Arizona silver belt., 1906-01-18
STATEHOOD PROSPECTS


 and become as rank partizan polite ian as were Blaine, Tom Reed, Mark Hanna, ct al, they must now acknow- ledge the fact. A delegation of promi- nent Arizonans, empowered by the petitioners from every section of the territory to tell him how obnoxious jointure would be to the people, called upon him and were introduced by Mark Smith.
 The dictator was delighted" to meet them, but assured his callers that there was no use in wasting their breath in order to obtain justice from him. He put it in a more frenchified fashion, but that was the net result so far as the territory is concernee.
 It is now an open fight, and the nations executive has shown that he is not ''the president of all the people but under the political thumb of Bever- idge, Cannon and other whips of the epu blican party-and the extremists, at that:
 It is a good thing to know just how strongly he has committed himself to this gang and their policy, and many of his own party are so disgusted with his attitude that they will act with the democrats and revolt against the i'm perial dictates of a conscienceless administration.
 Speaker Cannon in his desperation, seeing defeat of his pet scheme staring him in the face, has fallen afoul of Mir. Babcock, of Wisconsin, leader of the republican minority which favors Arr zona's cause. They had it out at a conference, and the result is that Bab- cock is gaining adherents while Cannon is losing ground. It is now said that sixty-three republicans have pledged themselves to vote with the democrats in opposition to the Hamilton bill, and new access ions to the insurgent ranks are being made daily.
 It is very doubtful if Cannon's gag rule to prevent amendment of the Hamilton and Beveridge schemes can pass the lower house. Meantime the senate forces in opposition are prepar- ing strong case, and we hope and believe that jointure for Arizona and New Mexico IS doomed.
 It is a pitiable state of affairs.
 If Arizona wins, we will always be made to feel that we simply got the best of a horse trade, and did not get recognition of our merits.
 We will win, because it suits polite al jockeys to allow us that small need as mere incident to the furtherance of their-to them-more important plans.
 We will win, because one faction of the republican party, having axes to grind for use on the rate legislation, Panama canal and Philippine bills, chooses to use the leverage of opposi- tion in the statehood cases to gain points in their own chess game.
 We will win, because the democratic members are willing to unite against the majority whenever thereis chance to humiliate the opposition by defeat in any pet scheme.
 One factor may be the powerful pressure brought to bear by those hay ing enormous investments in Arizona. but the fact remains that but small percentage of members in either house cares snap whether Arizona becomes half state or no state at all They have not taken, nor will they take, time to ascertain if we are entitled to single statehood or not.
 Even success for our single statehood aspirations would be tinged with the bitter reflection that we ''just sneaked through" because the warning fac tions saw fit to let one poor pawn in the game remain on the board when the kings, queens, knights and castles were swept away in the conflict.
 We have many staunch defenders, it
 
 our contention and honestly believe we are entitled to become separate state at this time. They are doing heroic work for the right according to honest conviction. To these, all honor. But it is humiliating to know and feel that these friends, who have been with us and are thoroughly acquainted with our situation, cannot win by statements of fact but must truckle, coddle and trade with every huckster on the floors of congress, to obtain for Arizona her just due
 It an example of the degeneracy of partizan politics, and we venture to predict that if the republican party succeeds in foisting this abomination upon Arizona, that defeat at the polls