Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-09-16
Constitutional Con-
vention Should Be
Held
COGENT AND GOOD REASONS
By Ex-Governor L. Bradford
Prince.--Concise History
of Movement.

In connection with the renewed
prospects for early single statehood,
representative of the New Mexican
called on Hon. L. Bradford Prince, the
veteran statehood advocate, who has
labored for immediate statehood at
every opportunity for over twenty
years, and who was elected chairman
of the constitutional convention dele.
gates last winter, for his views on the
program suggested by Delegate w.
Fl. Andrews.
"You need not ask my views on
statehood in general" said the ex-
governor, "for everyone knows how I
stand / have insisted for
years that self government is the
right of every American citizen and
that to deprive an American commun-
ity of that right when it Is able to
exercise it, is an injustice and wrong
that can never be justified or excused.
l have had no patience with the argu-
ments used against it, because they
were all the offspring OF ignorance,
selfishness or partisanship. Examine
them and you will find that every one
of them comes under those heads"
"But what do you think of the pres
ent situation?" was asked.
'I believe that we have splendid
opportunity for almost immediate ad.
mission if We use it properly. Ever
since Arizona voted against joint
statehood last November, have be-
leved that we were sure of early sim
gle statehood if we would present our
selves properly at Washington with
an acceptable constitution. In connec-
tion with the present movement for
the meeting of the constitutional con.
(. vention, and Delegat3 Andrews' re-
marks on the Willingness of the dele
gates to attend, it may be we'll to re.
call what has already occurred taken
place.
"At the Republican convention at
Las Vegas last fall it was felt that
Arizona was likely to defeat the Ham.
ilton bill programme and the conven-
tion unanimously adopted resolution
calling on the sixty-six delegates
elected in New Mexico, in such event,
to meet in Santa Fe in January and
draft constitution for our own state.
A number of county conventions pass
ed similar resolutions. In Rio Arriba
county the constitutional delegates
were pledged to attend. Every dele.
gate elected understood that pro-
gramme, and by being candidate
practically agreed to it.
New Mexico Gained Friends BY Vot-
ing For Jointure.
"After the election when Arizona had
defeated the joint statehood plan, an
opportunity for single statehood was
naturally presented. We made many
friends in Washington by voting for
the administration plan. We had
shown our intense desire for self-gov-
ernment by agreeing to accept state
hood even in an undesirable form.
Arizona had declined and was there
fore eliminated from the situation.
The next logical move was to hold our
own convention, of our own elected
delegates, and formulate our own
constitution. Ourbest friends in Wash
ington urged this as the only proper
course to pursue. No action could be
expected from Congress 1t had pre-
sented it's plan and 1t had been re-
jected. The next attempt must come
from the people.
"The delegates elected to the con-
stitutional convention had been Sc.
lected with care and were intelligent
as well as patriotic citizens. They
included number Of the leading
members Of the convention Of 1889,
and others who had given special at
tention to constitutional law. Without
any official call, but by general pa
triotic impulse, and following the
suggestion or the Republican conven-
ton, considerable number of dele
gates met in Santa Fe on the first
Monday of January. The counties in
the vicinity were quite fully repre-
sented while the delegates from more
remote sections wrote that they would
attend when it was necessary. An
organization was effected and resolu-
tions adopted, q general committee of
one from each county was appointed,
and the convention adjourned to meet
on February 5th,when the Legislature
would be in session. The following
extract from the resolutions shows
the spirit Of the delegates:
Resolved, That we. are willing and
ready to perform our part In the pre-
paration Of constitution for New
Mexico at such time as shall appear
most proper and convenient
Resolved, That committee rep