Arizona republican., 1912-05-21
TUESDAY. MAY T. 1912.
Colonel Roosevelt and Arizona

Colonel Roosevelt and Arizona There is less reason why the can i didacy of Theodore Roosevelt should i lind support in Arizona than in any other subdivision of the Union. If 1 his political doctrines were sound. l and if We could have assurance that what he breaches today he would preach tomorrow. still his claim upon the people of this state was for ] 1eited six years ago when he tried 10 destroy the identity of Arizona: when he not only tried to destroy ltl hut employed the most despicable and tyrannical means, then failing. could not conceal the bitterness of a ] little soul, Arizona is not likely to. forget that struggle for it's very ex- i~tence. Mir. Roosevelt had claimed to be the friend of the west at a time when it cost nothing more to do itI than to ape western manners and dress. While vice president he visited Albuquerque where a reunion of the Rough Riders was being held and there he made speech in which he pledged his influence in behalf of the admission of three of the four exist ing territories. He could not see. nor could we, how powerful that in fluence was soon to become.
 Two years later, MT. Roosevelt. the beneficiary of the bullet of an assas- sin. was seated in the White House and the omnibus statehood bill ad- hitting Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma as separate states was be- fore congress. A canvass of both houses left no doubt of sufficient strength to pass it. It was passed by the lower house and there was a clear majority in sight in the senate in it's favor. Senator Quay had charge of the bill
 There was, however. an active op- position headed by Senator Bever-
 
 territories, supported by the New England and most Of the middle western republican senator's Rely ing upon the frequently asserted friendship of MT Roosevelt. we felt secure. But when he was urged by q delegation from this territory to h inf Beveridge in behalf of Arizona. he declined to intervene, expressing a hypocritical hope, however, that Ari- zona would secure admission. Con eress was in the closing, short ses- sion and, near the end of it, MT. Beveridge started a filibuster which resulted in the failure of the omni- bus bill.
 Between that time and the open ing of the first session of the next congress we began to hear rumors of the joint statehood scheme We could not believe that it would re- ceive the endorsement of MT Roose- welt But we did not have long to wait for his message to the congress contained a brief but positive re- commendatiOn for jointure. It was brutal in it's disregard of the rights of the people of the territories. He took the ground that we had no right to be heard, since the creation Of new states was a matter which concerned the nation at large He said
 T recommend that Indian Terri tory and Oklahoma be admitted as one state and that Arizona and New Mexico be admitted as one state THERE IS NO OBLIGATION ON US TO TREAT TERRITORIAL SUBDIVISIONS WHICH ARE MAT TIERS OF CONVENIENCE ONLY, AS BINDING US ON THE QUES- TON OF ADMISSION TO STATE HOOD. Nothing has taken up more time in the congress in the past few years than the question as to the statehood to be granted to the four territories above mentioned, and af- ter a careful consideration of all that has been developed in the dis cussions of the questions, 1 recom- mend that they be immediately ad- Tnitted as two states THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DELAY AND THE ADVISABILITY OF MAKING THE FOUR TERRI TORIES INTO TWO STATES HAS BEEN CLEARLY ESTABLISHED.' .'
 Then began in the house, our bat tie for life. New Mexico favored jointure. Oklahoma was not averse to it. Arizona stood alone. We