The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-10-27
have known New Mexico. and long

have known New Mexico, and long
We a be sure that if those who
claim that we will be admitted at the
session of Congress IF Mr.. An
drews is elected, are sincere, it is be-
cause they feel absolutely sure that
THEY CAN CONTROL TILE NEW
STATE, and make two of their mum.
Der Senators, probably Andrews 4
Bursum. They are the last men on
earth to knowingly legislate them
selves out of business.
1t seems to me extremely improba-
bile that the coming three months
session of Congress can find time to
take up the statehood question at all,
If they were so disposed, and 1 think
it will have no desire to do so. h
attempt would precipitate a long con-
test. Arizona would nave to be con-
sidered, and the Senate will think
very seriously before it consents to
admit four new Senators, two of whom
would surely be Democratic. and the
other two very likely to be Demo
cratic.
We shall not be admitted because
ANY Delegate want it. Until we
can enter on our w merits, we shall
not be admitted at all. What have
those who have controlled our local
government been doing lately to
prove our fitness for self government?
NOTHING. On the contrary, if they
had been trying to furnish arguments
against statehood, they could not have
been more successful. 1t is idle to
think that a statehood bill a slip
through the Senate without the doings
of the last two years being thorough
ly aired. They are better known now
than most people think. They cannot
be smothered, try as we may. Our
ability to make fit laws to govern a
state will be judged by our present
laws, and by our past legislative as
lsemblies. Judged by that standard,
where should we land?
The Senate is yearly more evenly
divided, irrespective of party lines,
on great social, commercial, econom-
ic and International questions. Four
new Senators from New Mexico and
Arizona might easily decide ques-
lions of war or peace, or other things
vitality affecting the well being of
ninety millions of people. 1t is non
sense to suppos that admission will
be affected one way Or the other be-
cause Mr.. Andrews or Mr.. Larrazolo
is elected. Neither can affect the
question seriously. That Andrews is
the product of a machine well now
to be the worst in America in proper
ton to it's size, is well known in
Washington. To beat him, and elect
a legislative assembly which would
refuse to be controlled by any gang,
Republican or Democratic, would do
us more good in Congress than all
our pleadings and humbug perform
ances in the last twenty years.
But to send a Mexican" to Con-
| gress, they say, would kill all pros
poets of statehood. OF course it is
well known hat fully sixty per cen
of our voters are of Spanish Or Mex
lean descent, and there may be some
prejudices against them in the East
and in Congress. To send one to
Congress whose fitness for the posi-
ton has not been successfully assail-
ed, and who could win a battle almost
unaided against the machine and it's
candidate, would do a vast dea to
dispel this prejudice, if it exists.
/ believe it is impossible to have
good government here, or a sem
blance of it, whether it be state Or
territorial in form, until we have
smashed the machine and cleared
the ground for a new and better struc-
ture. Why not begin clearing the
ground now? When can we nave a
better time? Does any reasonable
man suppose the people of New Mex
leo will tolerate being indefinitely
ruled by men and by methods they
despise? Every one knows the mi
guilty must end some time. Why not
begin NOW, by putting the seal of
our condemnation on the man, and on
the methods he has used to force
himself on a reluctant, long suffer
ing people?
Have your abstracts made now,
before you want to sell or borrow