Arizona republican., 1906-11-05

that are now in the two territories;
the same people viii inhabit the state
that now reside in the territories; our
monals will be unchanged and there
will be nothing in the act of jointure
to improve our legislative material
which will continue to be selected for
us by the same sets of politicians.
If the corporations were doing what
the jointist demagogues say they have
been doing they would welcome joint
ure. Their work would be more con-
veniently disposed for then they would
have fewer people to see"
The advice of the jointists is, as we
understand it. for the voters to lift
themselves into state of incorrupt-
Utility by their moral boot straps.
| When has such a thing ever been done
in the history of the world?
| As a matter of fact the corporations
are taking precisely the same view of
this question that other taxpayers are
taking The Colorado Fuel and Iron
company, as well as the heavier tax
payers of New Mexico, is, we under
stand. in favor of jOinture. They have
as w. c. Barnes of New Mexico re-
Gently said, everything to gain and
nothing to lose" They understand
that if their territorial tax rate of $3.50
is added to our territorial rate of 70
cents and the sum divided by two,
their rate will be reduced to $1.12k.
gain for them OF 371A cents on each
500 of valuation. That is a big thing
for a big corporation or heavy tax
payer
The same process of simple reason
ing arrays the corporations and the
taxpayers of Arizona against jointure,
for if the tax rates of the two terri
cries be added together and divided by
two, as would be done, their rate would
also be $1121z. a loss of 371z cents.
Thus they have everything to lose and
nothing to gain by jointure
The certain result of this simple
arithmeticaI problem is sufficient alone
TO account for the attitude of the cor
porations in both territories toward
joint statehood. The interest of the
corporations of Arizona by the
way. has been exaggerated by
the jointist speakers, who have
tried to lead the people to be-
lieve that the corporations have
contributed largely to q great corrup-
ton fund. They have not done so.
In the first place the fund for paying
the legitimate expenses of the anti-jomt
statehood campaign has not been suf-
fcient to pay them thus far. It has
been less than $500 and not dollar
of it has come from a corporation. A
member of one corporation gave $500
out of his own pocket; a member of
another gave $3.50, and a member of a
third gave 500. just as much as a few
business men in Phoenix contributed
in half an hour recently. That is the
extent of the corporations interest in
this matter so far as it has been fnan-
cially manifested.
on the other hand it is estimated
that the jointure campaign has cost
not less than 10000; $4,000 is prob
ably nearer the real amount we do
not know whence this great sum came.
but we know it came from without
Arizona. The jointists say it was
contributed by New Mexicans who
have everything to gain and nothing
to lose" Probably a part of it was
raised in New Mexico. The corrupt
politicians of that territory would pay
something for a chance at the rich
MI Of
porations and taxpayers of New Mex
leo misht be expected to pay some
thing as a good and legitimate bust
ness investment. But part of it came
through New Mexico, from John B.
Greenhut of Peoria H. and Bird s.
Coler of New York: one the head of a
syndicate holding 100000 worth of
invalid New Mexican bonds and the
other the holder of the valid but long
overdue bonds of Santa Fe county.
We believe that the attempt to
fasten joint statehood upon the people
Of this territory is an attempt to per- /
petrate most cruel and far-reaching
fraud, whose blighting effect would
be felt at once and for generations. 1t
would, as we have already pointed out,
involve the theft of so much Of the
public domain as would be contained
in that donation of 10000, 900 acres
whereby the agricultural development
Of many parts Of the territory would
be retarded for years, and we of this
valley would be affected indirectly.
Coming near home, we would be di-
vested of the capital The Tempe |
normal school, if spared at ALL would |
always be at the mercy of a New Mex /
lean legislature. Our excellent school |
system would necessarily be reduced |
to the level of the New Mexican sys- |