The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-23
STATEHOOD AGAIN ISSUE FOR FUTURE Will Not Be Consumated at
 This Time A FIGHT OF 20 YEARS Recall of Judiciary Is Feature Which Has Caused Most of the Obiec-
 tion to Arizona's New
 Constitution
By JONATHAN WINFIELD

 and New Mexico, the two remaining ter ritortes within the boundaries of the United States, are destined to wait until another Congress meets before they can expect statehood. Neither one of them will be admitted to the union during the present extra session.
 This is true in spite of the fact that both territories have been knocking at the door of the union for 20 years. It is true in spite of the additional fact tha, an enabling act has been passed, consti- tutional conventions have met, constitu- tions have been adopted and ratified by the people
 The whole difficulty lies In the fact that Arizona wants to incorporate in its fun damental law the power to recall judges. But for this stumbling block these terri tories would have received statehood at the last session of Congress. But for it they would be admitted now and author ized to organize themselves into states. But the obstacle remains and will hinder the passage of the amendments to the enabling act proposed by the House diid ddOpltO III liidl DOdy. OcHdlpi OillilE of Michigan, chairman of the Senate com- mitee on territories, has made the state | ment that the Senate will never agree to the proposition offered in the House for admitting Arizona That means a dead | lock and deadlock means no action. The legislative situation Is just this: Arizona, acting under the original en- abling act, drafted and ratified a consti- tuition. the most radical feature of which was a section providing that the recall apply to the judiciary of the state as well as to any other office in the common | wealth.
 | This feature was bitterly attacked in 1 the last Congress when the constitution was submitted for the approval of that body. This approval was necessary, as well as that of the President, before a. proclamation admitting the territory to the union could be issued.
 l This fight over the recall centered in the Senate. The House agreed to leave the matter entirely to the people, but the Sem ate refused to do so. As a result the vote on the admission bill was postponed until the last hours of the Congress. Then l it was that Senator Owen of Oklahoma seeing that New Mexico was about to be | fully filibustered against both measures and prevented their passage.
 This brought the matter over until the organization of the Sixty-second Congress. Then the extra session was called, the ad- vocates of statehood both in and out of Congress prepared to press .he matter along with reciprocity The democratic House, in caucus, placed the measure on it's programme, and in due time both of them passed.
 The House amendments to the enabling act, however, provides that Arizona vote again on it's constitution, and if after a second vote the people still wanted the recall of judges, then their constitution was to automatically become operative This. measure seemed to have the ap- lproval of the President at the time it was introduced. At any rate the House com mittee which considered it went upon the assumption that the President would sign such a measure.
 Now, however the Senate committee on territories has reported on the House Dill with announcement that an amend ment will be offered to the Arizona en- abling act providing that the territory shall vote again on it's constitution. and if 1t rejects the recall of judges section the territory may become a state auto matically.
 There is wide difference, therefore, Tn the two propositions. One provides that | the troublesome section may be incorpo- rated, if the people say so, and the other provides that the people must positively reject it. There seems to be no grounds upon which the House and Senate may get together. Within the short time now remaining of the session.
 This is the present legislative situation { tad m another month, and it will be impossi- ole to pass the House measure in the senate on account of the filibuster all ready threatened. The filibuster will op. crate as the previous one did It will keen New Mexico out of the union just as if kept tbat territory out before.
 These two territories are linked in this legislation for political reasons sole,v New Mexico is republican. Arizona Is democratic When they are admitted the political division of the House and Ser ate will be unchanged. Two new demo- lcratic senators and two new republican n senators will take their seats One dem- ocrat and one republican will begin ser vice in the House
 | Therefore the democrats are opposed to the admission of New Mexico until Arr, zona can be proclaimed a state also. The republicans are against the admission of Arizona until New Mexico can receive statehood. That is why the two territories are coupled That is why one party fl- busters against one territory in order to promotes statehood for the other
 These western people, however are not discouraged. They have the pledges Of both national parties in favor of state hood. The last national conventions adopted platforms indorsng the move ment and the ictizens of the territories will keep on demanding statehood until they get it.
 The next session of Congress will find the issue on top again. It will have to be wrestled with all over again. and the re- call of judges will be again deoated with Vigor and much use of time. Arizona could solve the whole peculiar problem by declaring voluntarily for the renuncia- tlon of the recall section. This territory however, is not inclined to yield on tbis point. It wants the recall, and will de- mand the right to frame a constitution according to the ideas of it's cittzens.
 
 A WITCH TO BE SENTENCED
 She Claimed That Evil Spirits Could
 Be Driven Out With Hot Stones