Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-09-13
Ex-Governor Otero
Believes TimeH Has
Arrived
OR PROMPT ACTION
Convention Should Be Held
Suggests Delegates Be
Appointed.

In an interview which is published
herewith Ex-Governor NJ. A. Otero
| who served two full terms as execu-
tive of New Mexico expresses the
| opinion that now Is an opportune
time to resume the agitation of state
hood for the Sunshine Territory. He
is also in favor of the suggestion of
Delegate w. n. Andrews to have
temporary constitution prepared and
submitted to Congress at the coming
| session of that body in December.
Ex-Governor Otero during the nine
years he was governor of the territory
made strenuous efforts to have New
Mexico admitted as a state Howev-
er Congress could not be induced to
give the matter attention until last
year when an enabling act was pass.
ed allowing the electors of the two
territories to vote on the proposition
of jointure of New Mexico and Ari-
zona Ex-Governor Otero, as is we'll
known in political circles here at
least, was opposed to the idea of
Joint statehood. His attitude in this
connection was made public in a let
ter addressed to U. S. Senator Henry
NJ. Teller in which he explained his
reasons for not approving of jointure
Heartily in Favor Of Single State
hood.
Il am most heartily in favor Of sin
gle statehood for New Mexico, have
always bee.., was agains, j nture at
the last ,l2yias h0'ned So" he
said this morning when requested for
his views on statehood BY the New
Mexican. Evidently he had In mind
the present investigation into the ter
ritory by special agents of the federal
government when he made the fol-
lowing statement:
IF there is anything democratic
about me it is on the question Of state
rights. Today feel as though would
be willing to vote for and accept most
any terms that would release us from
the apron strings of our guardian.
Give us single statehood by all means.
The people desire 1t and there is no
good reason why they should not
have it. am emphatically in favor
of statehood for New Mexico"
Ex-Governor Otero, while in accord
with the suggestion of holding
a convention for the purpose of draft
ing a constitution to be submitted to
Congress at its coming session three
months hence believes it would be
wiser plan to have Governor Curry Sc
lect the delegates rather than call to.
gether those who were elected last
fall when the joint statehood PROPOSE
tion was voted down by the decisive
nay vote of Arizona.
81 am heartily in favor of the plan
suggested that the governor call a
constitutional convention. However |
think the same should be organized
and selected by Governor Curry The
delegates elected at the last general
election are in no sense qualified to-
day and | do not believe their ap-
pearance would have anything like the
effect as a selection by our honored
governor
Thinks Delegates Should Be Appoint
ed.
q have entire confidence in the
good judgment of Governor Curry. |
feel that he is thoroughly in touch
with the people of the territory and
knows their wants. AS far as l am
concerned would much rather see
him select the delegates from every
one of the counties for the purpose Of
framing a constitution. While am
fully aware the results Of this gather
ing would have no binding effect 1t
would at the same time perform the
clerical work of drafting such a con-
stitution as might be acceptable to
the people and favorably impress Con-
gress.
with the we'll known attitude Of
Governor Curry on the statehood
question believe New Mexico stands
today in better position to secure
statehood than ever before in the past.
My advice to the people of the terri
tory is to be guided by whatever sug-
gestions or recommendations the gov.
ernor may make in this important
matter. The support he is naturally
entitled to and which he should have
from all classes of people will not en-
ly assist him greatly but in my opin-
ion will bring about results which he
is aiming at not only in statehood but
in all other matters which befeve
are for the general good Of the terri
tory and its people"