Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-10-12
PHOENIX ARIZ.. OCT. u. 1907.
THE vICKSBURG MEETING.


for Vicksburg Miss. in response to an
invitation b. President Roosevelt 10
meet him there at the conclusion Of his
bear hunt in the canebrakes of Louis
lana All Arizona was gratified at the
signal honor bestowed by the president
upon the territor-- through its govern
or. but after the first thrill of pride
had passed. il was succeeded by a Gu
riosity. insistent and perhaps unwor-
thy. concerning the motive which i'm
PEELED the invitation.
We are all aware of the high esteem
in which the president holds the gov
ernor. This esteem is not merely that
in which a sovereign regards a wor-
thy and able satrsp, but il is the senti-
ment of a gentleman toward a friend
worthy of his friendship. But why,
ask nosing and impertinent Arizonians,
should this meeting of friends take
place at Vicksburg? And why should
TIE president select for ii. a time when
he will have just emerged from the
cane brakes weighted down with the
WEAKNESS and trophies of the chase?
The White House would be a more
fitting place in which to extend presi-
Dental hospitality than the best ap-
pointed Vicksburg hostelrie
II has been suggested that the pres
ident at the time OF dispatching the
invitation was moved by a sudden
solicitude for the welfare OF Arizona,
and wanted TO know at the earliest
possible moment how the territory was
getting along: If there was anything
he could do to facilitate its onward and
upward progress. This suggestion may
be brushed aside. The president
Hitchcock, who lately canvassed the
territory in a departmental capacity,
has doubtless apprised the presi-
dent ere this of the excellent condi-
ton of the postoffices from Cave Greek
and Greaterville to Phoenix and Tue
son. Mr.. James a. Garfield has also
doubtless supplemented this informa-
ton with an accurate statement re-
garding all matters not included in
the first assistant postmaster gener-
ais report. And If the painstaking
researches of these public officials
have slurred over any condition of ter
ritorial existence there will be the an
nual report of the governor, accessible
to him on his return to Washington.
If the invitation 20 the governor had
come earlier it might have been re-
garded as the outgrowth of a presi-
Dental superstition and intended to
break a hoOdoo, for it had happened
that the Invitations already sent out
b. the president had been promptly
accepted by governors, twenty three,
a number indicative of sudden evan
ishment.
But before the invitation was sent
to Governor Kibbey, after the adj
journment Of the Deep Waterways
convention, many Of the governors
had departed to their capitals The
dreaded twenty-three was no longer
present
So the president must have had some
other thing in mind when he was
moved to request the presence of Gov
ernor Kibbey. What it was only time
and the governor can tell on mis- re-
turn.
We have in mind though, that there
was another territorial governor, Gov
ernor Curry Of New Mexico, who re-
sponded to an invitation of the presi-
dent to accompany him on the Miss
issippi voyage and that one afternoon
after a conference between the pres
ident and the governor, the latter was
authorized to send out the unexpected
tidings Of the conversion of the pres
ident TO the notion OF single statehood !
for New Mexico.
Is 1t not probable that Governor Kib- |
hey has been sent for to become the /
vehicle for similar good news for
Arizona? Now that the president has !
broken. in the case Of New Mexico, the |
icy exterior which ne has hitherto |
presented to all single statehood !
schemes. We may not be wildly hopeful !
that he IS about to give his consent
60 the admission of Arizona. But we I
must keep our hope within bounds. !
The presidents consent is not admis-
sion any more than the presidents de- !
cree two years ago was jointure. There /
is yet the objection of eastern con- !
gressmen to overcome OF the stern !
ness Of that objection the president was |
so wei aware. that he doubtless rea-
lized that he was sacrificing nothing :