The copper era., 1910-12-23

Phoenix stands just a much chance of annexation as prov ince of the Russian empire as it does of admission to statehood under the constitution framed by the conven tion." Thus briefly Governor Sloan last Sunday in Phoenix measured the probability, in the present circum- stances, of the exchange of the "swad- ding clothes" to which so frequent reference has been made in the last quarter of a century, for the starry garments of statehood. Arizona has one chance of admission and that is only a chance-in the defeat of the constitution which has been formed and the framing of another one free from the objectionable features of the present constitution.
 AS FATAL AS DEATH.
 "I know that the constitution will not be approved by either congress or the President" said Governor Sloan when asked what impression he had gathered at Washington regarding 2 the attitude of the President and con gress toward the cons bitution, and he added, "If any one thinks I don't know whereof speak let him go to Was hington and ascertain for him self |"
 During his stay in Washington the governor had an extended interview with the President and he saw many membe of the house and senate, both democrats and republicans. Pre- cisely what the President said to Gov ernor Sloan regarding the constitution or any other matter cannot be given law that Presidents of the United States are not to be quoted, though in this case the President placed no re- strictions upon the governor. But. the governor said} any representative citizen of Arizona or a delegation of citizens, after seeing the President and congressman, will return to Ari- zona with the same conviction that he has brought back, that the constitu- tion is absolutely and certainly fatal to statehood.
 THOSE WASHINGTON DIFFERENCES
 In the course Of the interview Sun day, the attention of the governor was called to the criticisms of the radical members of the convention and the radical newspapers on account of statements made by him in Washing ton regarding the constitution. One criticism was based on the fact that at the time of his statement the con stitution had not yet been formed and that his expressions were calculated to manufacture sentiment against the constitution.
 The governor said: i'I did not ex- press myself in the press or publicly until knew that those things which would bar our way to admission had been practically agreed upon and un- til knew positively that we would not be admitted under that constitu- tion. had no time, opportunity or iO one way or another and as matter of fact I did not manufacture senti- ment. Having become convinced that statehood was impossible under the constitution, I felt it my duty to make that fact known and to express my purpose to do what might be in my power to avert the disaster that was certain to come if the constitu- tion should be adopted by the pee ple."
 A MANUFACTURED STATEMENT.
 Regarding one dispatch which stat ed that the governor had said that if the constitution should be ratified the lunatic asylum ought to be enlarged, Governor Sloan said: ''In no COIL versation with any correspondent or any one else did I say anything that could be construed into such a slate ment. I have lived in Arizona for