Arizona republican., 1910-12-19

"AriZona stands just as much chance of annexation as a province of the Russian empire as it does of admis- sion to statehood under the consti- tuition framed by the convention" Thus briefly Governor Sloan yester- day measured the probability, in the present circumstances of the eX- change Of tine "sWaddiing clothes" to which 50 frequent reference has been made in the last quarter of a century, for the starry garments of statehoSd. Arizona has one chance of admission and that is only a chance-in the de feat of the constitution which has been formed and the framing of an other 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 the con gross or the president" said Gov ernor Sloan when asked what inn pression he had gathered at Wash ington regarding the attitude of the president and congress toward the constitution. and he added, If any one thinks l don't know whereof l speak let him go to Washington and ascertain for himself"
 During his stay in Washington the governor had ali extended interview with the president and he saw many members of the house and senate, both democrats and republicans. Precisely what the president said To Governor Sloan regarding the con- stiIution or any other matter cannot be given publicly for there is an un- written law that presidents of the United States are not to be quoted. though in this case the president placed no restrictions upon the gov ernor But, the governor said, any representative citizen of Arizona or q delegation of citizens, after seeing the president and congressman. will return to Arizona with the same con- viction that he has brought back. that the constitution is absolutely and certainly fatal to statehood.
 Those Washington Utterances.
 In the course of the interview yes terday the attention of the governor was called to the criticisms of the radical members of the convention and radical newspapers on account of statements made by him in Wash mgton 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 did not eX- press myself in the press or publicly until I knew that those things which would bar our way to admission had been practically agreed upon and until I knew positively that we would not be admitted under that constitu- ton. l had no time, opportunity or disposition to manufacture sentiment one way or another and as matter of fact l did not manufacture senti- ment Having become convinced that statehood was impossible under the constitution. 1 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- ton should be adopted by the peo- pie"
 A Manufactured Statement.
 Regarding one dispatch which stat. ed that the governor had said that If the constitution should be ratified the
  Governor Sloan said: 'In no con- versation with any correspondent or any one else did l say anything that could be construed into such state ment. l have lived in Arizona for tWenty-six years and l expect to spend the rest of my life here. Any man who knows me knows that l would not disparage my own people. l .l.. would defeat the constitution and l still think they will when they come to realize that it will certainly defeat statehood.
 In spite of the fact that the gov ernor is urging the defeat of the con- stitution in favor of one that has a chance of approval. some of his critics have foolishly and illogically said that he has grown lukewarm toward state hood On that point he said: T think that my record on the subject of statehood ought to disprove the charge that I have grown lukewarm.
 The Easiest Way to Kill It.
 The governor added that he knew no surer way to accomplish the de- feat of statehood than to allow things to take their course and to let the constitution go to Washington By so doing he would have avoided arousing the criticism of those who are finding fault with him.
 It was suggested to the governor that the opinion was entertained Tn some quarters here that congress and the president, instead of disappearing the constitution in its entirety. might eliminate those things that they re- gard as objectionable and the Culber- son resolution to eliminate the bound