Arizona republican., 1906-06-28
WE'RE ARIzoNIANs FIRST.

The most complete story of the signing of the joint statehood bill is that presented by the New York Times, which purports to give the language used by the president on that occa- sion: his expressed belief that Arizona would declare for joint statehood and his determination to use his influence to secure such a declaration.
 It has been denied on the other hand. that the president actually said what has been attributed to him, but it is asserted that the words were put into his mouth by Senator Beveridge in in terviews with various Washington cor respondents to whom he described the signatory ceremonial
 In spite of the corroborative charac- ter of the stories of that event, we trust that it is true that the president will seek no further to point out to the voters of this territory their duty which they understand much more clearly than the president could pos sibly understand it.
 In the course of the statehood cam paign, properly beginning with the publication of the presidents message to congress. The Republican has felt compelled to criticize systematically the course which the president was pursuing systematically Its criticisms were not of President Roosevelt, for whose high ideals and great perform ances in the past it entertained a genuine admiration. The criticisms were directed against the victim of Beveridge's misrepresentations and who seemed to be bent upon doing Arizona a mortal injury.
 The Republican regretted that it had been forced to assume this attitude to- ward the administration, and it would more deeply regret the necessity for the continuance of it during the per iod which will elapse on November 6.
 But we trust there will be no such necessity; that the president. in sign ing the joint statehood bill fully ac- cepted the spirit of the Carter compro- mise. which intended that the people of Arizona should be allowed free and untrammeled expression.
 It has been stated that an effort is to be made to induce the National Re- publican committee to interest Itself in the statehood campaign in this terri tory. Perhaps such an appeal will be made, but there are many reasons fos. supposing that the committee would peremptorily reject it. The chier one Is that in no event could the national party be benefited in participating in what is not and cannot be made a party issue.
 on the republicanism of The Repub. lican. in city. county and territorial and national politics there has never been a stain. This paper is interested Tn the prevalence of republican princi- pies because it believes them to he the best for the country at large Rur whatever allegiance this paper owes to lts party, it owes a higher one to the territory. However strong the republi- .canism of The Republican may be. it's Arlzonaism is stronger ana 1t will op- pose any policy by whomsoever adyo- cated, which seems to be aimed against the prosperity of the territory. Moth ing more deadly to the interests of Arizona was ever conceived than the policy of joint statehood.
 We believe furthermore. that in de- lining the stand of The Republican, we define the unshakable position of an overwhelming majority of the republl- cans of this territory.