Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-01-14
Territory Has Many Friends in Present
Congress Who Are Ready to Vote
for Passage of Enabling Act
Chairman Hopewel of Territorial Statehood League il
Receiving Encoura ging Letters From Congress
men Pledging Their Support.

Tnat New Mexico has fighting
chance at least to secure the boon O
statehood during the present session o
Congress is indicated by the tenor o
letters received by Hon. w. S. Hope
well, chairman of the Territorial State
hood League, from members of the
Senate and House of Representatives
Mr.. Hopewell has received to date
over seventy communications in reply
to circular letter addressed to the
members of Congress, and not one has
expressed himself as opposed to single
statehood for New Mexico, while on
the other hand a number have stated
unequivocally that they are in favo
of the passage of an enabling act fol
this territory. Some of the writer's dc
not commit themselves on the subiec
but they have assured Mr.. Hopewe
they will give the matter careful at
tention when it comes up for consider
Iation in Congress.
Many Senators Pledge Support.
Senators Francis E. Warren. chair
man of the committee on military af
fairs and w. B. Hepburn, chairman o.
the committee on manufactures, both
say they will vote for the admission o.
New Mexico. Mr. Hopewell has receiv
ed several other letters from senators
lpledging their support but they re
Quested that their names not be n =
toned at this time.
Governor Curry has also received
rumber of private letters from othe
Senators in which they place them
solves On record as favoring state
hood for New Mexico.
Senator Warren stated in his letter:
|" "I BEG TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE
MY BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESS
I'm YOUR EFFORTS TO SECURE
STATEHOOD FOR NEW MEXICO
and I will be glad to cooperate with
the many friends of New Mexico In
Congress toward bringing about state
hood at the earliest possible moment.
Senator Hepburn also declared that he
would support proper bill for the ad
mission of New Mexico.
Who Is This Man Smith, Anyway?
Among the letters received is one
from Delegate Marcus A. Smith, Ari
zona's voteless representative In Con
gress, in which Mr.. Smith sheds a new
light upon the statehood situation. The
epistle is rather unique to say the
least and Mr.. Smith gives what ne
considers some good advice He alst
unblushingly tells what an importan
factor he is in Congress. The letter fol
lows:
"I am in receipt OF your letter o
December q, asking me to aid in tht
passage of bill for the admission o
New Mexico as a state. I shall be per
fectly frank with you. There Is M
earthly hope Of New Mexico becoming
state at this session Of Congress, Of
at the coming session Of Congress. AL
this stuff and bluster about aid from
sources once so greatly antagonisti'
to separate statehood amounts to YER!
little, in my opinion. New Mexico ha
always been under the impression tina
Arizona has been handicap on he
ambition to become state. | am per
fectly free to say to you, knowing wha
l am talking about, that Arizona hal
vastly more friends in Congress thar
New Mexico has. The House woult
never pass bill admitting New Mex
leo without Arizona being likewise ad
mitted. If our western people woult
learn that 1t is not question of poll
tics Of the territory as much as an In
tention to curb the power Of the West
that accounts for the strong effor
made against Joint statehood for thu
1.-TWO territories at the last session. New
Mexico was willing by her vote to for
felt for all time the interest Of thu
!, West in order that she might obtall
statehood. If New Mexico Is favorab
lly reported shall insist on Arizona
being likewise favorably reported ant
this is not a dog in the manger propo
sition by any means.
! Il should be very glad to see New
4 Mexico admitted. have made speecl
after speech in favor Of 1t. Have ad
vocated 1t consistently for twent.
years. But / must confess that m.
ardor was somewhat cooled when
saw her willing against our protest t
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