The Socorro chieftain., 1907-10-05

unite and to demand from the
congress of the United States
the right to be admitted as
state. (Great and prolonged APP
plause.)
Some of my friends have said
to me that it might not be policy
to ask this of congress at the
present time. but | say to you
all that it is a matter of right.
According to the treaty between
the United States and Mexico,
the government of the United
States promised the people of
this territory that it would give
them the full rights of citizen
ship, promise which | am sor-
ry to say that this government
has not kept.
1t is up to us to remind the
government of that sacred prom
Use, and we must arouse senti-
ment in the United States, not
by begging for statehood, but
by demanding it as a matter OF
right. (Great applause We
have the wealth, and we have
the intelligence.
Our honored president, whom
| have had the honor to serve
under, and know to be an honor
able and brave man-and a man
who never speaks except earnest
ly-said in his speech at Las
Vegas nine years ago at the first
annual reunion of the Rough
Riders, that he would favor the
admission of New Mexico as "A
stat !; that New Mexico had fur
nished more soldiers in proper
tion to her population during the
Civil war to maintain and per-
petuate this union. and during
the recent war with Spain that
she furnished more troops than
any other state or territory.
mot one of the sons of New
Mexico in either one of these
wars failed to perform his duty.
Then why have we not the right
of admission to the union?
Some people will raise the
argument that the majority of
the people of New Mexico are
not Americans. No man who
knows anything about the peo-
pie of New Mexico and is an
honest man would make that
statement. The descendants of
Spain in the territory of New
Mexico are the very best Ameri-
cans that we have in the terri
tory. (Applause.)
They showed it on the battle
field. They have shown it
everywhere and it is up To us
newcomers who stand here shoul-
der to shoulder with you people
to demand from the American
people what is our right.
Now, my friends, know that
you did not come here to listen
to speeches for you are all inter-
ested in baseball games and 9TH
er amusements but | will detain
you long enough to declare on
behalf of the fair association
that this-the first annual fair
of the county of Socorro, is de-
clared officially opened. (Pro-
longed applause | hope that
every one here will enjoy him
self.
II want to thank you all hear
tilY for this enthusiastic recep-
tion. especially the young peo-
ple-the young ladies-the young
rough riders-the soldiers of the
future and / want to assure you
that as long as am your gov
ernor il will be my earnest en-
deavOr to do the very best that
possibly can for the interest of
New Mexico.
WHEN / CAN'T CARRY
OUT A POLICY THAT WILL
BE FOR THE BEST INTER
ESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF
NEW MEXICO, THEN | WILL
HAND IN MY COMMISSION
AND RETIRE TO LIVE
AMONG YOU AS A PRIVATE
CITIZEN" prolonged ap-
plause.)
Frank Schmidt has just
bought the Lee Terry property
on Park street and he and Mrs.
Schmidt will make their home
there and become permanent res
idents of Socorro. Many more
residents of the same kind would