The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-28
STATEHOOD QUESTION
PUZZLES DEMOCRATS

Washington, April 72-Face to face
with what is described as one of the
rawest gerrymanders that have ever
been passed up to congress involving
not only the legislature, hut the ju-
dietary, the democrats in congress
are in quandary how to proceed in
the matter of granting statehood to
New Mexico. 1t is not only the bold
ness of the Gerrymander, but the "a
tempt to nail it down and clinch it
absolutely for period of nine years
in connection with the stipulations
that would make it almost impossi-
Bile for the people of New Mexico
10 amend the constitution that makes
the democrats anxious TO restore in
some measure the power of the peo
pie. Beside the gerrymander there is
The provision of the proposed consti-
tuition that seeks to deprive the leg
islature of the power to regulate
transportation corporations, by plac.
ing that power absolutely in the
bands of a corporation commission,
which, however, is deprived of an.
thority to stipulate any penalty to
enforce its regulations, the proposed
constitution in the last analysis plac-
ing the power to fix rates in the su-
rreme court of the territory.
Workers of Gerrymander.
The legislative gerrymander is de-
scribed as such lead pipe c,nch'
that If the democrats carried the
state by a two-thirds majority they
still would not control the legisla- |
ture. One of the instances is the case
of San Miguel county, which is heav-
lily republican and which controls
three members of the legislature. |
The judicial districts have been so |
gerrymandered that there will al /
ways be two democratic judges and |
six republican judges. To accomplish !
this feat the constitution trainers had !
to put into one democratic judicial !
district only $4,000 population and in !
the other more than $4,000 people. |
The democrats are on record as op- |
posed to any attempt on the part of |
congress to legislate for a proposed |.
new state, but in favor of letting
every state come snto the union |.
with a constitution entirely Of its /.
own making so long as its govern |
ment is republican in form.
Want "RepubIcan7 Form.
In the broad acceptance Of the |
term republican" it is contended |
that the proposed New Mexico con.
stitution is republican in form what
ever it might be in substance, and
this same plea is made by the dem.
ocrats in favor of the Arizona con
stitution with its recall Of all elect
i've officers, including judges. The
sentiment among democrats on the
on territories is that con-
Sress ought to take cognizance of
the attempt to MAKE the New Mex.
leo constitution unamendable and pro-
vide for the submission to the people
Of proposed constitutional amend
ment by which the people hereafter
viii be able to amend their consti-
tuition by simple majority vote as
obtains in other states. This seems
10 be a favorite plan, notwithstand.
nc that the New Mexico constitution
was adopted by $4,000 majority. for
which reason the republicans are
insisting that the democrats permit
he people of the proposed state to
govern themselves as they see fit.
Congress May Request Change.
The republicans, however, do not
axe this same democratic stand in
'egard to Arizona with its recall pro-
'ision and it is possible that when
he house committee reaches the Ar
zona proposition within the next few
lays a solution may be offered of this
'haracter: That the constitution of
New Mexico be approved by congress
With the proviso that the people Of
he new state at once vote upon
amendment proposing
IN easier method of amending their
constitution, and that the constitution
If Arizona as approved with the pro-
'lso that the people of that proposed
lew state vote on a constitutional
amendment exempting the judiciary
rom the operations of the recall.
Anything For Statehood.
1t Is admitted by those who are
lrging statehood for New Mexico
While denouncing the provisions of its
that the people want