The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-21
FORMER DELEGATE
CREATES A FURORE
Declares Corporate Interests
Suppress Public Opinion
on Statehood.
LIVELY SCRAP IN HOUSE
COMMITTEE HEARING
ROdey Says Big Corporations
Rule Territories by Un-
due Influence.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 20.-B r. Rodey.
former Delegate TO Congress from New
Mexico. created n furore at today's hear
ing on the joint statehood bill before the
House Committee on Territories by an
nouncing that corporate interests In Ari-
zona had suppressed public opinion In
that popular vote on the question would
show decided majority in favor Of the
admission OF Arizona and New Mexico as
one State.
Says They Are Intimidated.
There has been intense persecution In
Arizona Mr.. Rodcy declared Special
interests have Perpetrated outrageous
and scandnlous suppression OF public
opinion for the last six months. Thou
sands favor joint statehood who do not
dare 10 say so"
Chorus Of mo, No."
The members of the Anti-Joint State
hood league, who were In the committee
room. united In protest against the
statements, but In response to the chorus
OF No. No from the Arizonans, Mr..
Rodey declared that the corporation
forces who are opposing the Joint state
hood measure do not dare 10 submit the
joint statehood proposition to the people
OF Arizona.
Mr. Rooey was repeatedly interrupted
by questions from members OF the com
mittee and by heated arguments designed
TO bring out the attitude of the admins
tration on statehood.
Counter Charges of Coercion.
Representative Lloyd CNlo) asked Mr..
Rodey If Il were not true that the Presi-
dent and Speaker OF the House were fore
Ing the joint statehood Issue Mr. Rodey
asked to be excused from answering this
question and Chairman Hamilton (Mich)
inumeted that the Democrats were being
forced by their organization TO oppose the
bill
Representative Moon (Tenn0 interrupt
ed the argument TO say;
Il object TO the gentleman from Michi-
gan and the gentleman from Missouri
having this fuss here when In private
they express opposite opinions"
Attacks the Corporations.
Mr. Rodey described The system of
taxation in both New Mexico and Ari-
been draining both territories and hold
ing down their taxes. Under joint state
hood, he said. the people OF the two Ter
ritories could unite and curb these In
fiuences and prevent their public domain
f.om being stolen He pronounced the
denunciation of the Mexican population
In New Mexico as ridiculous, and said
the MeNicaqs were religious and law
abiding. AND in no sense q menace TO
the welfare of the proposed State,
Different Under Statehood.
In answer TO questions from Repre-
sentative Moon, Mr. Rodey made a de-
tailed statement OF how corporate In
nUenccs get control OF Territorial govern
mcnts which are dominated by Federal
ofIice-holders He frankly said that he
and Delegate Smith aud other we'll
known men ride on railroad passes and
place themselves under obligations TO the
companies Under statehood, he said,
Governors would be responsible directly
TO the people ard The public demand for
increased taxes on corporate interests
would be respected for political reasons.
Mr. Rodcy's speech closed the statehood
hearing before the House committee.