Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-18
FIGHT FOR STATEHOOD
IS NOW ON IN EARNEST
Arizona and New Mexico Are
Now Knocking at the Door
of the United States


WASHINGTON, April 15.-President
Taft viii be given a second opportunity
to side STEP the responsibility of APP
proving or disappearing the Arizona con-
stitution, with its peculiar provision for
the recall of judges. Representative
Flood, OF Virginia, chairman OF the COM
mittee on territories, with Representative
Houston, of Tennessee, second in rank
on the committee, are DESTROYS of putting
through the resolution to admit both Ari-
IONA and New Mexico without provoking
a serious fight in either house of con-
gress, and without mourning the danger
of a presidential veto. They are both
optimists and they believe their plan will
succeed.
The enabling act under which the two
territories adopted their constitutions
provided that the states might be admit
ted when their constitutions had been
affirmatively approved by congress and
by the president This placed the re-
sponsibility directly upon the chief exec
utive. The provision was placed in the
enabling act for the purpose of prevent
ing, by moral Intimidation, the consti-
tutional convention of either territory
from being too populistic. But the pur-
pose failed of accomplishment, for the
Arizona convention out-Oklahomaed Ok
lahoma and not only adopted the initia-
tive, referendum and recall, with trim
mings, but extended the recall to the
judiciary. To this radical departure
President Taft has let 1t be known that
he cannot give his approval.
The joint resolution to admit both new
states failed in the senate in the last
congress because or this feature although
it gave Senator Owen an excuse for
most spectacular filibuster, and was the
moving reason for Senator Bailey's al
most-resignation.
Now Chairman Flood and Mr. Hous-
ton bethought them to get them two
states admitted by relieving the presi-
dent of his responsibility. Therefore. Mr..
Flood introduced a joint resolution that
not only admits the two new states, but
that also repeats that part of the en-
aiding act requiring the president af-
firmativeIy' to approve the new consti-
tutions.
Messrs. Flood and Houston went to the
white house and laid their plan before
the president. At first he was inclined
to think well OF it, and did thank the
two Democrats for their considerateness,
but he asked time to deliberate upon the
matter.
Thursday both the Democratic congress-
men received letters from the president
expressing the opinion that it would be
impossible for him even to give to the
Arizona constitution that indirect approx
al that might be attributed to his sig
nature to the resolution they proposed.
But the Democrats did not take this
mo- as final answer. Chairman Flood
appointed subcommittee composed of
himself, Houston of Tennessee and Lee
gare of South Carolina, Democrats; Lang
ham of Michigan and Guernsey of Maine,
Republicans, to further treat with the
president.
This committee viii go to the white
house tomorrow and there will confer
with the president In an endeavor to
find some way out OF the difficulty.
AS the Democratic house organization
intends to pass the resolution to admit
the new states, and as a majority OF the
senate appears to be in accord with this
purpose, and as the president is deter
mined not to approve the revolution idea
of recall of Judges. It is apparent that
much diplomacy YilF be required to effect
"a compromise
If, on Saturday, the president cannot
assent to any of the schemes for reiiev-
ing him of direct responsibility in the
matter, then, according to Mr.. Houston,
there VIII be nothing to do but fight
The house will pass the resolution ad-
hitting both states. will add the clause
repeating the provision requiring the
presidents approval whether he likes 1t
or not, and the resolution then viii go
TO the senate.
There is good reason to believe that the
statehood question may yet develop into
lively problem. 1t is a firebrand be-
cause any discussion of 1t is sure to
bring the issue of direct legislation and
the recall before congress. and that issue
is composed OF equal parts of lyddfte and
nitro-glycerin.