Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-11-28
TIE ARIZONA
STATEHOOD BILL.

STATEHOOD BILL.
The news coming from Washington
is not calculated 10 encourage the
hope that the enabling act will be
passed by the short session of the
Sixueta congress authorizing the for
nation OF a state government FOR the
present territory OF Arizona. That
there Is even doubt of the passage Of
the statehood bill Tor Arizona at the
approaching congressional session
raises at least suspicion OF doubt
as to the sincerity. Of the republicans
when they promised immediate state-
hood for Arizona and New Mexico.
The opinion" in Washington that the
short session OF the sixtieth congress
win only take up the usual appropria-
ton bills and that there win be no
time for discussing statehood legislar
ton between now and March 4th is
simply feeler thrown out by the re-
publicans who have been fighting
against the admission of the remain
.ng territories as states for years
This opinion may not mean that a
statehood bill win fail this winter.
but II certainly docs mean that such
measure is very likely TO be OPP
posed by the old enemies of Arizona
in the republican party and IT should
be due notice 20 the people OF Ari-
IONA that it will be necessary TO
make fight il we expect TO gain self
government which Is so earnestly de
sired by all classes of our citizen
ship.
There will be no necessity for wide
or extended discussion of statehood
preceding the passage OF enabling
acts for the admission of Arizona ana
New Mexico. The question OF state
hood for these two territories has
been discussed at great length in re-
cent years and by the very men who
are today leaders OF the majority both
in the senate and In the house; any
demand for time for the further dis
cussion of statehood simply means OPP
position to the admission of the ter
ritories at this time and a very little
opposition from the republican lead
ers will easily block statehood for
Arizona y
If the statehood bill fails at the
coming session, as promised by the
republicans the blame will be solely
on the republicans, as they have the
majority in both the senate and the
house It is the belief of Delegate
Marx Smith that he can bold the
democrats In line for the statehood
bill, as he did in opposition to the
joint statehood bill. With the dem
ocrats in congress ready to vote for
statehood for Arizona it will be in
taresting to see wHst excuses the re-
publican leaders in Arizona will make
to the people, after promising the
success of the measure and claiming
that assurances hal been given by
republican leaders which made state
hood a certainty If Ralph Cameron
was elected.
Anyhow, the word from Washing
ton concerning the uncertainty of
statehood legislation this winter
should spur every friend of statehood
to action, regardless of politics.
Every commercial and political or
ganization in the territory should pass
resolutions fand forward them to Del
egate Mark Smith n be presented to
congress in behalf of Arizona. Delay
in the admission Of Arizona as a
state will be without excuse and fail
ure this winter will not be encourag-
ing for the future.
The people of Arizona want state
hood now and this fact should be i'm
pressed on congress nov BY every
possible means.