Bisbee daily review., 1906-11-04
To the Men of Arizona:

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 While in Washington last winter as
 the chairman of Arizona's committed
 of non-partisan business men fighting
 the forced jointure of Arizona and
 New Mexico, had an opportunity te
 personally obtain a very clear idea oi
 congressional sentiment on the subject
 of jointure and returned to Arizona convinced that if in the approachine election we defeat joint statehood by an overwhelming vote, the joint state. hood idea will be dead beyond possi. bility of revival.
 l am also thoroughly convinced through recent interviews and cores Dondence with leading members of both houses of congress, democrats and republicans, that the present con gressional sentiment is unquestionably opposed to jointure, and am assured by our friends in congress that this Territory needs but a few years more of development in population and re- sources to be given by congress the SldltilOOu IOT WHICH every loyal Arizonan should aspire m
 As certain statements made by those favoring joint statehood. have misrep- resented the actual congressional feel ing on this subject, l have recently written a number of the leaders in congress, of both parties. asking for frank expression of their opinion on this subject, and 1 herewith append t..s.
 Some of these men are among the most vigorous supporters of President Roosevelt although they can not agree with him on his attitude on the state hood question. Personally I am strong admirer of President Roosevelt and the general policies which he has so fearlessly pursued, but am con vinced that he has been led into his present position on the statehood ques- ton through bad advice on the part of those whose knowledge of this Terri tory was most limited.
 The following letters should con vince the most skeptical that the fear of joint statehood in the future, through congressional action. is bug a-boo of the flimsiest character. The originals of all these letters are in my possession ana VIII De GRACEFULLY shown to any one interested.
 Senator J. B. Foraker of Ohio, who so Loyalty stood by Arizona's inde- pendence in the last session of con gress, writes under date of July II, 1906, as follows:
 II think the people of New Mexico and Arizona are wise enough to know that as public sentiment. in harmony with congressional action, condemned the un-American proposition to con- pei them to unite, to secure statehood, so with both public opinion and con gressional action condemn all sug- gestions and threats, made to influ- ence votes for joint statehood, of pun ishment by undue and unjust denial of separate statehood if the people Of these territories vote, as the people of the United States wish them to, ac- cording to their own judgment as to what is for their best interests.
 Senator Henry M. Teller, whose long and tried service in the Senate mas given him great influence, writes me under date of September IF, ls06:
 I have op yosed the joint statehood of Arizona and New Mexico because l thought it unjust to both New Mexico and Arizona. also consider it unjust to the people of the United States ana every section of 1t.
 Roth New Mexico and Arizona have the natural wealth and general condf tions that entitle them to have the benefit of statehood, separate ana anart from each other. The proposl- ton to unite New Mexico and Arizona in one state received its death blow with the passage of the bill for the ad- mission of Oklahoma as state. on the Foraker amendment which was 10 submit to the people of Arizona ana New Mexico the question of joint state hood the vote was 42 to 29. By an error in the pairs the friends of the amendment lost one vote, so the reai vo,e should have been 43 to 23
 "The real strength of the joint state hood bill was the anxiety or members and senators to secure the admission of Oklahoma, which they were led to halieve could not be secured except Dy the admission of Arizona and New Mexico as one state. In any contest hereafter. the question will not pc hampered by the admission or otnel states. but congress will pass on the ouestion of the admission of New MeA- ico and Arizona separaleis' Deo' ing as I do with knowledge of your Territory and it's great resources, ana the character of your population, l am confident the day is not far dls, tant when Arizona will be admitted to the Union. t,,
 T know a threat has been made py some of the friends of joint statenood that Arizona will not be admitted TOT many years if your people do not vote for joint statehood. You can well al- ford to disregard all such threats, as no one can speak for congress on this question and am confident your peo- nle can make such a showing before the next census in 1910 that congress will cheerfully admit your Territory to the Union.
 II seems to me that the people or Arizona owe it to their friends in con eress. who accepted the statements that the people of Arizona were op- posed to joint statehood, to demon strate by their vote that such state ment was true.
 "A good strong vote against joint