The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-03-24
SOVEREIGNTY OF PEOPLE OF ARR
IONA PROTECTED.
The Merger Of Arizona With New Mex
leo Prevented by Amendment for
Veto Power in the People
Ar1z0nn.

Of Arizona.
The United States senate by a vote
OF AZ against 20 protected the 3over-
eighty of the people of Arizona by
adopting the Foraker referendum
amendment in the Joint Statehood bill.
The amendment was voted for by all
the democrats and quite a number OF
Republicans. The provision in the
amendment is that final decision as to
whether Arizona and New Mexico shall
become state is to be directly voted
upon by the people at a. special cleo
ton. and that a majority in each state
shall be necessary before the consol-
idation shall take place. This amend
ment took the place of the provision
submitted by the committee, Mr.. Bev-
eridge. chairman, that the decision
should rest with the majority of all
who should vote in the two territor-
les The displacement of this provis-
ion by the Foraker amendment meant
the defeat Of joint statehood for Ari-
IONA and New Mexico, for the people
OF Arizona are opposed to being gov
e:ned by the Mexicans of New Mexico,
they being in the majority The For
aker amendment for the referendum
pie of Arizona. For various reasons
the Arizonians do not wish to be join
ed with New Mexico. Some of the
reasons are herewith stated in letter
from Phoenix, written by Methodist
minister. Rev. G. H. Andrews:
Arizona and New Mexico have MOTH
ing whatever in common. Her resource
es are entirely different from ours.
Her people are different. Her customs
are different. Her laws are different
Her language is different, and every
thing In fact, is diverse from us from
first to last Her legislature is always
three-fourths Spanish. Everything in
business, churches schools, commerce.
tastes, habits. and proclivities are
shaped in a Spanish mold. We have
never been associated with New Mex
leo In any way. Our affiliations have
been closer with California than with
New Mexico. 1t would be more natur-
al and fitting to link us with California
than with New Mexico, if it could be
done Our business relations have
nearly always been with northern and
eastern people. The character of our
industries brings us into closer touch
with those regions than any other
Our population is American and is
rapidly growing in numbers by adj
d1tions of people of this class The
Spanish people Of Arizona cut no fig
ures in our affairs. They never ask
for a position in our legislature. Our
OFFICIALS federal. territorial, county and
municipal, are never Spanish. but al
ways American.
In addition to these objections it an
pears that the government of the
United States when the territory of
Arizona was organized. held out as an
inducement for people to go there and
settle the pledge that it should become
a state. The wording in the law is as
follows:
That said government shall be
maintained and continued until such
time as the people residing in said
territory shall, with the consent of
Congress, form a. state government, re-
publican in form, as prescribed in the
constitution of the United States, and
apply for and obtain admission into the
Union as state on an equal footing
with the original states
In violation of this pledge the COM
mlttee on territories recommended the
merging of Arizona with New Mexico
and would force the people of Arizona
into 1t against their will the object
being a partisan One--to get republi-
can senators and keep out democrats.
The forcing process was described in
the following words by Senator For
aker during the debate:
This proceeding is unusual there
fore. In this, that instead Of waiting
for these two territories to make ap-
plication to he admitted into the I'm
ion. congress is going out and, in a
+: sense. take them by the scuff Of the
neck and undertaking to compel them
TO come into the Union Neither New
Mexico nor Arizona is applying at this
time :nr admission into the Union
t;c are praying congress simply to
#lf~ IT,: III alone as territories until
Itch time as the congress may see fit
- admit them rs separate and in1e.
q ,er:tiaut S.G:.&
& "a The vote vi :ln Foraker amendment
Ns'ing- to the people Of Arizona a. veto
80 q the PROV 0 go absorption was