Graham guardian., 1908-06-19
MAKES STRONG PLEA FOR ARIZONA
New YuIk Congressman Says That
Territories Should Not Be Treat
ed Like Conquered Provinces

Before adjournment was taken
by the last Congress, says an east
ern exchange, a strong speech was
made by Representative William
Sulzer, of New York, advocating
Statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico. He said.
alaska wants territorial gov
ernment.
"Arizona wants Statehood.
"New Mexico wants Statehood
"These are fundamental Ameri-
can rights and a denial of them is
contrary to the spirit of ur free in
slitutl"ns.
IL am friend of the people of
Alaska, of Arizona, and of New
Mexico, and l want to do all l can
to protect their rights and pro-
mote their general welfare.
"For years these good people
have been knocking at the doors
of Congress for justice, for relief,
for their rights and the Congress
has turned to them a deaf ear.
They have asked for bread, and
you have given them a stone.
They are American citizens and
they want the rights Of American
citizens. They are treated as serfs,
1t is all wrong. The people OF
New Mexico want to govern them,
selves. They want Statehood aud
they should be admitted as State.
The people of Arizona want to
make their own laws. They want
Statehood. They should be ad-
mitted as a State. For forty years
they have been begging Congress
for this fundamenta right, and for
years Congress has closed to their
appeals the doors of opportunity,
of equal rights, of justice and OF
Statehood. How much longer
must they beg? How much longer
mus, they pleadG How much logger
must they wait? 1t is Il shame-a
denial OF constitutional rights. 1t
is disgrace to the country and
contrary to the spirit Of our free
institutions.
"Let us stop treating Arizona
and New Mexico like conquered
provinces. Let US grant them the
rights they demand. Let us permit
these territories to come into the
union, so that they can govern
themselves aud make their own
local laws. These people are as
brave, as honest, as intelligent,
and a. patriotic as any other citi-
zens in the land. They want to
cavern themselves. They want
home rule. They demand State
hood. Let US be true to ourselves
and grant them all their rights
and all the privileges enjoyed by
all the rest of the citizens of the
States of the Union. New Mexico
must be a State. Arizona must
be a State. Now is the time to
grant them this sovereign boon.
"Mr. Speaker, this Congress is
too big a body, too busy as a
Legislative forum with the moment
Gus affairs Of the nation to act as o
board of aldermen for Alaska, for
New Mexico and for Arizona.
Why not give them what they are
entitled to, and let them legislate
for themselvesf The principles OF
local seIf:government are dear to
the American heart. They con.
stitute the cornerstone of the
A nerican republic. The people in
Arizona, the people in New
Mexico, are entitled to home rule,
are entitled to local self govern
ment, and the only way they can
get it is through the agency of
Statehood. The people of Alaska
are entitled to territorial govern
ment. They want to make their
own local laws and not bother
Congress, and the only way they
can do so is through the agency of
territorial 'vernme 1t. AT er
long fight we finally succeeded in
passing u bill to give Ala ka a dele
gate to Congress. He is here in tho
person Of Hon. Thomas Gale --one
of Gods noblemen--and be typifies
the intelligence and the industry
aud the patriotism of the people of
Alaska, and yet what can he do
here? What has he been able to
accomplish for home rule? Moth
ing at all. He can beg and plead,
and he has begged and pleaded,
but it is all IN vain. But the
fight will go on aud on until
justice triumphs, and so l want t,
say in conclusion tnat for one, as
long as | am u member of congress,
| am going TO keep on fighting for
Statehood for New Mexico, State.
hood for Arizona, aud for. home
rule aud territorial government for
laSEo