Bisbee daily review., 1906-07-22
SINGLE OR JOINT STATEHOOD
 THE ISSUE
People of Arizona Can Not Af- ford to Take Chances on Making a Mistake Which Can Not Be. Corrected.


 subject of Joint statehood has been Ireceived by the Arizona Republican from D. J. Sullivan, county assessor of Yayapai cocrt,':
 The most important question which She voters of this territory will be called upon 10 answer at the election fo be hsrd -en> the 9th day of Noye,n- her next is, whether Arizona shall be uniIed ,o New Mexico in joint state hood, or wheiIer she shall remain a Territory until such time as congress shaii see fit to admit her into the union as separate and independent state. h fact, it is the most serious and important question they nave ever been, or perhaps will be again called upon to decide by their votes.
 Mistakes frequently made by the electors of the territory, such as the selection of unfit persons as repre- sentatives and servants of the people, are but temporary in their effect and are soon possible of correction A mistake made in the rejection of joint statehood, if a mistake in this direc- tion were possible. could be soon cor rected by reversal of the vote at an- other election, or by the more desira- ble condition which awaits us and to which we are entitled-separate state hood fo- Arizona
 But a mistake made in accepting joint statehood would remain a mis- take during the life of the nation. What congress has joined together in to a state there is no precedent for separating. It is, therefore. much bet. ter for the voters of Arizona 10 make the mistake of rejecting joint state. hood than the mistake of accepting it. II IS better for Arizona to remain tenn porarily territory, with the many dis advantages it involves. than to be joined eternally in a union distasr1ul and undesirable and from which es- cape will be absolutely impossible.
 As to the sand the people of Ari- Zona should take on the question of the proposed union of the two terri tories, l, as one of the people, am nos troubled with single doubt
 Since the time that Mir. Beveridge and his friends first sprung the plan 10 settle ihe question of statehood for Arizona and New Mexico by joining fnem into one state. I have, I believe heard and read every argument offered eye;x theory advanced as to the herefiss to izapa from the union proposed have anayzed as well as my ability to do so woulS permit every one of these arguments and theories, and I state here honestly and emphatically that have been un- able to extract from the whcle . single reason satisfactory to me, why the union should be permitted or even en- ecurased
 I have even, for the purpose of reaching fair and unbiased conclu- sion, divested. myself of all interest and sympathy in the matter, and in this condition have honestly tried to discover an original logical reason for joint statehood favorable 10 Arizona. and I failed to find it.
 ihe only argument I have heard or read, suggesting even an excuse for Jolnr statehood so far as Arizona was concerned. was to the effect that if separate statehood was impossible. we should accept the joint article. or. as some have expressed it "a half loaf rather than no bread"
 
 the contemplation that while Arizona would furnish the greater share of the dough, less than third of the loaf would be her portion. New Mexico mas more than twice as many mouths to feed as Arizona has. It would Der haps be the crust of the loaf (the namel for Arizona and the filling for New Mexico-the shadow for the one and the substance for the other.
 :. Arizona has at the present time Il much larger assessed valuation than New Mexico. Before very long, with the rapid advancement in the develop ment of her mines, with the reclsma- ton of her public lands under the ir- rlgauon system already inaugurated, and win the return for taxation of the now exempt railroads. it is safe to say that the assessed valuation of Ari- zcna will soon be 50 per cent greater than tha. of New Mexico On the oth- CT hand, her indebtedpess and her -pop- ulation are each 50 per cent less.
 Exact statistics might make these figures more favorable 10 New Mexi cos position. but not enough so, to materially change the situation.
 Tn fact still remains that Arizona In this union. if consummated. would furnish much the larger share of the assets and New Mexico ruch the larger share of the liabilities and of the power to control and regulate the common interests of both sections of the state
 A calculation from the figures gwen will show that in the event of joint statehood. the present Arlzona proper v owner would be compelled to pay tax equivalent to what he now pays and an additional 90 per cent as a re- suit of the difference in cnuditiora which would be brought into the union by New Mexico and Arizona respect. lively.
 Is there not, then, a condition con- fronting us. even in tais single feature of the case. which should justify the opposition of every property owner. great and small. corporate and indi- yidual, within the bounds of the ter