Williams news., 1906-01-06
THE PEOPLE UNANIMOUS
A Ringing Protest Against Joint
 Statehood

If there had ever been any doubt of the overwhelming anti joint state, hood sentiment in this territory it would have been removed by an incident at the. fair grounds last week. In the midst of the racing, when, the crowded grand stand was engrossed with that sport, and. was apparently caring for little else for the mement,~ it was announced through the great megaphone of the starter that, MT. J. c. Adams had something to say to the audi ence. The 5000 people who filled the seats of the. grand stand, who jammed the aisles and even throng- ed the stairway, wondered what it could be that should thus break in on the racing when the afternoon was flying like the horses. There was in some sections of the audi ence show. of impatience, which, however, quickly vanished when MT. Adams began to explain the nature of the interruption.
 He said that for the last three or four weeks so much time and at tention had been of necessity de- voted to the fair that a much. more important matter had been neg Iected. The territory was threat ened with the destruction of all kinds of property within it's bor- ders by being forced by congress into jointure with New Mexico. The speaker believed that if con gress could be definitely assured of the wish of the people it would not commit the intended wrong. There had been so much representation regarding the sentiment in Arizona on the subject of joint statehood that there might seem a reasonable doubt in, the minds;of some of the congressman Now, said MT. Ad- ans, is good time to remove the last vestige of it. He said that res olutions of protest had been drawn up, which he then presented, as follows:. -~ j.. .:.
 "We. the citizens; of Arizona, in attendance at the first annual ter ritorial fair, on. Saturday, Decem. Der 30, do hereby earnestly protest against the proposed union of Ari zona and New Mexico to form one state. .':.f ..;. J..
 We are free born American citi- zens, who have inherited asa birth right the principles enunciated in 1 the Declaration. of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Among these is the right: of self. government.
 'We fear that the congress of the United States may be deceived as to the sentiment in Arizona by par tisan zealots. We submit that we. are capable of knowing what is for our best interests and we affirm that with, almost no exception. our peo pie are unalterably opposed to this obnoxious union.
 I've do not believe that the exi- gencies of party politics justifies the forcing of the people of Arizona under the domination of the people of New Mexico. who are very large ly different in race, language and laws -: -s-..-
 We prefer to remain territory indefinitely rather than to lose our identity, and finally, we respect fully submit that there is no neces- sity of settling this question until it is settled right"
 At the conclusion MT. Adams urged that as an expression of the thousands who had heard the reso- lutions, all who favored them should stand. The crowd rose, yell ing applause, waving hands and hats and handkerchiefs. Hundreds, not content with mere standing, climbed to the seats and other points of vantage.
 Immediately after the resolutions were read petitions were circulated through the grand stand, and in half an hour nearly 3,2OO sigma lures were secured.