El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-25
FERGUSON'S PLEA
Is FOR AMENDMENT
Says He Is Not Opposing
Statehood for New
Mexico.

Washington, D. c., April 25.-A new
and rather unexpected turn in the
statehood situation developed when
the Democratic committee showed up
before the house committee on terri
tories and asked that at least the New
Mexico constitution be made more cas-
lily amendable, if none of the other
faults be corrected
H B. Ferguson, an Albuquerque Dem
ocra, and a former delegate from New
Mexico, was the spokesman at the first
meeting and he only briefly outlined
the ground the protests Of the Demo
Gratis might take.
Mr.. Ferguson was accompanied by
J. D. Hand of Los Alamos when he
addressed the committee, although A.
A Jones, of Las Vegas, J. W. Norment
of Santa Fe and judge VIM. McGin of
La Lande have since arrived.
Statehood first last and all the time
was declared for by Mr.. Ferguson and
he said that he was not opposing that
for a minute as he much preferred
statehood with the present constitu-
ton to no statehood at all, but mas
much as there seemed to be a poss1-
bility that the constitution, which he
declared was drafted in the interests
Of the corporations, might be amended
before it became operative, he was seek
ing to have it changed in order to
make it more easily amended.
Judge Fall, George Curry, Ralph c.
Ely and IL W. Clancy who are here
favoring the constitution as it is. OPP
pose any delay in statehood at ALL
while Mr.. Ferguson and his followers
want statehood rather than no state
hood and realize that whether they
get what they want or not, their ap-
pea-ance before the committee will
only mean a delay Of a week or two
this session. All feel confident that
the matter will be threshed out this
session and statehood granted both ter
ritories before congress adjourns. In
fact if it is decided that an amendment
to the constitution would be valid, it
is extremely possible that all New
Mexicans here will unite on an amend
ment making the constitution more
easily changed and ask early action
by congress.
The one point about which the COM
mittee on territories seems to be de-
batting is the validity of an amendment
by congress to either Of the territorial
constitutions. They all agree that It
is a matter requiring careful thought
and much study Of the precedents
Some of them point out that the New
Mexico constitution has already been
changed with respect to the eastern
boundary, g congressional resolution
having set this line along the line rec
cgnized for years as the boundary in
stead Of the true 1880 meridian as the |
New Mexico constitution calls for.
The general opinion now seems to |
favor reporting out of the committee !
a simple resolution admitting the two !
states subject only to the boundary /
resolution mentioned above. 1t is true |
that a majority of the committee are /
Democrats and are inclined to listen |
carefully to Mr. Ferguson's plea, bur
whether they will accede to 1t is hard
to say. This much is certain, when II
rea ches the senate it will probably be
by Owen and such as believe
as he does regarding popular govern
ment They want the constitution
amended as Mr.. Ferguson suggests. In
fact it seems clear in the light of
recent developments, that either sena-
tor Owens fight in the last congress
stirred New Mexico Democrats to hope
Tor revised constitution and seek II
1t the hands Of congress, or the Okla
IONA senator has hunted up the friends
IF popular government in New Mexico
md secured their cooperation.
Another development in the situation
S the appearance here Of a committee
themselves as insurgent
and said to include former
governor Hagerman, r. W. Hanna of
santa Fe, B. j. Viljoen of Dona Ana
county John r. DeNlier of Alamogordo
md others. The Republican party in
8ernalillo county has long been divided
out whether that could be designated
Is 'tstandpat" and "insurgent" factions
remains to be seen.