Arizona republican., 1910-04-11
Senator Bailey's Doubts

Stli. toT Bailey or Texas, who stands ready to help Arizona achieve s&atehood provided the democrats of the territory desire it under the terms of the senate bill, has written to the Arizona Democrat of this city that he is not clear as to the wishes of his democratic friends out here. He writes:
 'I am in doubt as to the attitude of Arizona democrats on this ques- ton. I do not mean that doubt in the least that all good democrats of Arizona resent the effort of the federal congress to interfere with the qualifications, which they have estab- lished for their electors, but what mean is that I doubt whether your people are willing to take statehood under that onerous condition.
 Some intelligent men have writ ten that they would rather wait than to submit to such an outrage. while others have expressed the opin- ion that it would De better to take statehood upon even that unfair con- dition. leaving the state of Arizona to deal with it in her own way when she becomes full sovereign"
 As We have indicated on several occasions. it is our belief that the fate of the statehood bill rests very largely with the democrats. If the democratic senators will turn in and support the senate bill. the passage of the measure is practically certain. On the other hand, if they engage in prolonged debate and make a hard effort to have the Hamilton bill sub stituted, it is quite possible that re- publican senators who are not warm on the question anyhow will take ad- vantage of democratic opposition and have the whole. subject sidetracked.
 It appears from Senator Bailey's letter that the attitude of the dem ocratic senators will depend consid- erably on the wishes of Arizona dem ocrats. It therefore occurs to us to suggest to our democratic friends that they get busy and write to democratic senators that the senate bill is acceptable provided it's op- ponents cannot secure a bill they like better. It is a matter which should have the immediate attention of thoughtful democratic citizens.
 Of course the whole question turns on the educational qualification" law of the late legislature, which the sen- ate statehood bill seeks to nullify Republicans and democrats may hon estly differ as to the merits of that law-republicans are generally agreed that it is a piece of unfair partisan legislation. But democrats should bear in mind that Arizona, after she is a state, can adopt whatever fran chise qualification she chooses. so that they are not in conflict with the that the democrats would be wise to accept the senate bill and take their chances of getting what they want from the state later on.
 On inc question of a restricted franchise our democratic friends will not find the republicans unreasonable. by any means. It is the terms of the present law that republicans find objectionable If the democrats will put themselves in mood to propose a fair law on the subject they will find the republicans cordially willing to meet them half way
 Meanwhile. if the democrats of Ari- zona really desire statehood at this session of congress they should take prompt steps to remove Senator Baileys doubts, and the doubts of all other democratic senators on the question If statehood Is not ob- tained at the present session of con- gross it will be many years. we fear, before the door into the Union will 1 swing open again.