Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-02-20
PIONEERS MAKE
STATEHOOD PLEA.

PIONEERS MAKE
STATEHOOD PLEA.
The old Arizona pioneers who re-
side in Tucson have sent a petition
to congress making a plea that Ari-
IONA be admitted as state before all
those who braved the perils and hard
ships in this territory in the days of
its infancy shall have passed from
the stage of action.
In asking this these men, who con-
stituted the advance guard of ciViliza-
ton into this desert land where the
right of dominance had never been
disputed With the Apache Indians, the
most desperate and willy of all the red
races, make the plea that they are
anxious for full fedged American cit
izenship and the privilege of voting
for president of the United States
before they shall reach the end Of
their allotted time.
In asking this the pioneers are sim
ply asking for the enjoyment of the
heritage which is justly due them and
which was virtually pledged when Ari-
IONA was constituted a territory in
1863. o. By the measure of all prece-
dent, when Arizona was made a ter
ritory the promise was made that
when il was settled and developed
to condition which would be a guar
antee of the establishment and main
tenance of a state, the territory would
be admitted as a state and its people
given the right Of self-goyernment.
Such development and settlement
have long ago been accomplished and
that such accomplishment was pos
sible is largely due to the determined
energy. bravery and loyalty of the pio-
neers.
Long ago the hostile Apache was
subdued and is now to be found cuiti-
waiting the soil or engaged in other in
dustriai pursuits, doing section work
on the railroads, working in mining
caups, etc.
These pioneers first turned the wat
ers from the Arizona streams and
demonstrated that the soils of our
valleys are equal in productive capaci-
ty to the famed Nile This demonstra-
ton has been followed by the develop
ment of artesian water in several sec
tions of Arizona. notably in Cochise
and Graham counties, it has brought.
thrifty settlers to every part of the
territory and lately lit has caused the
government to undertake the expendi-
ture of millions Of dollars in the furth-
er reclamation Of barren but rich agri.
cultural lands by great storage dams
and reservoirs.
1t was the pioneer who first made
the discovery of gold, silver and cop
per in the mountains of Arizona. the
original discovery and prospecting be
ing accomplished with rife in one
hand and pick in the other. This haz-
ardoas work by those who first inyad-
ed the mining districts of the terri
tory was the means of inducing CAPT
tai to come here and with modern ma
chinery and wen directed energy put
Arizona in the lead of copper produc-
ing states last year.
It vas the pioneers who began the
work OF public education in this terri
tory and their enthusiasm and energy
in this work has been kept up until
today the public school system of Ari-
iona is equal to that of any state of
the union.
Why should not this plea of the pio-
neers for statehood be granted7 No
one can give reason for longer keep
ing Arizona out Of the union Of states
without denying to our people the
rights which havesbeen granted to all
other territories except New Mexico.
A petition of the pioneers should go
to washington. from every county in