Arizona republican., 1906-06-23
PHOENIX. ARIZONA. JUNE 2a, 1906
THE HORRIBLE INEQUALITY.

Our joint statehood friends are pre- senting as the most tangible argument in favor of jointure that $5OOO'OOO cash gift which was offered as bait thrown out to the voters of Arizona and New Mexico. Five millions of dol lars Is not an insignificant sum in it. self, but the conditions under which it is offered in this case render it worse than insignificant.
 The disposition of the $5,000,00O would not lie with us. but with the people of New Mexico; that is with the legislature of Arizona the Great, which would be after all, the people of New Mexico, for if jointure should be effected the two sections of the state now so widely different in population. customs and interest. would be brought not be effected by an act of congress and a presidential proclamation.
 The legislature of the joint state would be divided between the two parts of 1t on the basis of the vote for delegate to congress. At the last
 
 and New Mexico about 44.0OO.
 If there were nothing more to be considered than the distribution of that $5,0000OO. there would be no great cause for apprehension. We could get along with much less than our just share of tive could get along with out any of it.
 TQrrf hA -t,,.-. \, of this end of the joint state would also be at the mercy of the New Mex jean legislature, which would have no sympathies with the interests and en- terprises on this side of the line.
 A comparison of the wealth of the two divisions renders the proposed partnership the more abhorrent.
 The assessable wealth of Arizona is many millions greater than that of New Mexico The wealth of the lat ter, worse than all Is practically inca pablo of further development while the development of Arizona's riches is in the incipient stage. It is stated that there can be but little reclamation of agricultural land in New Mexico. There are no mines of any value there. The cattle industry has never flourish ed there. The raising of sheep is the great source of the wealth of our sis ter territory. New Mexico could bring Into the partnership only a greater population-such as 1t is, but 1t would have the votes.
 Arizona, on the other hand, is agri- culturally rich and steadily growing richer This territory now ranks third of the states as a producer of copper and produces one-fifth of all mined in the United States. It is agreed by experts that it is the. richest min eral division of the country and will become the greatest in production, with development which is being rapidly stimulated.
 If this partnership were to be formed not only would New Mexico secure the lions share of that s5,OOO. GOO. but would control in the same manner all the wealth of the joint state. The Ari- zona end would be drained for the ben eft of the other side DeveIopment. If not arrested, would be retarded and the inducements which we are offer ing to outside capitalists would be minimized. If the impossible could happen, if a joint state should be form ed. many a negotiation for the pur- chase of a small but promising mine Of many an agricultural tract. of.many piece of city or town property, all in Arizona, would be broken off.