The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-08-27
THE STATEHOOD ILLUSION.

"The Democratic papers of the
Territory, and especially those of
the Pecos Valley, are opposed to
or joint-although the chances for
single statehood will be better in
the Sixtieth Congress than they have
for many a year. The stand taken
by these papers is probably more
or less Influenced by feeding at the
Hagerman bari" They evidently
go upon the motto to get all they
can at this time and let tomorrow
take care of itself.@Santa Fe New
Mexican.
The New Mexican Is either mis-
informed or wishes to deceive its
more ignorant readers. There is not
a Democratic paper in the territory
that is not in favor of statehood-and
especially not one in the Pecos Val
ley. In this particular section the SEN
government is practically unanimous
so strong in fact that there has been
serious discussion of annexi1g the Pc
COS Valley to Texas in order to escape
from the rotten bureaucratic govern
ment from Washington supplemented
by a system of territorial graft. Ev-
cry Democrat in the territory, who is
not a member of the Plunderbund, is
in favor of statehood, always has been
and always will be. But the Democrats
are also in favor of better government
even from Washington, right now.
They realize that congress will never
grant statehood to- this territory un-
til she has demonstrated that her peo-
pie are prepared for self-government.
The Federal government has COM
menced an investigation of Terrific
rial affairs, and there is no use try
ing to throw statehood lust in the
eyes of the people. Let the investiga-
ton continue. If 1t be shown that there
has been no fraud in the territorial
administration, then will be the pro
per time to talk of statehood. The
whole country is now convinced that
New Mexico is unfi for statehood.
Let us hope hat the investigation
will remove tais blot from our good
name-but no lodging. The investiga-
ton will not harm any honest man.
Thieves should be punished, and no
honest man will try to prevent tneir
punishment.
The insiauation hat Mr.. Hagerman
is spending money in opposition to
statehood or doing anything to cause
embarrassment to any honest man in
the territory is too idiotic to be be-
lieved by even the most ignorant peon.
The Hagermans have thousands Of
dollars in property at stake, and state
hood would he a greater gain to them
than anybody else in this section of
the territory. They nave done more
effective work in the line of proving
New Mexico fit for statehood h n
other family we know, but even as
the Democrats do, they realize that
the members of their own party in
congress are not going to give New
Mexico SO much as a hearing on sin
gle statehood at the next session
Realizing this, the Hagermans doubt
less look upon the sudden zeal of a
Plunderbuid papers for statehood as
an effort to divert the minds of the
people from the real issue. The Rec
ord today publishes an interview with
former Governor Hagerman, which in
dictates that the present administra-
ton will have his hearty support in
any effort to give the Territory a bet
ter, more honest and economical gov
eminent. Considering the statehood
question dead for the present, the Rec
ord neglected to ask Mr.. Hagerman
his position on the subject, but will
endeavor later to ascertain his views
ON statehood.
As for Mr.. Curry, the Record under
stands that Ae promised the President
to serve only temporarily in trying
to restore harmony in the Republican
party Of the Territory. and it probably
was suggested to him that he first
try to resnrrect the statehood ques
ton. There Is nothing in it. The only
live issue. as former Delegate Fergus
son said i'm Roswell last week, ds hon
esty against dishonesty in the terrific
rial administration, and the first nee