The Socorro chieftain., 1906-01-06
BURSUM DENIES CHARGE
That There Was a Trade Between
the President and the Terri
torial Organization
ON THE STATEHOOD QUESTION.
In Fact, the New Mexico Delegation
Were not Asked to Make any
Compromise.
ON THE STATEHOOD QUESTION.

A recent issue of the Albu-
querque Journal contained let
ter from Hon. A. A. Freeman,
who is President of the Albu-
querque Joint Statehood League.
causing it to be understood that
at the time of the recent visit of
the New Mexico delegation in
Washington an agreement was
made between the President aud
them to the effect that in conSid-
Grafton of the reappointment of
certain federal officials in the
Territory the delegation was to
support the joint statehood
movement. In an interview pub
lished in Wednesdays Santa Fe
New Mexican, Mr.. Bursum en-
phatically denies the charge in
the following plain language:
MN. BURsUM's STATEMENT.
Certainly, since Judge Free
man has seen fit to publish a let
ter directed to me and i'll which
he stated that an agreement had
been made between the Presi-
dent of the United States on one
hand and Mr.. Luna and myself
on the other hand, pledging the
support of the party organization
to joint statehood in considera-
tion of obtaining the appoint
ment of officials recommended by
the organization. / think in
view of the publicity that has
been given the letter of Judge
Freeman that it is due to the
public to know the facts.
THE President did not exact
any pledge in any shape. form,
or manner, either from Mr..
Luna or from myself either in
return for his recognition of the
party organization in this Terri
tory or otherwise. Iv present
when the matter of selecting the
appointees for the various offices
to be filled in New Mexico was
brought up and discussed with
the President.
STATEHOOD NOT MENTIONED.
Not one single word was ex-
pressed by any of the members
of our delegation at that confer
ence with reference to statehood,
either joint, separate or other
wise. We, of course, under
stood and understand today that
the President is heartily in favor
of joint statehood, but as for any
barter or trade having been made
or suggested by either the Presi-
dent or myself or Mr.. Luna as
representing the Republican or
ganizatien of New Mexico, this
is absolutely without foundation
in fact.
AS / stated a few days ago,
it will be time enough for the re-
publican party to take the queS-
tion of statehood under consider
alton for action when Congress
has passed an enabling act. AS
chairman of the republican Ter
ritorial Central Committee, l
shall be guided by the desires of
a majority of the republicans of
this Territory.
NO TRADE MADE.
II am at a loss to account for
Judge Freeman's authority in
his assumption that any barter
or trade was entered into between
the President and the organiza-
tion, and in view of the fact that
his assumption so stated is er-
roneous, | cannot see any good
reason for calling the central
committee of this territory to-
gether at this tine to again con-
slider the statehood question until
some action shall have been
taken by Congress. / notice
the demand made in the editor
ial columns of the albuquerque
Journal, but do not propose to
be bulldozed or driven into any
position which will place me in a
false attitude before the people.
In making this statement do not
commit either myself or the or
ganization as to what their
action will be in the event that
an enabling act either for the
state of Arizona or the state of
New Mexico should be passed by
the 59th Congress.
I'm this connection / desire to
serve notice that, in my opinion,
whatever policy the republican
party of this territory should de-