Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-11-10
w. FLEMING JONES
TALKS FOR STATEHOOD
Tells New Orleans Daily Picayune of
the Resources and Progress of
This Grand Commonwealth.

Attorney w. Flemir~ Jones of Las
Cruces did good work for New Mexico
at the Southern Conservation Con,
gress and the meeting of other nation
al bodies at New Orleans last week
The Daily Picayune publishes the fol-
lowing interview with him:
I'VE will come nearer than we're be-
fore in getting statehood for New
Mexico" said Mr.. W. A. Flemming
Jones, one of the delegates to the
Waterways Convention, and secretary
and treasurer of the New Mexico Con-
seryation Commission, last night.
THE people of New Mexico have
made a hard fight for an enabling act,
and except for the opposition of two
of three senators, we would now have
full powers of a state, but | feel that
there is great chance for US before
the next Congress" - --.
Mr.. Jones said that the two men
who8fopght statehood for the terri,
tory more than any others, were Sen.
ators Aldrich and Beveridge I'VE can
account for the opposition of Senator
Aldrich," said Mr.. Jones. He is among
those in the senate from the east who
fear that the west will gain too big
a representation in Congress, and
knowing that New Mexico is larger
than two or three New England states,
in area, they think that if any other
states are admitted the west will be
able to outvote the east, or rather
become the balance of power on many
questions that divide the two sections
on economical matters.
But we cannot account for the op-
position of Senator Beveridge, Of In
diana. He is exactly the opposite
from the Rhode Island senator, and
has no views with him in common, but
the Indiana senator has proved just
as great an enemy to us in our desire
as any man.
"We have a population of over 400,-
600 now" said Mr. Jones, "and this
does not count what few Indians we
have. We have as modern cities as
there are anywhere in the country,
among them Albuquerque, Las Cruces
and others, and our citizenship is just
as high as any section of the country,
and we want to be a state for the rea-
son we feel that we should be allowed
to run our own affairs, and not have
to import judges and other officials
from other states.
Nevada was admitted as a state
when it had only 10000 people, Utah
when it had less than 100000. and Ok
lahoma and Indian Territory had only
about 100000, and this included the
Indian population which is not count
ed with us, and if these have been
admitted there is no reason why we
should not be admitted
Mr.. Tones, who is Republican him
self, states that it was uncertain which
party would be victorious il statehood
was allowed, and that the southern
ltP iCoVbldttNSo do q lulC NViC III llit
measure
who viii be the successor of Gov
ernor Curry, who has just resigned? p
Mr.. Jones was asked
There will be forty or more candi-
dates for the appointment, and it is
| hard to say who will win out before
the President"
Mr.. Jones is one of the original con-
seryation men of his section. and is
doing a great work He was fore
most in getting the territorial con
gress to appropriate $4,000 for the
work several years ago, and while in
his bill he asked for $4,000, he con.
sidered that the first victory for the
policy was won then. He was a dele
gate to the Conservation Convention
here and made strong speech before
the convention telling about the
aroused public sentiment in his sec
ton.
Mr.. Jones has brought his family to
New Orleans to spend the winter