Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-08-29
TAFT MEANS BUSINESS

TAFT MEANS BUSlNESS
 The Albuquerque Journal prints the follow ing editorial on statehood for Arizona and New Mexico.
 Judge Abbott s visit to Beverly, at the in- vitation of President Taft, is going to be of more than ordinary value to New Mexico. The fact that the president called Mir. Abbott by telegraph to come and talk over the situation, showed that Mir. Taft's interest in the cause for statehood for New Mexico was not merely upon the surface and it gave the public to see that his promise to insist upon carrying out Tn good faith the pledge of the national republican plat form upon that point was not simply perfume tory, but that it is his intention to do earnestly and eMergeticaly whatever in reason may be done for the purpose of making good the prom se of the national platform to the people of New Mexico.
 "That serves to bring the question of state hood before the public in new light. Hitherto, the declaration in favor of statehood for the territory has been regarded by politicians as merely a platform platitude, signifying nothing but the interest exhibited by the president through the Abbott interview, gives the puDlic to understand distinctly that in the matter of carrying out the promise of the national con vention in relation to this subject he means business Hence, every republican in congress who recognizes the importance to himself of sstaving with the administration '-and that means nearly all of them-will regard the statehood bill as a party measure, and that puts the bill in a position which, if it does not abso- lutev insure it's success, makes its chances bet ter than they ever were before. This fact is al ready made plainly manifest in the altered tone of the eastern press in reference to the question Heretofore the journals of eastern states which have regarded the matter of statehood for the territories of New Mexico and Arizona as 8 trfing affair to be talked about when there was nothing else to claim the attention of congress now look at it in a very different light, and re gard it as an important question, winch mas t' | be met and disposed of without unnecessary de llav. For instance, the Boston Herald, one o1 the leading journals of New England, thus speaks of the Abbott interview:
 "A flag of forty eight stars! compac mainland of states over all federal territory this side of Alaska. This is definite program of the Taft administration because the plat
 form promised It..
 .. sThe president epitomized the statehood
 situation yesterday after he had heard length from Judge Ira A. Abbott of the terri torial court of New Mexico. Their conversation
 was about general conditions in New Mexico and about affairs affecting the local courts. Tn presidents assertion that he expected congress Eto create states out of Arizona and New Mexico
 was incidental thereto. But he regards It party pledge and he is already on record as Ipresdent who stands by obligations of tha character.
 ! ..sThe administration of justice Tn New Mex lico as well as in certain other territories ha Ibeen prolific of bitter comments, if not scanda The president is bent upon improving condl Itions materially He has great confidence | Judge Abbott, who is Haverhill man and friend of Justice Moody. The latter commend led Judge Abbott to the president, who recent
 reappointed him for another term.
 ''Another statehood fight before congress which the presidents declaration probably as sures. also makes it essential that he should at
 ouaint himself in some detail with the sltuatlo lin New Mexico The visit of Judge Abbott oi
 fered an opportunity to that end
 3 This will be great week in contest circles