Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-09-16
TAFT WILL
Be CRITICAL
VIII Scrutinize the Consti-
tu5ion Adopted by the
New State
HAS REDEEMED HIS PLEDGE
No Oklahoma Geological Collec
ton of Freaks VIII Receive
His Approval.


something to say about the constitu-
tions of Arizona and New Mexico, the
new states, which his insistence has
made full members of the Union, says
a dispatch from here to the New York
American. Advice was recently Civ
en- by Colonel Roosevelt to the people
of the new states, to leave loophole
for the amendment of their constitu-
tions. Whether President Taft
agrees with this sentiment is not
known. He had adopted policy of
wise silence regarding the declara-
tions of the former President.
1t can be said positively, however,
that, as the law authorizing Arizona
and New Mexico to prepare for state
hood gives the President a veto on
the constitutions which they adopt, he
will bring all of his legal judgment
and experience to bear in insuring for
the new states forms of government
which they will not be ashamed of a
generation hence
Taft Insisted on d Check.
Specifically, it may be asserted on
the best authority that the President
will never give his approval to the
sort of a constitution that was
adopted by Oklahoma under the reck-
less leadership of Haskell. If the
President were asked to advise the
people of~the new states, who are
about to assemble constitutional con-
ventions, he would tell them to read
carefully the Oklahoma constitution,
keep it before them all the time, and
then avoid the ridiculous errors of
omission and commission with which
that instrument, designated by the
President as geological collection"
reeks.
This joint statehood bin, which was
passed by the last session of Con.
gress after a stiff fight led by the
President, provides that after the new
states shall have adopted constitu.
tions, and before they are put into op
GRAFTON, they shall be approved by the
president alone if Congress shall iail
to act on them at the session at which
they are submitted. This provision
was inserted in the act of Congress
because the President made it of the
highest Importance that there should
be some check upon the constitution.
al conventions after the experience
| of Oklahoma.
Wants a Simple Document.
The President does not believe in
throttling the free expressions of pub.
lie sentiment, but in the younger com.
munities there is grave danger that
the people, whether the new constitu
tion be made difficult or easy oil
amenlment will commit acts which
later they will wish to rescind.
Generally speaking, the President
believes in a constitution of the fewest
possible words that is expressive oi
the fundamentals of government
alone. Such a constitution, he believes
neither ties the hands of future gener
ations nor calls for special amend
ment. A constitution, in the view ol
! the President, is the framework Of g
state, or, rather the foundation upon
which future generations build.
Aside from the fact that it is his
sworn duty to guide the people of Ari
zona and New Mexico Alright in this
matter, the President has special in
terest In there new states. They are
the final territories of the mainland o.
the United States to be admitted tt
full membership in the Union, ant
they are Mr.. Taft's children.
Made 1t Nomination Pledge.
For long years the newspapers
fought for the statehood of New Mex
| leo and Arizona. 1t remained fol
President Taft, when he accepted tht
nomination to the presidency t.
pledge himself to statehood for thu
two territories and to carry out tina
pledge when he entered Office. 9th
ers had made the same pledges. TIL,
difference is that Mr.. Taft has con
tracted the habit Of fulfilling hi!
pledges.
He pledged statehood to the two ter
ritories in his speech of acceptance
he renewed his pledge in his inaugura
address, he laid the matter before Con
gress in his first annual message, ant
! ~ off - io hot
for the cause. When that long line O
redeemed pledge was laid before the
American people at the adjournment
of the last Congress, he found the
people Of Arizona and New Mexico ap
and ready to undertake the task aheat
of them. He believes in their ability
to govern themselves and to contrib
uate their share to the Union Of tht
states.
It will be one of the genuine pleas
ures of Mr.. Taft's official career, wher
the time comes for him formally tt
welcome the two new states into the
full fellowship of the nation.
PIaisted's Plurality Grows.
Portland Maine, Sept. 1e.-The
Democratic plurality given Frederick
w. Plaisted for governor by the vot
ers of Maine at Mondays election was
9.114, according to complete returns
Democrats Not Satisfied With Primar,
Omaha, Sept. 16.-The recount o
the Democratic vote for governor II