Arizona republican., 1909-12-31
A Year Lost.

A holiday story, purporting to forecast the action of congress rela- tive to statehood, comes in special dispatches from Washington, to the effect that legislation on the subject at this session will be confined to the passage of a bill authorizing the ter ritories of Arizona and New Mexico To formulate state constitutions dur ing the coming summer, the eX- penses of the constitutional conven- tions to be provided for in the bill Thereafter, we are told, congress at the short session of next winter will complete the legislation necessary for the admission of the territories, if it be found that the constitutions pro- vided for at this session are accept able to the national administration and to the leaders in congress.
 Congress having adjourned for the holidays, and the members having gone to their homes, there is of course nobody in Washington just now who is authorized to speak for tl,e lawmakers; Ience the story has all the earmarks of idle prognosu- cation. Bnt there is, to be sure, conservative spirit in congress with which the two territories must reck- on. and it is possible that the leg islative steps toward statehood will be taken somewhat as predicted in the above forecast. Should this be the case, however. actual admission into the union ought to come with little delay after the converting of congress next winter. So far as this territory is concerned, there is no cause for apprehension as to the character of the constitution that will be framed. It will be sound and con- servative, and yet progresslve-ln conplete harmony. that is to say, with the spirit of patriotic and en- frightened Americanism of which the great west is so truly representative. But if congress shall choose to re- main in doubt on this point until 1t has opportunity to scan our handi- work in constitution making, the people of Arizona, while protesting in no good temper, will reconcile themselves to the delay with such grace as they can command, serenely confident that their constitution will be warmly approved by good Ameri- cans everywhere.
 Just how much the net loss of time would be should this suggested program be carried out, it is not easy to say. Under the provisions of the pending bill, the territories would become full fledged states in February. 1911-a little more than l3 months hence. The suggested program of making two bites of the cherry would call for perhaps three or four months longer.
 In view of the manifest intention of congress to enact statehood leg islation in some form, it IS now of interest to recall that all doubts concerning the ability and intention of our people to govern themselves under orthodox forms would have been resolved. had the late legisla- ture adopted a suggestion that was frequently heard during the session. This suggestion was, that an appro- priation be made from the territorial treasury to cover the probable eX- penses of a constitutional conven- ton, and that the holding of such convention be formally provided for by law, the ordinances of the con- vention to be laid before congress as the constitution of the proposed state of Arizona, with a request for our immediate admission. The only practical objection to the scheme was that of cost. It was felt that it was perhaps unwise to subject the territory to an expense or many thousands of dollars, under all the circumstances. It is scarcely pos sible to doubt that if a constitutional convention had been held last sum mer. the result of its work in the form of a constitution commendable in every way, would by this time have convinced congress that there is no possibility that the state of Arizona will be a freak sister in the union.
 It is simply another case of hind sight being clearer than foresight, and nobody is to blame
 Disputed Handwriting.
 If one were to offer a guess, 1t