Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-09-09

Delegate w. RI. Andrews, VINO IS III
the city looking after official affairs
connected with the duties of delegate,
was quite busy yesterday and today
in receiving and entertaining many
callers. and attending to correspond
ence. Delegate Andrews looks very
well and is enjoying good health. The
New Mexico climate agrees with him
much better than the Eastern climate
and he Is always glad to spend most
of his time in the Sunshine Territory
and with the people whose hardwork-
ing representative he is in the Ma.
tional Capital.
The delegate had little to say on
the presidential situation next year,
when called upon by representative
of the New Mexican and put his ideas
in very few words. He believes that
the next Republican national conven-
tion will tender the presidential nom
'ination to Theodore Roosevelt unan-
imously, and that being his opinion,
there Is not much more discussion
about it in the matter and he favors
the Presidents denomination.
Upon the question of statehood for
the Territory, the delegate has very
decided and well-formed opinions. Up
on being requested by representa-
tive of the New Mexican to give them
he said he would cheerfully and
promptly do SO as it was but right
and proper that the people of the Ter
ritory should know how he felt and
what he believed would be the best
course to pursue:
Favors Calling Of Constitutional Con.
vention
81 believe the time for strong
movement to secure separate state
hood for our Territory has arrived
and our people, especially the leading
men of both great political parties,
should lose no time but should take
prompt and immediate action. l sug-
gest that Governor Curry at an early
date, say within two months, issue a
call for a constitutional convention to
be held in this city to be composed
of the citizens who were elected dele
gates to the constitutional convention
last November. | am glad to say that
| know most of these representative
men personally and believe that ev-
cry one of them will come to this city
and spend a week or two for the pur-
pose of framing up the right kind OF
constitution and give his time and
services gladly for this work without
remuneration, for the time being. A
proper constitution should not take
very long in framing, at the utmost
no longer than 10 days should be re.
quired, and if few of the citizens
who are delegates of that convention
will between now and the time it
should be called, give few days
thought and labor to its preparation, a
suitable document can and will be
ready for submission to the delegates
when they assemble. A few days dis
cussion only will be necessary for it's
consideration, for amendments and
changes and for it's adoption by the
convention. The expense will be in
significant; the delegates, I think,will
cheerfully pay their travelling and liv-
ing expenses to and at the convention
out of their own pockets in order to
bring about this result, trusting to
repayment by the people thereafter.
Constitution Should Be Drafted
IT understand, that several of our
leading citizens delegates to the con-
vention, have already prepared drafts
of constitution. Two or three have
been submitted to me and after care
fully reading must say that those
have read are firstclass documents in
every way and worthy of careful con.
sideration by the convention when 1t
meets. The constitution of 1889, when
it was framed in this Territory for
the Territory of New Mexico is very
able and comprehensive paper and
with some additions and alterations
necessary by the, progress of time and
the advancement and growth Of the
country, as well as new ideas and pol
icies attained since then, will do very
we'll for groundwork. make this
only as a suggestion and not in any
manner to influence the actions of.the
delegates when they assemble. There
are many brainy and able men among
the delegates and feel sure that they
will prepare such a constitution as
will meet with the approval of con.
gress and OF the President when sub
mitted. This should be done SO | can
present this document during the
first days of the first session of the
Sixtieth Congress in December next
The Committees on Territories of the
Senate and of the House, could then
take prompt action, examine the con.
stitution carefully and prepare, an
enabling act modelled upon the Ham
ilton Bill which passed during the
second session Of the Fifty-ninth Con-
gress, carrying large appropriations Of
public lands and money donations for
the benefit of the people Of the Ter
ritory and their educational institu.
tions. ct cetera, providing for an ap.