The copper era., 1906-09-13
MARK SMITH BY RECLAMATION.
Democrats Endorse Old Time Leader
Pass Strong Resolutions Against
Joint Statehood.

The democratic convention held at
Bisbee last week was a record maker
for the party in many ways, Mark
Smith was nominated by acclama-
tion to succeed himself in Congress
and in acknowledging the honor he
made one of the greatest speeches of
his life, as follows:
81 cannot adequately express my
heartfelt thanks for this further
trlbUte of confidence, honor and es-
teen, which you have chosen to con-
fer upon me. L assure you that no
sentiment will ever take precedence
bear to the people of the territory.
/ have tried hard to deserve your
confidence and esteem, and do not
think that any of my partial friends
will deny that if L had given the
vigorous years of my life to the
service of selfish motives, and the
pursuit of personal gain instead of
IN your service, that 1 would now
have acquired a fortune to make my
declining years comfortable. But l
assure you that tonight 1 would not
trade your esteem, and the honor
which you have conferred upon me
for all the wealth that the oil king
possesses. A we'll constituted mind
does value the good opinions of ones
lite, but a well constituted mind
does value the good options of ones
neig hbors. The greatest service any
trammeled Offering of his capabili-
ties to the services of the people.
1t was the proudest moment of my
life when l stood in the House of
Representatives and fought against
the measure to join Arizona with
New Mexico. That measure was
backed by all of the strength of the
administration, and besides there
was bride of thirty million dollars,
that although the cry went out that
there would be no appropriations for
public buildings on account of the
depleted condition of the Treasury,
still when the statehood bill came up,
twenty-five million dollars were given
out to change the sentiment of a few
weaklings. The other five million
dollars of the bride is offered to use
in the form of a school fund. But
when we consider the proposition, it
is plain that the most we can realize
on the sum is one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars a'year, and we
would pay that much and more, too,
every year on the debts which New
Mexico now owes.
II admit that every man has a
right to his own opinion on these
matters, but if all men felt the same
as do on this matter, every man in
this territory would let his right arm
wither in its socket before he would
cast a vote for joint statehood. The
democracy of congress needs no
praise for the grand manner in which
they took up the fight of Arizona
and fought it to the bitter end. The
national democratic party has put
plank in the platform for years, de-
claring for single statehood for Ari-
IONA, because it was no more than
Justice, and when it came to the test
they stood up and fought nobly. The
republican party also declared for
single statehood for the territories,
but when it came to the final test,
we only had that small band of true
republicans who lined up with the
democrats, and would not submit to
diCtatiOn from any source. Then
when it seemed impossible to hold
out against the Overwhelming odds,
it was noble sight to see the white
forehead of Joseph B. Foraker, in the
thickest of the fray, like the white
plume of Henry of Navarro, fighting
valiantly, because the republican
party had declared for the issue, and
he had too much principle to let any
man repudiate a doctrine which the
whole party had endorsed. Nobly
did he fight and his courage was in
spring. Arizona owes a great debt
of gratitude to that man, and 1
would feel dishonored if 1 ever
ceased to reverence his name.
''Let u.s. forget candidates in this
campaign, and fight it out on the
real issue of the day, and kill for
ever this horrible spectre which now
hangs over us, so that it will never
rise again. L thank you again for
this great honor that you have con-
ferred upon me, and wish you each
good night
AS the speaker finished the con-
vention rose to It's feet and cl eer
after cheer rang out.
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
DIR. Hughes, of Maricopa county,
chairman of the Platform commit
tee, read the platform as follows:
Actuated by the plainest dictates
of self-interest and, as we believe by
the loftieft motives of patriotism as
well, we declare again our intense
opposition to the union of Arizona
with New Mexico into one state.
We further proclaim our answering
purpose to maintain the independ-
ence, the integrity and autonomy of
Arizona by resisting in every legiti-
mate way known to free men the eff
fort now being made by designing
persons to join this territory in an
unjust, unequal and ruinous union
with the overwhelming population OF
New Mexico, and to this purpose we
pledge the vote of our party in the
coming election. And to secure the
defeat of this unholy alliance, we
call with confidence on every true
citizen of Arizona OF whatever
political party to unite with US in
preserving in Violate the laws, Gus
toms and institutions of our COM
from the exploitation of
New Mexico.
Under hardships and disadvantages
unknown to other state builders the
people OF Arizona have reared
great commonwealth of which they
are fond and of which they are justly
proud. To them alone is the honor
and glory of this achievement. They
have by exercise of high civic vir-
tues put into easy and successful
operation every energy of a great
and prosperous state; and they look
with. natural horror on any proposal
to violate the promise made by Con-
gress to Arizona in our organic act: