The Washington herald., 1909-08-23

Editor The Washington Heraldi
The discussion OF the proposed change
In method of government OK the District
Of Columbia, and the suggestion that the
people OF the District be given the right
TO vote and elect representatives TO Con-
gress. again turns al eyes toward the
Territory Of New Mexico, within whose
boundaries are living at least 100000 peo-
'ple who are deprived of the right Of suf-
frage. OF the right Of equal representa-
ton In Congress. and Of taking part In
the Affairs % The government OF the
United state.
There Is every reason for the present
form OF government OF the District OF
Columbia. II is the seat Of the whole
government. 1t is the place set aside
by all the States as the location Of the
National Capital. Who is better able to
govern the seat Of the national govern
!, ment than the States themselves?
Statehood Promised.
However. there are no such reasons for
% present form OF government OF New
exico New Mexico was promised State
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ne fifty years ago. at which time she
rs told that as soon as she had the
pulation. the wealth and the learning
. should be admitted into the Union of
States.
The population has gradually grown;
, wealth Of the Territory has become
.ormous. and It Is with no hesitancy
at say that New Mexico stands we'll
the front in learning and is without
lestion ready to come IN as q State.
lpeatedly has the Territory Of New
sxicO knocked at the doors OF the Ma
nal Congress. and Just as repeatedly
3 the Congress adjourned without CIV
II its we'll deserved rights.
state UntustIy Deprived.
Jnder the Constitution Of the United
ates all men are created free and
uaL This should apply TO New Mexico.
great part CT the population OF the
rritory is made up of citizens who were
IN In the East. the North, the South.
here they had the full power OF citizen
ip.
IN going to New Mexico they were de-
wed. unJustly. Of this great privilege
d told that, because, OF their moving
stward. they were no longer worthy to
rticipate in the affairs OF the nation.
'es II not seem that our government
fallen short OF the standard set by
creators when the President OF the
hited States is given the power by Con-
ess to send TO the Territory a governor
ected, in many cases. from without It's
un6Rries?
s the government not breaking a fun
mental principle when it deprives the
ople Of the Territory OF New Mexico or
right 10 select its own officers?
When New Mexico Is deprived OF the
ght OF equal representation In Congress.
ID Is given merely one voteless and
werless Delegate in Congress. Is II not
pc TO proclaim, as the people did in
when the colonies bore the same re-
ionsr = to England as the Territory
New Mexico does TO the United States:
yaticn without representation Is tyr
y.
le people OF the East exclaim with
rror that New Mexico is the land Of
e bad man, OF the greaser. and OF the
ctus They even go further and say
at New Mexico is not a part OF the
1ited States, but Is a part Of the repub-
OF Mexico
Does it not seem strange that so-called
sucated people condemn US as not III for
atehood and In the same breath state
At New Mexico is not under the do
nion OF the United States?
False Impression.
the playhouses OF the United States do
much to keep New Mexico out Of the
ion as anything else. Why2 Because
most popular plays Of tia season are
,ose featuring the bad man" from New
exico. with his ever-ready slx-shooter
Id the swarthy "greaser" who plays the
lain and stabs his unsuspecting victim
the back
All this goes to prejudice the people Of
East against New Mexico. They do
stop 10 think that the barbario has
zen away 70 the civilized as Il has done
the East. They do not stop 10 think
nat the bad man OF twenty-five years
go has entirely disappeared. and they
, not know that next TO murder the
-avest and most serious crime on the
ltute book is that Of carrying a deadly
Weapon.
How many people realize that a great
fmany Of the so-called 'Mexicans' Of New
7Iexico are not Mexicans at all, but
,SRerely the remainder of the American
Indian whose homes and lands have been
confisceted by the white man7 It is
er-krown fact that the ''Meolicans'' of
- ew Mexico are as different from the
exicans OF Mexico as one race could
from another To one who knows the
Mexican" people they appear as law
pidlng citizens. The percentage Of crime
New Mexico is remarkably lower than
any State In the Union. Because Of
slr fairness and love OF justice It is an
epted fact that the lawyers OF New
xico prefer the Mexican to the
4 nerican" as a juror
is reported that President Taft favors
admittance OF the Territory Of New
leo into the sisterhood OF States at
earliest possible moment. and that
I'll do all in his power TO urge Con-
when II meets IN December 10 give
BE people OF the Territory what they
richly deserve. We pray that this Ia
E. EDWARD O WADE.
AHU OOunTD