Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-08-07
BOLD PROGRAM
STRONGLY PUT
Attorney Wade Of
Las Cruces Time
ly Suggestion.
TO HOLD CONVENTION
No Matter What the Result
of Vote Form a State
Constitution.


co, spent part of last week in this
city on legal business. Mr.. Wade is
a lawyer of fine education and much
learning and experience. He came to
Santa Fe first twenty-seyen years
ago. returned to Washington for a
few months, then came again to New
Mexico in 1881. Since then he has
made the Territory his permanent
home; for time he was in Ell Paso
doing newspaper work and for three
years he lived temporarily at Grants
Pass in the state Of Washington. Un-
der the Sheldon administration he
served successfully and satisfactorily
as territorial district attorney for the
Third Judicial District. During the
past two years he has been junior
member of the law firm of Bonham
and Wade, at Las Cruces,
which does lucrative and
constantly extending business in the
counties of the Third Judicial District
and before the Territorial Supreme
Court.
Mr.. Wade is well posted on New
Mexico conditions and resources. He
is very observant, reads great deal,
meets many people and keeps close
tab on events political. To repre-
sentative of the New Mexican in an
swer to the question what he thought
Of the statehood situation, Mr.. Wade
talked interestingly, although briefly.
marks and this is what he said:
What Should Be Done to Secure
Statehood.
"The question as to what, if any,
action should be taken by the people
of New Mexico for the purpose of pro
curing statehood in the event of the
people of Arizona voting in the mega
tive on the question of political union
with New Mexico under the provisions
Of the Hamilton act, is one that neces-
sarily forces itself upon those who
desire to have this Territory admitted
to the Union at an early date. 1t is
true that the reports coming from Ari
zona with reference to the attitude
Of the majority of the voters on the
question to be submitted in Novem-
ber are conflicting, ami the pro-joint.
IRE people are by no means disposed
to admit that the proposition submit
ted will be negatiyed. However,
should the people of Arizona vote in
the negative, then what? So far two
suggestions have been made: J. J..
Hagerman, whose opinions are well
worthy of respect, has suggested that
we cease all further agitation for state
hood for a number of years, say, un.
TIL after the next census, and in the
meantime appeal to Congress for Pc
cuniary assistance in the matter of
reducing the great amount of Hitter.
acy which exists in the Territory.
Delegates Should Convene and Agree
on Constitution.
Another suggestion is that, should
the people of New Mexico vote in the
affirmative by a considerable majority,
the delegates elected at the November
election convene at Santa Fe on the
third of December, as provided in
the Hamilton act, organize and ad-
Journ to some convenient date after
the convening of the Legislative AS
sembly of the Territory, which body
can pass an act legalizing the conven.
ton, making provision for paying it's
expenses and for the submission to
the people of the Territory, at an
election to be held sometime in the
Following spring, of constitution to
be formulated by the convention and
conforming as near as practicable to
tne requirements of the Hamilton act.
This last suggestion contains much
that appeals to me and think it well
worthy OF consideration. Should we
pursue such course and go to Con.
sress seeking admission in Decem.
ner, 1907, with a constitution framed
along enlightened lines, safeguarding
the rights of persons and property, and
YET at the same time restraining as
much as possible improper corporate
influences in the matter of our cleo
tions and legislation, and containinp
provision for the annexation Of the
territory of Arizona to the state ot
New Mexico, whenever Congress-
should elect so to do, it seems to me
that our petition for admission would
appeal strongly to Congress and tc
tne American people AS we know
tne principal objection to the admis
SION OF New Mexico and Arizona as
separate states is ID the apprehen
sion OF the creation of two weak
and, perhaps, corrupt states, dominat
ed by special interests and, (2) the
reluctance to admit a population OF
100000 or 100000 to representation
in the United States Senate double
that of the great states of New York
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, with
their millions.
All Depends Upon Action OF People o,
New Mexico.
The provision in the proposed con
stitution with reference to the annex
alton of Arizona will have tendency
largely to abate the above objection
Its effect would be to allow Arizona