Arizona republican., 1908-10-31
MARK SMITH OR STATHEOOD.

MARK SMITH OR STATEHOOD.
 A sensible man never does an i'm portant thing without a reason. Nor does an honest and sensible man ask intelligent men to do anything with out giving them a good reason why it should be done.
 What reason have we heard why Mark Smith should be reelected to congress next Tuesday? Several have been advanced and we hope that voters will give them the most care full consideration.
 Democrats and republicans are agreed on one thing, that the great desideratum is statehood: that there is really nothing else to be considered at this time Republicans contend that voters who want statehood should act next Tuesday with the sole purpose of securing it at the earliest possible moment.
 The democrats contend that the chief duty is to elect Mark Smith Why? Not because he is more ia vorably situated as statehood ad- vocate, than MT. Cameron, but be- cause he has faced twenty years of failure in spite of the most faithful and strenuous endeavor; because the honor of sitting in congress at the time of the passing of a statehood bill should be his reward. For what? An unfulfilled purpose.
 In addition to these reasons, there has been some vague talk about the election of Bryan and the desirability of having a democratic delegate :n congress in his administration. This is substantially the entire argument in favor of the reelection Of 81r. Smith. Not another word have his most eloquent champions and most enthusiastic admirers been able to utter in his behalf
 Is there anything here that ap- peals to the intelligent voter who really wants early statehood?
 The republicans on the other hand have given many reasons why Mir. Smith should not be elected. Even if the territory owed him a debt of gratitude, now would be a most in opportune time to discharge it. Tie payment of it now would, we believe, deprive him of the honor which his friends say they want to bestow upon him-that of being in at the birth of a new state. Mir. Smiths presence there alone would prevent a birth but would bring forth another failure to join the already long array.
 We believe that no democratic dele gate from Arizona could be influential in passing a statehood bill through the house at the short session or through the senate at any time within the next three years, during which there will be a republican majority | there. MT. Smith, of all democrats | in Arizona, is the one who can ex- pect nothing but opposition from | Speaker Cannon. The election of MT | Smith would be the end of our hope l of early admission.
 The well known campaign cry pi ! MT Smith has been Mark Smith and ! statehood" This year it must be | Mark Smith OR statehood"
 In favor of Mir. Cameron we have this: A friendly disposed republican majority, though perhaps, not en- thusiastic on the subject of statehood, | which it will grant only in favorable circumstances. A republican major ity in Arizona, it has been intimated . to us, would be construed to be a favorable circumstance. The election of a democrat. and, especially, the election of MT Smith, would certainly not strike the speaker and the re- publican majority in either house fa- vorably.
 The question which every voter will have to answer next Tuesday is, (Which will you have-Nr. Smith UT Statehood?-You can not have both"
 George M. Hahn, candidate for the