Daily Arizona silver belt. (Globe, Gila County, Ariz.) 1906-1929, 1908-10-20
Dated October IL, 1908.
The Truth About Mark Smith

Editor Silver Belt,
1t was a speech characteristic of the
man tina. Mark Smith made here. Dem
ocratic to the core, but no reasonable
person-republican socialist or any one
else could feel offended in the least.
1t was a representative audience and
in honoring this man, Thatcher honored
herself. Mark Smith is incapable of
throwing mud. He referred TO the
slanderous charges which are being cir
culated, in amost digni6ed and eonvinc-
ing manner. Truly, in this case, the
SANDER falls where it belongs-on the
slanderer. Mr.. Smith is with friends
who know him well; the true democrat
ic heart of Arizona does not climb on
mud ladders. There is not true re-
publican or a socialist in this town
who would say one word against him
as moral, heightened gentleman.
Mr. Smith asked the people to use
their Judgment in choosing a delegate
to congress, to vote for the man who
could aid them most He showed plain
ly that the question of statehood was
not one of party. 1t is immaterial
whether democrat or republican is
elected, so far as this question is con-
cerned. Statehood is coming beyond a
doubt The national republican con-
vention assured it, the president of
the United States has promised it, and
now it is little less than a reflection on
the intelligent people of the territory
to attempt to make it appear that this
measure depends on the election of
any particular candidate
But it is of the highest Importance
how this bill is drawn. This requires
a statesman, diplomat, man thor
oughly conversant with the best inter
ests of not only this territory but of
the entire section. Show me n man bet
ter qualified than Mark Smith and /
will use my pen for him to the very
best of my ability. You say that Mark
Smith has been a representative so
many years and this statehood bill
should have passed long ago. Yes. so
it should, but Mark Smith is not to
blame. No man on earth could have
done more. Three times has he got
this bill before the house-eaeh time
with double the favorable features of
any other state in regard to donations
of public lands and other special feat
ures, but owing to the determination of
politicians and filibusters not to allow,
as long as they can help it, an increase
of representation from the west--in 9th
er words they want as few sage brush
senators as possible because we are ask
ing for what we want and getting the
same, and until our arid regions get
water and bloom like a dollhouse we
will continue to do the same.
Why was not New Mexico admittedi
She is republican beyond doubt. Why
were Indian and Oklahoma territories
admitted as states They combined
and thus assented to a reduction of
representation. We clamor for state
hood, but never at the expense of rep
resentation. Statehood with reduced
terity would feel the results of such a
mistake with increasing effects to the
end of time. As n territory, we have
our standing, and we will remain just
as we are before we will ever ask our
Legislative assemblies TO violate the
spirit of the constitution of the United
States by combining any of the terri
tories, thus giving name at the ex-
pense of representation. Others can do
this, but in such cases haste means
waste, and we are willing to bide our