Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-16
REBUKE BY PRESIDENT
Sharp Words to Statehood
Rivals at Albuquerque.
C0LL0QUY AT BANQUET
Mr.. Taft Replies to Insinuations
Against Republican Party.
GOMPERS MATTER BROUGHT UP
Never Any Chance for Resolution in
Convention, He Declares-Must
Come in "Sane"
COLL0QUY AT BANQUET
G0MPERs MATTER BROUGHT UP

ALBUQUERQUE n. NJ. October 49,
In the closing minutes of the banquet
which was rendered to him here last night
President Taft took occasion to rebukc
some local speakers who had made some
testy remarks on the subject of statehood
They had expressed some doubt that the
republican party really was going to grant
statehood to New Mexico and Arizona de-
spite the earnest declarations the Presi-
dent had made on that subject in an
earlier speech here during the afternoon.
They had argued and harangued for two
hours while sthe President sat patiently
listening. Then he arose and declared that
he was like judge he once knew who at
the end of a long argument by counsel re-
marked:
MIR. Wolfe. in spite of your argument
am still with yot.''
A B. Fall, former attorney general of
the territory, was one of the speakers
He said New Mexico might possibly be
admitted, now that the republican party
had entered into a contract on the sub
ject For he asserted, "if the party
had not agreed to admit us to the Union
the Gompers anti-injunction plank would
surely have been written into the plat
form
President Answers Sharply.
The President answered this sharply
Lest it go down without contradic-
tion,' he said, Il want to say that there
never was any chance of the passage
of what Mr.. Gompers requested in the
republican convention. The resolution |
wanted passed on the subject of iniunc-
tions was defeated and resolution mild
er In form was put in. That is history
and l don't want history to be recorded
other than we understand it to be-
One. or the speakers paid his respects
to the people of Arizona a number of
whom, headed. by Gov. Sloan of that
TER neny,e Were f present Mr. Fall said
to come under joint statehood act
when they had a chance. They spoke
of the right of New Mexico to state
hood.
TT is a right when it is accorded
you, said the President, land it is not
right until it is accorded you.''
We were entitled to statehood in
184S under a treaty." interrupted Mr.
Should "Come in Sane"
Now you would not argue that you
were entitled to be a state in 1S4S and
have two senators in Washington when
there were fifteen states between you and
Washington that did not have statehood"
said the President. Let us be sensible.
I am not contending against your coming
in. 1 am only contending that you Should
come in sane.
THE getieman across the table used the
term possible as if he still suspects my
sincerity and good will. Well, of course
man cannot do any more than promise
and then try to carry it out. l do think
that you may have had i ntimes past
reason to complain because of promises
made that were not fulfilled. / do not
know. l am not sufficiently versed in the
history. and therefore perhaps you have
right to distrust me: but heretofore l
have tried to tell the truth, tried to carry
out such promises l have made You
will bear me out tonight in the view that
l have not softened exactly what / in
tended to say by reason of fear that
you might criticise me afterward.'