Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-02-20
Only Opposition in Washington
Comes From Small Bunch of.
DiSgruntIed ProhibitionistS
Led By MeddleSome Blair,
PRESIDENT EARNESTLY
FAV0RS STATEHOOD
Powerful Support From White
House Counted on to Secure
Ratification of New Mexico
Organic Law By Senate.
Morning Journal Bureau,
613 Munsey Building,


Washington d. c.. Feb. 10.
That New Mexico win be admit
ted to the union before the expra-
ton of the present congress, on
March a, is the opinion of Delegate
W. II. Andrews of New Mexico. MIR.
Andrews relies on the earnest desire
of President Taft for the fulfilment
of the republican platform pledges
with reference to statehood for the
territories of Arizona and New Mex
leo and the almost entire absence of
opposition to the constitution as
framed by the people of New Mexico
Mr.. Andrews has introduced in the
house a joint resolution for the APP
proval OF the constitution. The res
olution is now in the hands of the
house committee on territories and a
favorable report is expected within
the next few days. That the measure
win go through the house by prac-
tically unanimous vote is generally
conceded, and In the opinion OF Mr.
Andrews. there is little danger of any
serious delay In the senate.
The introduction of the joint reso-
luton by Mr.. Andrews was made
necessary by the construction which
Attorney General Wickersham has
placed upon the enabling act passed
at the last session Of congress and
under which the constitutions of both
New Mexico and Arizona were
framed. The attorney general holds
that the provisions of the act of con-
gress require that the constitutions
must be affirmatively approved by the
present congress or 80 over until the
next congress. Failure to disapprove
by the next congress will then enable
the president to issue his proclama-
ton for the organization of the new
state governments.
Hearings on the New Mexico con-
stitution have been delayed by the ILL.,
ness of Chairman Hamilton of the
house committee on territories. The
first committee meeting at which the
matter was considered was held last
Friday, the 18th inst. A number of
people appeared and argued against
the approval of the constitution by
congress. Prominent among these
were former Senator Blair OF New
Hampshire, who claimed to be en-
ployed by certain people in New
Mexico. Another opponent of the
constitution was Mrs. Ellis, who APP
peared on behalf of the National
Womens Christian Temperance
union, which organization. she said,
has determined that no more states
shall be admitted to the union unless
their constitutions contain provisions
for the prohibition of the sale or
manufacture of Intoxicating liquors.
A gentleman named Nicholson. who
is national secretary of the Anti-Sa-
loon league, also appeared and argued
against the admission OF New Mexico
to the union ut this time.
Former Senator Blair, In his argu-
ment before the committee, presented
Il number of letters which had been
forwarded to him by the Rev. James I.
Seder of Albuquerque; Rev. Il. j. Bull
gin. a travelling revivalist Mr.. De-
Woody, Mrs. Bird. of Santa Fe; Mrs.
Patterson, of Santa Fe and the Rev.
Rendon, of Chamerino. A letter was
also read from the Rev. E. c. de Baca,
editor of small weekly paper pub
.ished at Las Vegas. These seven
people apparently constitute the back
bone of the opposition to the APPROX
al of the New Mexico constitution. Ac-
cording to the letters which they caus~
ed to be read before the committee all
the saloons in all the precincts OF the
territory were running wide open on
the day of the election of delegates to
the constitutional convention. II is
also claimed that the saloons were
wide open on the day of the election
for the ratification OF the constitu-
tion.
big Corruption Fund Raised.
Former Senator Blair informed the
committee on territories that accord
ing to information received by him
a great fund for the corruption of the
voters had been used In albuquerque,
Madrid, Cerrillos Santa Fe, East Las
Vegas and several other places. nota-
bly, number of precincts in Rio Ar
riba county. The committee was also
informed that In addition to the use
OF money to buy votes for the ratifi-
cation of the constitution, intimida-
tion had been used to scare voters
away from the polls and in some cases
to force them to vote for the consti-
tuition when they desired to vote the
other way.
Letters were read from n number
Of people who had been reliably In
formed that great wrongs had been
committed on the people OF New
Mexico None of the statements made
in the letters were supported by af-
I fidavits Most Of the letters were
addressed to Mr.. Blair or TO Mr.
Nicholson. and In most Of them the
writer's begged that their names be