Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1906-01-24

| correspondent or the Ihicngo hccord
 Herald, writes tbc following interest
 ing article on joint statehood to his paper;
 Washington, Jan. ls-it looks very much as if the joint statehood bill, mak. i ing two states out of four tcrritorcs, would be passed by both houses, but the opposition is evidently strong en- ough and determined enough to secure the adoption of what is known as the Foraker amendment, providing that in Inc ease of Arizona and New Mexico the union of the two territories as one state shall be contingent upon the con. sent of the people. Without that pro. vision the bill cannot pass the sen. ats
 Tho advocates of joint statehood in. sist that a majority of the people of both territories are favorable to their proposition. They also ropudiate the suggestion that they are forcing union upon an unwilling community. Hence they cannot consistently refuse tha "ad rcferendum' amendment. I m. dcrstand that even Senator Bevcridgc is willing to accept it. He told me that ho had no objections, but thus far has not officially signi6cd his assent, and it is expected that he will insist that majority on joint ballot, SO to spenk, shall be accepted as final That, how ever, will never be agreed to by the op. poncnts of the joint statehood bill. The Foraker amendment provides that unless majority of lawful voters in each of the territories shall accept the constitution, tho actioH Of congress shall be null and void, md that the two territories shall preserve their sep. nrntc existence as at present until fur. ther legislation.
 Until recently no one outside of Al. buqucrque, which hopes to be the capi. tal of the joint state, and a few scatter. ing politicians in New Mexico. was in favor of joint statehood, hut. since the President has declared himself so strongly in favor of the proposition, nearly all the office. holders, the Rcpub. lican central committee, and other am bilious politicians have whirlcd around. which shows how influential a man we have in the White House. And his determination to do everything in his power to- secure the passage of the joint statehood bill, recommended by his message, is indicated by the fact ihnt he would not rcappoint Governor Otcro because of his attitude on the question, and would not announce the nomination of young Mir. IIagcman as Governor Otcro's successor until that gentleman had climbed on the platform and declared himself. Since those declarations I understand that public sentiment has been changing quite ra- pidly. The people arc becoming con.
 
 vinced that their territory will never be admitted to the Union except as a part of the state of Arizona, and that they must take advantage of this op. portunity or remain a territory for ever. That argument is being used with good effect, and it is predicted here that the office holders, the Republican committee, and other supporters of the President will have sufficient influence to secure n majority of the voters for the joint statehood constitution when. ever that question comes to the polls. t is assumed, therefore, that, if tho Foraker amendment is adopted, New Mexico will vote in favor of the consti. tuition provided by the Bevcridge bill.
 Arizona, however, cannot be persuad. cd. There have been some converts among the oface-holders, the rough rid CTS, and among a small coterie of politicians at Tucson, hut they have been unable to make very little head. way In creating public sentiment. Four newspapers in the territory have fin. nlly declared for the Bcveridge bin on the theory that half a loaf is bcttor than no bread. They accept it as n last re- sort, and because they believe Arizona will not receive any attention from Republican congress for years unless she accepts what Is offered now. The mass of the people, the business inter. 'sts, the miners, and all who are con eerncd in the material welfare of the territory, remain stubbornly opposed to union with New Mexico, and it is believed that if vote is taken the