Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-13
Wisely Seeks to Be Assured Of Hearty Cooperation and Sup
port Of Both Political Parties Before Taking Up Matter of
Calling NonPartisan Convention to Frame Constitution
for Submission to Congress- important Conference Called
PRESIDENT ASKS GOVERNOR TO
CONFERENCE IN ST. LOUIS WHEN
STATEHOOD WILL BE THE TOPIC

Especial Dispatch to the Morning JOurnaI.l
Santa Fe, Sept. 12.-Governor
Curry received a letter yesterday from
President Roosevelt inquiring whether
he could meet the president at st.
Louis and go with him on his boat,
to Memphis on the End of October.
Governor Curry stated this morning
that he would avail himself of the OPP
portunity afforded to have talk with
the president on the statehood ques-
tion and would go from st. Louis
down to Memphis on the presidents
boat in order to present his views to
the president fully and talk the mat
ter over with him. The governor is
in favor of single statehood for New
Mexico and is going to use his infu-
ence with the president in that di-
rection.
Governor Curry is going about the
statehood matter carefully and is go
ing to consult with the prominent men
of the territory who are in favor of
statehood as to the proper course TO
be pursued He stated that he would
be pleased to hear from any one con-
cerning the question and would like
to get the ideas of representatives of
the press on this subject He has not
Vet utClutu WHGlIl6I ne Will tdll lilG
delegates elected at the general cleo
tiOn last fall together for the purpose
of framing a constitution or not. He
has arranged for an interview with
A. A. Jones, chairman of the territor-
ial Democratic committee and II. o.
Bursum chairman of the territorial
Republican committee to take the
matter up this week and devise some
plan whereby the matter can be taken
up in such way that it will be nom
partisan. The governor realizes that
there must be united action If any
thing Is to be accomplished along this
line. and he is in favor of framing a
constitution and submitting it to con-
gress with a view of securing admis-
sion at the coming session. He is of
opinion that If we submit a constitu-
tion which will be acceptable to the
leaders in congress they might be inn
pressed favorahly enough to pass an
enabling act and give us statehood
earlier than we would be able to get
1t otherwise.
There is no provision for the pay
ment Of either salaries or expenses of
the delegates to a constitutional con-
vention and the delegates would be
obliged to pay their own expenses and
imbursement. but that is not likely to
stand in the way of holding a consti-
tutional convention.
The first thing to be done, If pos
sible. is to get the support of the pres
ident Without his support a single
statehood measure would be a difficult
one to get through congress. II Is
necessary. also. to have the support Of
all of the friends of statehood. and to
this end the movement must be n de
non-partisan. and a serious quee on
with the governor Is whether the Ne
pates elected at the last elee ion
should be called together or whe her
some plan should be devised whereby
the representation Of the two parties
should be more evenly balanced In the
convention, and II is for the purpose
of getting the ideas of the chairmen
of the two great parties in regard to
this matter that he has requested an
interview with them so that he may
come to some conclusion as to the de-
tails. A convention will be called for
the purpose Of forming a constitution,
the governor viii do all in his power
to secure single statehood for New
Mexico. but the details remain to be
worked out This, briefly, Is the state
hood situation as 1t stands today.
on his recent trip through the
northern part Of the territory the gov
ernor met many people who have re-
Gently arrived In New Mexico to make
their homes. He says that a great
majority OF them are In favor of
statehood. and he believes that state
hood would be great boon for New
Mexico at this time