Mohave County miner. [volume] (Mineral Park, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1882-1918, 1906-09-01
The Statehood Fight.

United states, has the following to say
anent the statehood fight:
One of the most interesting political
fights of the year is going on in Ari-
iona and New Mexico over joint state
hood. The contest is good natured but
warm enough to suit the most pugnac-
ious who delight in broils, political
or otherwise. President Roosevelts
popularity is being used to conjure
with by the advocates of joint state
hood and his letter, written since col
gress adjourned, urging the territories
to come into the onion as one state, is
the strongest asset on their side of the
question.
Judging by the unanimity with
which the people of Arizona opposed
Joint statehood in congress, empha-
sized since then by the action of the
republican and democratic territorial
committees in uniting against the
proposition, an outsider would natur-
ally suppose that there could be no
doubt about the result of the election,
the only question being as to the size
of the majority against. However,
the advocates of statehood are making
a shrewd campaign, supported by the
federal office holders as well as almost
every politician who hopes to get
office in the new state, and by the
saloon and gambling elements which
were threatened last winter with the
wrath of the federal administration if
they aided in the continuance of terri
torial conditions. The Mexicans and
half-breeds are also solidly in favor of
statehood, inspired by the belief that
they will be able to rule the affairs of
the new state, and believing, curiously
enough, that their dignity and social
standing will be greatly incl eased I'M
der the new order of things.
Like the negroes in the South dur
ing reconstruction days they believe
that when they get things in their
hands the millennium will come.
On the other side, a large majority
of the white people of Arizona and a
considerable percentage in New Mexi-
co are solidly opposed to joint state
hood. The Arizonians point out that
their progressive American civiliza-
tion would be swamped by the Mexi-
cans and halfbreeds of New Mexico,
who outnumber. them nearly two to
one. Nearly 81 per cent of these
Mexicans cannot read or write, and
their ideas of government correspond
with their literary ignorance. A still
stronger ground for the opposition is
that Arizona has nearly double the
assessed wealth of New Mexico, al
though her population and indebted
ness are 80 per cent less. In other
words, Arizona would furnish double
the assets to the new state while New
Mexico would contribute all the liabil-
titles, of debt, Ignorance and unpro-
gressiveness. Naturally enough, the
business interests and the intelligent
white people of Arizona are strongly
opposed to such a bargain.
The thinking people of Arizona and
New Mexico believe, notwithstanding
Mr.. Roosevelt's admonitory advice
that this will be their last chance to
get statehood for many years, that
each of the territories is worthy of
statehood, or soon will be, on its own
merits. They are willing to wait for
that day, and patiently endure their
territorial disabilities, because of the
larger advantages which will ulti-
mately be derived from separate state
hood. In this patriotic and stateman-
like view they are supported by most
of the influential newspapers of both
territories. That they will be re-
warded for their patience there can be
no reasonable doubt. With the unex-
ampled prosperity of the southwest,
aud its rapid increase in the best
classes of population, it is only ques-
ton of time-and not any great length
of time-when New Mexico and Ari-
IONA will be fully equipped to form
two splendid states; and their title
will be so clear and irrefragable that
their right to admission into the fam
lily of the American Union cannot be
denied.