Bisbee daily review., 1909-12-30
NJ STATEHOOD
 E ASSURED
 THIS SESSION
Presidents Message Urging DeIiberation Used as Excuse for Another Delay May Get in After Census Is Taken.

The falSwisss ssappears assa special dispatch from Washington in the Ei Paso Times in reference te the pos sibility for statehood for Arizona aud New Mexico, under date of Decem- Der 26:
 statehood legislation at the pres ent session of congress will not go beyond giving authority to the peo- pie of New Mexico and Arizona to hold constitutional conventions and provide the means of such conven- tions, if the wishes of leading mem bers of congress dictate the policy.
 This program is in harmony with the message of President Taft.
 Tn the last session of the sixtieth congress the house passed a bill to admit New Mexico and Arizona as separate states It was predicted that the measure would go through the senate in short order. Such was not the case. however. Some of the mem bers of the senate committee did not like the looks of certain land grants to individuals which had been receiv- ed under territorial administration. Some of the claims for large holdings under Spanish grants were also view ed with suspicion Furthermore, the estimates coming from the territories as to population, both as to numbers and claims. were not accepted, and 1t was thought best to delay action un- til after the 1910 decennial census could be compiled.
 Taft Furnishes Excuse
 MT. Taft's recommendations, it is said, Wifi supply the excuse for de lay. The president urges that care be exercised in the preparation of legislation affecting each territory to secure deliberation in the selection of persons as members of the conven- tion to draft a constitution of the in coming state" and that such consti- tuition after adoption by the conven- ton shall be submitted to the people for their approval at an election in which the sole issue shall be the merits of the constitution"
 That Best Judgment May Prevail
 Tn case of the adoption of the con stitution for Oklahoma. the election was complicated with the selection of state officers and MT. Taft is deter mined this situation shall not recur in the cases of New Mexico and Ari- zona. In the event of there being no issue before the people of each of the territories except the adoption or re- jection of the constitution, it is be- lieved. the best judgment of the peo- pie will prevail
 May Reject Constitutions
 Should the convention draft con stitutions which do not adequately protect public interests in the matter of safeguarding public lands and nat uraI resources, and should those con stitutions be adopted by votes of the people of the territories. the presi- dent could reject them if he desired to. Congress again could open the way for the adoption of satisfactory constitutions. This course was well nigh impossible in the case of Okla. homa as the people had expressed their choice of state officers and jus tice had to be done them.
 To Vote on Constitutions
 The indications are that bill will be passed at this session providing for the means of holding constitution al conventions and for elections tC pass upon the question of adopting ol rejecting the constitutions 1t is be lieved that the effect will be to in sure good state constitutions ana make it certain that two new star. will be added to the flag within { year of the adjournment of the pres ent congress.