Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-10-01
DELEGATE andrews
SPEECH TO CONVENTION

Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Citizens: -
Great is the honor of representing
the territory of New Mexico in the
halls of congress and | would be less
than human were | not deeply touch
ed by the expression of confidence on
the part of tie representatives of the
people implied by my denomination as
delegate to the siXtieth congress by
the republican party of this territory.
While it is intended no doubt as an
expression of approval of whatever !
may have accomplished for the peo-
pie. yet, | know the nomination comes
to me not so much because of any
special fitness for the Office, but be-
cause there is much work still undone
and much still to be accomplished.
even in the brief period that will
elaIse before the new state of Arizona
will blazon its star upon the glorious
banner of this great union. | thank
you sincerely, because you believe
that | can do something toward COM
pietlng the unfinished work, towards
preparing the way for the time, which
| hope is near at hand, when two rep
resentatives in the house and two in
the senate will have not only voice
but also votes to secure for the people
of this magnificent commonwealth all
of the blessings of full citizenship and
partnership in this nation. That this
day is close at hand l firmly believe
and If the people at the polls on No
venber 8, ratify the choice of this
convention, and even should they not,
l will do all in my power and l will
pledge the support of my friends in
congress toward the speedy Tealiza-
ton OF the dream of the past fifty
years, statehoods for the people of
New Mexico and a full share in the
administration of the national govern
ment, to which they are entitled by
birth and by treaty rights.
There are many issues before the
people of New Mexico today and some
of them OF great interest and impor-
tance. Their discussion at this time
will not attempt although pledging
myself to work at all times for the in
terests of the people of the territory,
individually or collectively, without
partisan motives or personal consid-
erations. But | will point out briefly
some of the vast benefits conferred
upon this commonwealth by the Ham
llton enabling act, which is to bring
statehood TO New Mexico and Ari-
zona.
Some Statehood Benefits.
Twenty-siX thousand square miles of
the puick of public lands in New Mex
leo and Arizona, an area three times
tnat of the state of New Jersey, a gift
of twenty square miles for each and
every schOOl district in the proposed
state OF Arizona. Was ever a public
school system so magnificently en-
doNed? Nor is this all With this
muuifcent donation Of lands go five
million dollars in cash, almost four
thousand dollars for each school dis
trict a permanent school fund, the
income from which viii pay the in
tertst and eventually the principal OF
the cost of erecting Immediately over
1000 modern school houses, one for
each district, yea, the poorest and
the most isolated, Nor is this all. Five
per cent Of the proceeds from the sale
o. public lands in the new state Will
go into the permanent public school
fund, and il must be remembered that
no other state in the union has so
large an area OF public lands. No
matter what financial disasters may