The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-10-23

The Governors mass meeting at
the court house last night is said to
have been the largest affair of this
kind ever held in Roswell. The room
was entirely too small for the assem-
blage, being packed almost to suffo-
cation and many being turned away
unable to gain admittance. The whole
crowd was for statehood, as evidenc-
ed by the fact that not the first 'aati"
sentiment was expressed by any of
the numerous speakers who were call
ed to the floor during the evening.
The result can undoubtedly be nothing
but a good influence for the long de-
sired admission into the union, as ev-
erything desired by the powers that
be was accomplished
The meeting was presided over by
City Attorney K. x. Scott, who intro
duced tie principal speaker of the
evening, Governor George Curry. The
Governor did not speak long, but
talked to the point. He described
what ne believes to be the attitude
of President Roosevelt on the state
hood question, and this was most ia
vorable. He said the President favors
giving New Mexico statehood indie
pendently of Arizona, if the people
will all pull together in harmony and
desist from factional fighting. The
speaker recommended organizing for
statehood at home, even though the
people are apparently unanimous for
it and the action may seem to be un-
necessary He said that the organiza-
ton would enable them to push all
the harder at Washington for state
mood and would show the people
there that New Mexico wants it.
The Governor then called for Major
Llewellyn, who spoke briefly, favor
ing the proposition.
Judge G. A Richardson was called
to the ffoor. and he said that he al
ways had been in favor of single
statehood and was greatly encourag-
ed in the hope of getting at this time
by the statement of the case just
made by the Governor and by the re-
cent interview given out by the Pres
ident through Governor Curry on the
subject, and this il the face of the
Presidents former opinion that un-
less the territory accepted joint state
hood, no statehood would come for
fifteen years. Judge Richardson ad-
vanced the plan of getting the Presi-
dent to incorporate in mis- December
message a short paragraph favoring
single statehood for New Mexico at
this time He said that if this We're
done, the battle then would be won.
He further stated that unless the
chairman of the Senate Committee on
Territories, Mr.. Beveridge, had eNpe-
rienced a change of heart on the
statehood question, he thought he
should be removed and the territory
friend, Mr. Foraker, should he put in
his place.
Judge w. w. Gatewood, upon call,
made a good speech, favoring state
hood and giving as his reason for be-
lieving that it was now coming, that
since the new state of Oklahoma mad
gone Democratic, the Republicans
would want to regain their lost
ground at once by the admission of
a Republican state, such as New Mex
leo probably would be. The judge also
made a few humorous remarks that
amused the audience.
Rev John w. Smith was called up
on. and favored statehood, giving
minister's reasons for doing so. His
addT ess had many bright points, and
was strongly applauded.
After Mr.. Smiths speech ]. F. Hin
kle moved that a steering committee
on statehood be named, and that a
committee of three be appointed by
the chair to select fifteen men who
would make up its personnel Mr.. Ri
chardson seconded the motion and
when it was put and carried, the
naming committee was appointed as
follows: w. NJ. Atkinson, VIM H.
pope. Harold Hurd. This committee
repaired to jury room and while It
was celebrating more speeches were
called for.
Judge ]. II. Evans was first. and he
endorsed statehood. repeating the
stand he had taken At the recent meet