Bisbee daily review., 1906-07-22

for opposition to this measure is not properly within the limits of single newspaper article. Hence I will con ! fine myself to the discussion of one
 other reason, to my mind the most i'm portant of all reasons. namely: that of
 reserving our territory for separate statehood.
 Arizona, in it's area. in its natural sources. in it's present wealth. in it's population, and In the quality of it's
 citizenship, Is fully fitted for separate
 statehood. She is entitled to this and
 the great majority of her people will
 be satisfied with nothing less. They
 kLow that 1t is due them and that it is
 only a matter of a short time until 1t
 will be granted them.
 President Roosevelt, in the publish el correspondence between him and Dr. Rodgers. secretary of the Joint Statehood league at Tucson. expresses the belief "that if the people of Arizona Ter this chance go by. they will have to wait very many years before the
 chance again offers itself. and even
 then, it will very probably be on the present terms-that is. upon the con
 d'tion of being joined with New Mex icc."
 This belief of the president is no
 doubt very much influenced by his de and should have less weight than if
 held by even a less prominent person free from special interest and prsju' dice Then there were several reasons
 which tn president may have over.
 looked which give foundation for the
 belief that he may have made mis- take in his forecast.
 There are now but two territories left. and it does not seem as if an ef- fort at a reasonable time in the flu.
 Iure for their admission would meet
 with much seriors opposition. The strength of the west and of the south in congress is and will continue to be in favor of justice to the terri tories. From the north and northwest. Ari- Zona has many strong friends in the States. A very small increase in the number of these friends is all that ss necessary for the admission of this territory.
 With successor to President Roc5a. welt who has not made a hobby of jcint statehood and who will not use his position to coerce national 1egisla- i tors. there Is a strong reason 10 De- lieve that the separate admission of the territories of Arizona and New Mexico will be an easy matter under another administration. whethek repub- lican c- democratic.
 In the passages of his letter tn Dr. Rodgers n which he grants to fedarad officials of Arizona "the same right as any other citizen to express their sen tments and vote as they choose and where he expresses "a peculiar affsc- ton for the people of the four terri tories" the president gives signs that he is relaxing in his strenuous efforts for joint statehood. He has evidently alighted from the elevated broncho he rode last winter while coercing con gross into passing the joint statehood
 bill and while snubbirg Arizona del- eeaticns that sought to present their claims to him. Such g change of heart in short time may indicate a com plete conversion before very long. Whether the near chances for the admission of Arizona into the Union are favorable or not, the defeat Of the Joint statehood proposition at the com ing election is the most important is sue before the people of Arizona. IL | Is more vital than the election of any candidate CT set of candidates to of ftce-more vital than the success or
 defeat of any political party. There lore 1t is the duty of every Arizonian at the election next November to be peiriotic before he is partisan.
 The result nf the camraign and of the election should leave no room for Goubt as to the sentiment of the ppo- plecf Arizona on the question of joint statehood. T. should be such as to satisfy every man who in the congress or senate of the United States at any time during the long and tedious con- troversy over statehood for the terri tories, 5attled for Arizona and for her rights, that they had not misiudged the sentiments of her people. IL should be such as to sustain the statements or those of our own people who. during the last two session Of congress, spent at Washington, their time. their money and their talents, endeavoring to i'm press upon congress that the sentiment i'll Arizona against joint statehood was practically unanimous. In short. fl should be overwhelming defeat of the measure and an unmistakable rebuke to it's advocates and it's champions. HINnDrE