The copper era., 1910-12-23

dicated in his long opposition to state
 hood, though he yielded to the pas. sage of the present enabling act He said to Governor Sloan, "Didn't I tell you that you were not ready for state. ! hood?'
 The governor talked with a promi- nent democratic senator who had a large part in the passage of the en- abling act He said that Arizona would not be admitted under the present constitution and that unless it was admitted under the existing enabling act, another act would not likely be passed in the next twenty five years
 INTEREST DYING OUT. The governor continued:
 "Another thing that is discOurag- ing in the extreme is the total lack ol interest apparent on the subject Of statehood under any conditions. It ought to be remembered that the en- abling act became d law almost by accident. It never would have be come a law had it not been for the ac- tive and earnest support of the Presi- dent. The opposition to our admis- sion at all is just as strong now as heretofore, and I may say is strOngef in view of the general opposition t. constitution which has been framed by the convention. It is my opinion that it is improbable that congress will ratify by affirmative vote, any constitution we may hereafter SUI bmii because of this opposition to our ad mission, and our only hope therefore is in the action of the President, and the failure of congress to affirma tivelN disapprove of the constitution. I say the only hope, because under the en- abling act, if the President disap uroves, or congress disapproves of Iur constitution, that ends the enabl ing act, and we are left in the sam, -ituatiOn with regard to statehood that we were in before any act for ouI admission had been introduced il congress.
 ''T repeat again that it is hopeless to expect that the constitution sub mitted for our ratification will be ap proved either by the President or b. congress.
 THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.
 "The President does not regard hi as a mere matter of form but regards his duty under the enabl ing act as requiring his close scrutin, If the constitution submitted, and, il matter as requiring his disapproval
 ''I want to say right now that th rejection of our constitution upon tn. ground that it contains provision fundamentally wrong would strength sn the administration, and not veal en it, as some of our good people seen to think.
 ''There1s no sentiment anywhere il the east or the south in favor of tho referendum and recall. Al the conference of governors at Frank fort talked with the governors O Alabama, Georgia and Virginia oi this subject and found them strongl, opposed to these innovations. Cover nor Harmon and GOvernOr-eleci Woodrow Wilson's utterances hay, been against them. Therefore it ma, be seen that the position of the ad- ninistration would be strengthene' hn nf hn account of them.
 THE ONLY THING TO DO.
 'There is but one thing for the peO- ple of the territory to do, if they dc gre statehood, and that is to expres their disapproval of these provision nf thr constitution, which stand il rhe way of our admission. We hay nothing to lose but everything to gail bv this course The constitutions can be recOnvened and re write the constitution in the event 6. ts disapproval by the people, and he convention follows the eXpresse, l wish of the people and rewrites tn. constitution by eliminating the ob- iectionable features, the new cOnsti- | tution can be in the hands of the President and of congress at the nexI session, and we can be admitted a. early as we possibly can be admitted under the enabling act, were the cOn- 5titutiOn as submitted be approved bN | the people and by the President
 SEND A MISSION.
 ''I say again, if any body doubts the | accuracy of my information as to | what the attitude of the President and of congress is in this matter, I | suggest that the easy way of ascer- taining the fact is to go to Washing ! ton, present the matter to the Presi- lent and to the leaders of congress, md ascertain the truth at first hand. ] believe that any responsible con- ] nittee or persons who will visit !; in good faith will come : back as firmly convinced as I am that , statehood under present conditions is