Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-02
DIFFER ON
K|BBEY STATEHOOD PLAN

ftNti iiNi hthU'A W % ie''"f 80
o being charged with indifference t
! statehood by the democratic press o
tho territory. has come forward II
his own defense during the past few
days ana among other things show
, ling his interest in the statehood Of
fori. has proposed a plan which h
believes viii remove the final objec
tion to A%rlzona's admission, namely
tho approval OF such a constitution
ass tn state may form by the presi-
dent OF the United states, before tn,
territory IS finally admitted or the
constitution voted upon This, the
governor thinks. would remove tho
fear certain members OF congress are
said t. hold that Arizona ana New
Mexico may follow in the somewhat
c%rratic footsteps Of oklahoma in on
stitution building The governors
1plan is outlined ia the following from
the Phoenix Gazette
Governor Kibbey tated to the Ga
zctte today that in his opinion the hes
itancy Of congress to act at once in
the statehood matter is due to a fear
that the people OF Arizona n New
Mexico may not form acceptable con-
s%titutions.
ia obtiatc this condition. the gov
crHor stated that he had prepared and
would send To Washington a draft Of
an enabling act which provides that
after the people of Arizona have
framed and adopted q constitution
that il should be subject 10 the appro-
val Of the president. ana that If ne APP
proved il. he should issue his p~rocla-
nation to that effect, and that then
Arizona should at once become a state.
The governor further stated that
there is a general sentiment in Wash
ington favorable to the admission of
both territories and hat when the
time comes for the committees i'm the
senate and house to take up the state
hood bills he would be- present to be of
whatever assistance was i'm his power.
He declared that President Roose-
volt was urging admission and that
P~rcsident-elect Taft favored It.
THE governor was seen by "a Gazette
representative at the capitol this
morning. and IN answer to q query Of
the exact conditions existing in the
statehood situation ne said.
Urged BY Roosevelt.
There is "A general expression by
members of both houses Of congress
of a purpose to admit both territories
,t,A Inn. Ia gtn.- .ttf.fl4 Ia. t.At
think much If amy opposition viii de-
against the proposition ultimate
ly President Roosevelt is urging adj
mission with his accustomed energy
Prcsident-eleet Taft favors admission
There are. however. one or two things
may delay Immediate admission
ono OF these Is the fear very preva-
not only in but out Of congress,
there might be d repetition in one
or both Of the territories of the follics
Of the Oklahoma constitution.
"rhis fear is entertained by mem
beers Of both the republican and the
democratic sides of both houses. If
assurance could be given that
The territories would adopt constitu-
lions more in ~sona with the
general trend of thought OF the coun-
at large than is The oklahoma con
stitution. / have no doubt but that we
would "a an enabling act at the
present short session,
"Of course it Is urged by some that
congress has nothing to do with the
constitution Of a state beyond an as
slrancc hat 1t provides for 2 gov
.nt,.nf fft44 AZ V.yA.IIta.Y. a. 80, E
ma not rcpugnant to the federal con-
ititution A moments consideration
SHOW. however. that inasmuch as
he question of the admission Of a
.crritory 10 the union is lodged solely
"a congress. that the constitution of
proposed state should be of all
most controlling influence in deter
the question of admission.
constitutional Requirements.
Tho moro faet that the proposed
government OF the state is republican
. form is not al sufficient. for under
republican form-as a mere matter
,t form-thc worst sort of government
au exist. ~ which wc have plenty I'D
'N1lnplcs Tho proposed government
not only bc republican i'm form
A 70 should in fact comport with TIA
cDnoral principles of American gov
.nrmcnt and institutions rntl com
.agativoly recently. before % territory
admitted as % state. the people
we're given am enabling act. under
which they framed and ratified their
tate constitution. after which con-
.ress passed upon the question of the
omission of thr proposed state. in
'ther words Tho state was tentatively
.rganizcd under am enabling act. and
hen If tho constitution, form OF gov
.rnment ANA other conditions wore
atisfactory the new state was admit
ed
"rhis seems tho most logical course
.f procedure and # it were adopted in
ease OF New M,Nico and Arizona
b would at nee meet the objection
.f those who fear the danger OF am
unsatisfactory constitution
"Not onl, would This course relieve,
who now hesitate ~ their fear
U.s. to the kind OF a constitution that