would
get in the way of land, should they
be admitted separately, would be a
bagatelle compared with what is now
offered Nor is there much probability
that any large sum of money or any
share In the proceeds of the sale of
public lands, would be given to either
state. We must remember that many
influences, which can never come
again at one time, combined to give
us this magnificent enabling act. I'll
was urged on by President who un.
derstands the west as no other Presi.
dent ever did, or is likely to again.
This, no doubt, influenced many votes
in its favor. The fate of New Mexico
and Arizona was united in one bill
with that of Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory. No good reasons could be
given why the latter two should not
De admitted as one state and many
Senators and Representatives voted
FOR the omnibus bill( with al! its lib.
eral provisions), who would not have
done SO but for their unwillingness to
40 a great injustice to Oklahoma and
indian Territory. l think, therefore. II
am right in saying that such favorable
and fortuituous combination of circum.
stances can never come again to give
us such very liberal terms. If we
turn this down, when either New Mexi.
co or Arizona applies for admission in
the future, they will have to stand on
their merits alone without any such
help as we have had in the last con.
test.
another reason why l favor Joint.
ure is that, one big strong state rep.
resented In the Senate and House bv
the Kind OF men such state would
command, would have far more In.
huence than twice the number of weak
or unworthy men-such men, for in.
stance, (if may venture to say SOL
as the Seth legislative assembly Of
New Mexico would have elected if it
mad been sitting as state legislature
Another reason why we should vote
for joint statehood is that no American
citizen likes to sit forever on the fence
unable to take any part in national af.
fairs 1t is big game and every self
respecting voter wants to play his
part In 1t.
Il think New Mexico will vote inl
favor of joint statehood. Not long
ago, I felt sure that Arizona would
not, but now am not so sure about
it Sentiment in favor of it is grow.
ing, but whether an almost unani.
nous opposition can be changed to
a favorable majority in less than four
months is very uncertain
Should Not Bet on "Yes" From
Arizona
Il think we ought not to bet on Arl-
zona saying "yes," however much we
may desire it. We should not let
out hopes make us forget that in case
Arizona says mo-" we must go on
with our Territorial government for an
indefinite time and that we should
strive to make 1t as good as such a
form Of government can be made. That
1t can be made better than 1t has ever
been is certain, II we go at 1t IN the
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