Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1906-03-14
JOHN MASON ROSS TELLS OF HIS
TRIP.
(From Wednesdays Daily.)


Attnrrcy John Mason Ross of The
law firm of Hawkins, t.llnwood 4
Ross, returned n few days ago from
Washington, and not being member
of any delegation, he had the advan.
tagc of viewing the statehood situa.
! ton from more impartial stand
! point than the gentlemen who were
~ the thick of the fight. His i'm
! prcssions therefore are particularly in.
tcrcsting ut this time, especially AS
they confirm the opinions held by
others who have returned and been
Interviewed. He said:
81 was in Washington about ten
days. During most of the time was
there ! was busy in connection with
some legal matters that ! went to look
after. but ! had time during my visit
10 see considerable of the Arizona
delegation which was there opposing
| Joint statehood. Before my arrival
the different members had appeared
before the house committee on terri.
tories and made their statements. The
effect Of these statements and of the
work of this delegation was very no.
,iceablc in Washington. Mr.. Morris
on's work before the committee was
| specially commented upon. He went
before n hostile committee aud had to
! L,ar I., Lrupt Of sI.,r .tt 4
told that he made n splendid presenta-
tion of Arzona's ease. lie was ably
seconded by many other Arizona men,
several of them Prescott men.
Certainly, the people Of the city
Of Washington are with Arizona in
her fight against joint statehood. and
this is true of the people all over the
country. Wherever the matter is dis.
cusscd. the justice of Arizona's con.
tentions is recognized.
GAS to what the outcome Of the mat
ter will he, I would not hazard TO
guess. The impression I got was that
there is no particular controversy as
to the merits of the question. The
statehood bill is dictated by political
oxpcdicncy, and is supported upon
that ground alone. There il great op.
position to extending the western in.
huence at Washington, especially in
the senate.
"Roy ;. Goodrich and Dwight B.
Heard of Phoenix were especially ac'
tive during the time I was there. and
had interviewed practically all of
the senators whose positions in regard
to the statehood bill were in doubt.
They were both very hopeful that the
bill would not pass the senate in its
present form, but that If it passed at
all. il would be with the Foraker
amendment added.
"At that time the President had not
taken any particular part in the sen
ate fight against the bill II he should
enter the senate fight and throw the
weight Of his great influence in favor
of the bill as it now stands. the vote
will be n great deal closer than it
would otherwise be, and the bill might
pass without amendment; but il the
President keeps his hands of the
Foraker amendment appeared to be
certain of adoption.
~ visited New York, Philadelphia,
Chicago and Kansas City, also spent a
few days in Ohio. Was there Mt
my old home in Ohio, which had not
seen for thirteen years. Everywhere
| have found the people greatly inter
ested in Arizona and her future. Ev.
erywhcre ! heard the greatest conf.
dence expressed in the future Of Ari.
iona as mining country. Even IL
the statehood bill should pass in its
present form, Arizona has had the ad-
vantage Of the greatest possible advcr-
Using in the course of the fight made
against the bill.
Contrast between Arizona and the
far east Is very marked in every re-
spect, and specifically 1t would ap.
pear that the advantage was all III
tn east, owing to its tremendous popu-
lation and wealth and its great volume
Of business. But, for my own part, ]
was exceedingly happy to get back TO
Arizona. II il not 40 strenuous here
ms it is in the east, but IL Is a great
deal more comfortable.