Bisbee daily review., 1906-03-25
PICKETT PRAISES
 MARK SMITH
Says Joint Statehood is Now
 Thing of Past in Congress

COl. Ii. l.. flckeJt. or IOlnDSloIAe, was a passenger on the train from Fl Paso last night, on his way home from the city of Washington. where he went SIX weeks ago as one or thetdelesa- tion from Arizona to light sJhe joint Statehood bill. During the time Col. Pickett was in Washing1on, the ef- forts of. the friends of Arizona were directed to making friends and votes in the Senate either for the Foraker amendment. to the Statehood bill or the dropping of that part of the bill referring Arizona and New Mexico. The latter was what was finally done in the Senate. ".s Col. Pickett declared yesterday af- ternoon that the fight made by Ari- zona was a hard-fought battle from until the final vote in the Senate. A majority of the House would have killed the bill in that body had it not heen for the determination of the ad- ministration leaders, including Speaker Cannon, to force the Hamil- ton bill through Republicans who refused to abide by the caucus were threatened with all kinds of dire re suits by the Speaker, and many of them were personally interviewed by the President. Col. Pickett said:
 The people of Arizona owe a debt cf gratitude to Mark Smith which fear they will never have an oppor- unity to repay adequately. He has been the great power in the fight against the joint Statehood bill. In both the House and Senate he has strong friends, and, as in Arizona. he is famiiiarly called Mark by hun dreds of the big men in Washington. One of the active Republican support CTS in the Senate Of the HamfIton bill, and who made a strong speech in it's favor. after the vote had been taken, hunted up the delegate from Arizona and complimented him on his determined and successful fight. and said:
 Mark, if the people of Arizona are as hostile against this joint State hood proposition as you claim, they should pension you at not less than s25.0O0 per year ,s -~-....-- .- =.
 'I think that as long as Arizona remains a Territory. Mark Smith should be kept in Washington as it's delegate. There is no other man in the Territory who can accomplish as much for our. people in Washington as Mark Smith, and every man in public life in Washington will verify what l say. Republicans as well as Democrats. ---..-e ~E%
 T do not desire to minimize the good work done in Washington during the winter by the Arizona delegation. in assisting our delegate in the State hood fight Every man who went to Washington was untiring -in his ef- forts to impress upon Congressmen and Senators that Arizona people were overwhelmingly opposed uo joint Statehood with New Mexico. As this determination became better under stood by the arrival of endorsements from the Territory, the sentiment against the Hamilton bill grew stron- ger and stronger, until the time ar rived for the final vote in the Senate.
 Among all the people who went to Washington in the Statehood fight Tone are more deserving of the thanks Of Arizona than ex-Governor Oaks Murphy.
 My opinion now is that joint Statehood for Arizona and New Mex ico is a thing of the past and that the sentiment in the Senate against the proposition is now so strong that Beveridge nor any other Senator will feel justified in mentioning ii again.
 Arizona is entitled to single State hood and will some time get justice ;n this matter, but there is no hope in Washington now that this will come in the near future Before Ari- zona can be admitted as a single State there will have to be marked change in the personnel of the Sen ate"
 Col. Pickett stated that while he was very busy in Washington, he en- joyed the trip very much. and met many old friends whom he had not seen for years. He was glad to re- turn home and be numbered with these who took part in the memora- bic fight for the preservation of the political autonomy of Arizoae.