Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-12-17
So Thinks Chairman
Hopewell of Ter
ritorial League
INTERESTING INTERVIEW
MIR. Hopewell Also Tells of
Importance of National
Irrigation Congress

During the past few weeks Chair
man w. S. Hopewell Of the Territorial
Statehood League who was visitor
yesterday and today in the capital has
interviewed a number of prominent
citizens Of the territory relative to
statehood for New Mexico. He is con-
vinced that between ninety and nine
ty-five per cent of the people are in
favor of the proposition and are in
sistent upon securing the privileges
Of self government which Is the birth.
right of every American.
Mr.. Hopewell in discussing tho
statehood situation last evening stat
ed that he believed the outlook to be
very bright and he is of opinion that
a hundred or more representative citi-
zens of the territory can be gotten
together as a delegation to go to
Washington. He said he had received
letters from number of influential
men of both political parties through
out the territory in which they volun-
teered to go to the national capital at
their own expense if they could be of
any assistance in the statehood cause.
Judging from the sentiment in the
different sections of the territory
which have been over recently and
have talked with a large number of
leading citizens, believe that from.
ninety to ninety-five per cent OF the
people are strongly in favor of state
hood for New Mexico" said Mr.. Hope
we'll. while most of the statehood
advocates want to see New Mexico
admitted as a single state some of
them are desirous of getting state
hood under any circumstances rath-
er than longer remain in terrific
rial servitude. Quite few people
throughout. the territory who favor
the movement are afraid we will not
secure statehood at the present ses-
sion of Congress, still the general
feeling Is hopeful due largely to the
personal optimistic views entertained
by Governor Curry,
Many Want to Go to Washington.
when the time comes | believe
that over one hundred citizens will
make the pilgrimage to Washington
to use their influence in inducing
Congress to pass an enabling act Gre
ating the state of New Mexico. |
know of a large number Of men who
are willing to go to the national capi-
tai, pay their own travelling expenses
and hotel bills, if they can be of any
assistance in helping along the state
hood cause. In Sierra, Grant, Luna,
Dona Ana, Valencia and Bernalillo
counties alone over sixty of the lead
ing business men of these communi-
ties have signlfied their willingness
of making the trip.
"a more definite statement in re-
gard to the statehood situation and
the plans for future activity will be
made after conference which will be
held in Albuquerque in few days
between leaders of both parties in
Guiding Governor Curry. OF course,
there are number Of other important
matters to be taken up at the present
session Of Congress which will be of
benefit to this territory in addition
to statehood but as | said before a
more definite statement would be
made public shortly at AL
buquerque. We must keep the state
hood fight up until we get statehood
which we are entitled to by all the
principles of right and justice"
Mr.. Hopewell is very enthusiastic
over the forthcoming meeting OF the
National Irrigation Congress which
will be held next fall at Albuquerque.
He is chairman of the local board
Of control having the affair in charge
and believes the convention in 1908
will be the most successful of any OF
it's fifteen previous gatherings. Elabo-
rate preparations are being made for
the Irrigation Congress and in the
event statehood is not secured at the
present session of Congress he is OF
the opinion the advertising New Mex
leo will have received from this ma
tional irrigation meeting will insure
favorable consideration Of an enab-
ling act in 1909. In speaking of the
irrigation meeting he said:
Boosting for Irrigation Congress.
THE Sixteenth National Irrigation
Congress which will be held In Albu-
querque next year will be one OF the
most important events in the history
Of New Mexico. 1t was due to the
personal invitation of Governor Curry
and by the hard and earnest work OF
few other residents OF New Mexico at
the recent meeting In Sacramento
that the convention decided to meet
next year In Albuquerque. These
congresses have been steadily grow
ing In numbers and Importance, dele