Arizona republican., 1908-01-24

statehood as there ever was. except at the very time when this bill was pend ing in congress
 As chairman. | have tried to keep in touch with the various parts of the
 territory relative to matters of inter-
 est concerning the things weNslave in
 hand as this committee. l have care fully noted the effect of the last cleo ton throughout the United States. and while as q is well known to every one, the overwhelming victory of nine Ity per cent against joint statehood made quite an impression in our favor, lyet. so long as New Mexico and Ari- zona are both territories, the danger Iof joint statehood still exists. and par lticularly so, when those who have
 tried so hard to force the same upon Ius or their friends are in power.
 Next to this election, nothing has |, happened to create such a strong inn pression throughout the United states | favorable to Arizona and her single IstatehOod as the publication. by the papers O. the territory and the en- tire United States. Of the facts con-
 cerning Arizona's lead in the produc-
 ton of copper. with the facts con- lcerning her enormous production of lother minerals and her other great re- sources.
 ; The strong fight made by Arizona land her friends against joint statehood land the events of the last year or so. lhaVe caused the other parts of the United States to sit up and take mo- ltice O. her and at this time. permit
 me to say. that I believe that. the re- lpublicans and the democrats too. for
 that matter of this territory. should
 not sacrifice advantages gained by the twork Of the past to gratify the wishes iof any individual to secure or remain lin office While I have no quarrel
 with those in office, and it is perfect ly justifiable for them to try to re- main in office or to secure an office or
 rather. I might say, that their attempt
 ito follow orders and deliver the goods is iustifiable for an office
 holder, vet the political parties as a whole should leok first, to the best in- terests of Arizona and secondly to their o":n best interests, and it natur ally follows teat whatever is to the best interest of Arizona win be to the
 best interest of any political party within that territory. If the republi-
 
 their next national convention an in- | structed delegation for any man for president upon the promise that those 1 delivering fhe goods" and securing such a delegation can have the offices of the territory. that will benefit only
 those directly interested and will not
 benefit the territor-- or the rank and file O. the parties.
 l that the republicans of Arizona should demand and secure from the
 next national republican convention (and. of course. if there was any chance of the demOcrat3 electing the president they should do the same.) First Oe these :s a pledge in the plat form against joint statehood and in favor of immediate single statehood for Arizona: second. secure the nOmi-
 nation of a man for president who will use his best efforts and the influence of his administration toward carrying
 out this pledge.
 How best can such a condition of af- fairs be brought about? Surely not by ltying ourselves hand and foot to any Zone particular candidate, because we had just as well mail proxies to the convention and save the trouble of going, because. first: no notice what
 ever would be taken of any such dele gatiOE even by the person for whom they were instructed, and such dele gates could not secure any pledges or any such plank in the platform be-
 cause they would have been already delivered, signed and sealed. and the lparty for whom they were instructed lwOuld be looking after uninstructed delegates, trying to secure their in- fluence and their votes: second: Any bother candidate who might secure such a pledge and such platform would
 not do so upon their request because
 they would have nothing to give in Ireturn; on the other hand. if intelli-
 gent. active, uninstructed delegates were sent back to this convention they certainly would be in a position best to accomplish such a result They could go to the various leaders and candi- dates and say: We are for Arizona and Arizona's rishts and our influ- ence and votes go to the man, all ot1- CT things being equal. who can and Twill secure for Arizona the positive pledge that such a candidate will lend the force of his administration to car rying into effect such a pledge It seems to me that this right of Arizona and this danger of joint statehood. which must ever be pres ent until either one or both of these territories are admitted singly. is of greater concern to the citizens of Ari- Zona at present than the political for tunes of Taft or Roosevelt or any oth- CT man who desires to secure or re- main in office, and it seems to me that there is no real reason why Arizona s delegates should be tied to the tail of any such kite or take any sort of a 1 chance while this danger still exists. Some people say that the danger of joint statehood is forever past, but the politicians in power at Washington, who have worked against Arizona, have not had a change of heart: they have simply given out the statements credited to them because they thought | 1t good politics and are now coming around asking Arizona to be in their 1 favor and to send delegates instructed | for them or their friends upon the | flimSV DreteXt of telling uS that they