Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-09-14
IMMEDIATE
STATEHOOD
If President Roose-
welt Will Recon-
mend
SAYS SOLOMON LUNA
Suggests Governor Curry
Urge Nations Executive
to Act.

The leading citizens and patriotic
citizens of the Sunshine Territory are
placing themselves on record right
along in favor Of prompt and speedy
action to obtain statehood for New
Mexico at the earliset possible mo-
ment. The suggestion that consti-
tutional convention be held for the
framing of constitution to be sub
mitted to the Goth Congress by the
delegates who were elected last No
yember also meets with great approx
AL 1t is realized and that fully, that
the moral and active support of Presi
dent Roosevelt is Of paramount i'm
portance to give the project life and
activity and this support it is conf
IDENTIFY believed the president may be
induced to give upon the representa-
tons of Governor George Curry, Dele
gate w. Fl. Andrews and other leading
citizens of the Sunshine Territory. In
the meantime agitation of the subject
and putting it well and squarely be.
fore the people will do good.
Hon. Solomon Luna of Los Lunas
who, for the past eight years, has
faithfully and well represented the
Republicans of New Mexico as a mem
ber of the Republican national com
mittee and who is in the front ronk
Of the Republicans of the Sunshine
Territory, man thoroughly acquaint-
ted with political business and ma
terial conditions, holding important
positions in banking and business,
president of the Territorial Sheep
Sanitary Board and of the New Mex
leo Sheep Growers association, takes
the following view of the sitnatiou:
From the time | cast my first vote
| have been an ardent and strong
supporter of statehood for our terri
tory. am convinced that we have the
population, the property, the iIanhood
the intelligence, the ability and the
loyalty to form and support strong,
homes ard efficient state government
and commonwealth that will be re-
spected at home and among the other
states of the Union.
"Our population is steadily on the
increase and since the last census it
is not too much to say that we have
gained more than 100000 inhabitants,
and that We are now increasing at
the rate of at least 10000 people per
annum. Sections of our territory
which five years ago were considered
only good for grazing live stock, are
now inhabited by prosperous farmers
who are raising good crops and who
have made and are making substantial
improvements. When one travels
through these sections now and COM
pares them with what they were five
years ago the change is simply aston
ishing.
"This being the case believe the
time to work for statehood for our
territory has arrived and, while
favor the holding of a constitutional
convention at the earliest possible
moment, l believe the first requisite
is to lay the matter before President
Roosevelt and If possible to obtain his
active aid to procure for the people
of the Sunshine Territory what they
have sought for sixty years and for
what in my Judgment they are justly
and fairly entitled namely: self gov
ernment and statehood under the
name of New Mexico.
Governor Curry is the man who l.,
in excellent position to put this mat
ter before the president in the best
possible light and if there is any man
in this great country to whom the
president will give favorable attention
in the case 1t is Governor Curry. The
latter is strong and unequivocally in
favor of statehood at the earliest pos.
sible moment and am convinced from
conversations with him and knowing
his opinion, he will do ais lsr-l best
with President Roosevelt to secure for
our people the passage of an enabling
act ring the first session of the Six
tieth Congress-
Governor Curry understands the sit
uation as we'll as any man in our
midst and has our interests sincerely
and honestly at heart. He will give
our desires loyal support and eloquent
voice with the president, whom he
will have the honor to meet at the
Deep Water Ways convention in about
three weeks. Until then, while hink
1t very well that the question should
be thoroughly discussed, it will be
the best policy to bide our time. I
feel very sanguine Governor. Curry
will succeed and will have the help
and support Of the President in oh.
tanning the boon Of self-government.
for New Mexico and enabling 1t to ne
ter the Union as sovereign state"