The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-24
NO STATEHOOD
FOR TERRITORIES
NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA TO
STAY OUT OF UNION FOR
WHILE LONGER.
CONSTITUTION is BAD
ARIZONA INSISTS UPON RECALL OF
JUDGES AND AS RESULT MAT
TER GOES OVER
SESSION.
CONSTITUTION is BAD
BY Jonathan Winfield.

WASHINGTON. July 23.-Arizona
and New Mexico. the two remain
ing territories within the boundaries
Of the United State. are destined to
walt 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 knock
ing at the door of the Union for
twenty years. 1t is true in spite of
/ the additional fact that an enabling
act has been passed. constitutional
conventions have met. constitutions
| have been adopted and ratified by the
people.
The whole difficulty lies in the fact
that Arizona wants to incorporate in
Its fundamental law the power to re-
call Judges. But for this stumbling
| block these territories would have re-
ceived statehood at the last session
of congress. But for 1t they would
/ he admitted now and authorized TO
organize themselves into States.
But the obstacle remains and will
hinder tho passage Of the amend
ments 70 the enabling act proposed
T by the house and adopted in that
/ body. Senator Smith. of Michigan,
! chairman OF the senate committee ON
! territories has made the statemen
/ that the senate will never agree to
/ the proposition offered In the house
/ for admitting Arizona That means
deadlock and deadlock means no
action,
! The legislative situation Is Just this:
| Arizona, acting under the original
/ enabling act, drafted and ratified a
/ constitution. the most radical feature
! of which was section providing that
/ the recall apply to the judiciary Of
| the State, as well az to any other
| Offices In the Commonwealth.
Recall Il Attacked,
! This feature was bitterly attacked
! In the last congress when the con-
stitution was submitted for the APP
/ prevail OF that body. This approval
was necessary, as well as that of the
president. before proclamation ad-
uniting the territory to the Union
! could be issued.
This fight over the recall conferred
| In the senate. The house agreed to
! leave the matter entirely to the peo-
/ pie, but tho senate refused to do 30
! As result the vote on the admis-
! sion hill was postponed until the last
! hours OF the congress. Then 1t was
| that Senator Owen, of Oklahoma.
seeing that New Mexico. was about to
| be admitted and Arizona was not,
successfully filibustered against both
measures and prevented their pas
sage.
This brought the matter over until
the organization OF the sixty-second
congress When the extra session was
! called the advocates of statehood
both In and out Of congress, prepared
TO press the matter along with reel
procity The Democratic house in
caucus placed the measures on itn
program. and In due time both OF
them passed.
The House amendments TO tho en-
sbling act, however, provide that Art
MONA should vote again on It's constt'
tuition. and II after a second vote the
people still wanted the recall OF
iudges, then their constitution was te
automatically become operative. This
/ measure seemed. to have the approval
| OF the President at the time II wa'
introduced, AT any rate, the House
committee which considered 1t Went
Remember the Last Train OF the Ne.
tail Grocers' Excursion for Buckros
Wednesday, August 9th. will leave
80 A. NJ Don't get left, You vii
miss 50 much fun and maybe a prize
worth $500