Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-12-02
At S aturday's $
Statehood Con-
vention
STIRRING ADDRESSES MADE
Governor: Curry, Chief
Justice Mills and Others
Spoke.

AS the New Mexican went to press
on Saturday afternoon, the statehood
convention In session In the hall of
the House Of Representatives at the
Capitol. was discussing the advisable
ity Of dispensing with the services of
an interpreter as every one present
understood the English language and
to avoid the unfavorable impression
that Is always created outside of New
Mexico when it is alleged that inter.
prefers are necessity in New Mexi.
co. Elfego Baca of Socorro had just
made an address in favor of retaining
the services of an interpreter and de.
Tended the elder native born citizens
who do not speak English on the
ground that the United States had
neglected to extend to them the neces-
sary educational facilities. He also
complained bitterly because the great
majority of federal, territorial and
county officials are not Of the Spanish
American race.
O. A. Larrazolo, of Las Vegas, very
effectively answered Mr.. Baca's
arguments He declared that he is sec,
ond to no one In loyalty and admira
tlon for the people of his race and he
pronounced a most eloquent panegyric
upon the virtues and patriotism of the
people of New Mexico and explained
lucidly the erasons for the failure of
the older native people who are pass
ing away so rapidly, to acquire a com.
plete knowledge of the English langu
age. Still he favored the motion to
drop the services of the interpreter as
there were not half a dozen present
who could not speak the English lang
uage fluently although those Of the
Spanish-Americaf race present were
numerous. He did not believe in furn-
ishing ammunition to the enemies of
statehood
Governor Strikes Popular Chord.
While Mr.. Larrazolo was frequently
interrupted by applause. it was Gov.
ernor Curry who reused a storm Of
enthusiasm as he calmly, but intelli-
gently spoke upon the same question.
He said that he had come to New
Mexico as a boy and loved this Terri.
tory with all the fervor of native.
born citizen; that his children were
born here and that in their arteries
flowed the blood of the same race as
that to which Elfego Baca belongs. He
agreed that the Spanish-American had
been Disseminated against when the
offices were dealt out but so, he said,
as far as It goes, had also the old.
time Americans In the Territory. 1t
Is to remedy this that we are now
making fight for statehood 1T will
give me the greatest pleasure Of my
life to turn over the Office Of governor
Of this magnificent commonwealth to
a man elected by our people. We are
fighting the battle. your battle, In ord
er that you may elect your own Of
ficers"
Aniceto Abeytia, Of Santa Fe, made
a spirited address In Spanish In
which he said that he had been work.
ing for statehood since 1850 and had
been member of various statehood
and constitutional conventions. He
said: I'VE are all Americans, much
more SO than those who come here
from foreign shores" He defended the
native people from the aspersions cast
upon them by the unknowing ones
and insisted that they are as loyal and
good patriots as the best people Of
other sections Of this great nation.
Defended Federal Office Holders.
Chief Justice William J. Mills de-
Tended federal officeholders against
the assertion that many Of the federal
officials are opposed to- statehood, In
order to maintain themselves in Office
Speaking for himself and the associ-
ate Justices of the Supreme court he
+ '-
declared that they all favored state
hood and he had even faovred joint
statehood. The Fourth Judicial dis
trict gave greater majority in favor
Of Joint statehood than any other dis.
trict and San Miguel county will In.
crease its majority of 1900 for joint
stAtahood to 1000 for single statehood,
This was answered with cheers and
re-echoed throughout the hall.
It was then decided unanimously
that the officers OF the convention
should be the officers of the New
Mexico Statehood League, except that
the interpreter should be the treas
urer Of the league. The officers are
therefore as follows: President:
Willard 8. Hopewell, Of albuquerque;
vice presidents: d, G. Abbott, Of San.