Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-01-06
New Mexico Has Ceased ia Be a
Depenlenf and Is a Sovereign Slate
PRESIDENT TAFT signed THE
STATEHOOD PROCLAMATION AT
l.35 O'CLOCK this AFTERNOON

the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo, sign
ed February s. 1S4S. From today at
noon it takes its place in the councils
of the Union; 1t has two representa-
tives in congress and, after the first
Legislature acts, will have two United
States senators. We now have a
voice and part of the control in the
| government of one of the mightiest
nations on the face of the earth.
This change from territorial form
of government brings with it respon-
sibilities that are and will be of no
light character. Henceforth we will
be our own masters, and as such we
will have cares and duties that we
never had as territory. AS a part
of the federal union, our representa-
tives in congress and our senators
will have voice and a vote in shap-
ing the domestic and foreign policy
of this great nation. We have already
chosen our representatives in con-
gress, and It behooves US to select
with extreme care the two men who
will represent us in the United States
senate. BY the two men that we have
already sent to Washington, and by
the two that we will send there. we
will be measured in the eyes OF the
nation. It is a part of our duty to the
great Union Of which we are now a
part to send senators who will be a
credit to our new state.
But our responsibility does not end
with sending proper senators from
New Mexico. Our greatest responsib-
ility is to ourselves. Through our
elected legislature and our executive
and administrative officers, the state
will attempt, and we hope success
fully, to carry that responsibility. 1t
is incumbent upon them to give New
Mexico government that will be sec
ond to none in this country. The sit
uation, owing to the election of half
/ tickets by each of the great political
parties, is ripe for the playing of po-
litics. Let us, however. as citizeng
who are Interested to see the first
years of statehood passed in a sane
and careful way, insist upon our dele
gated representatives so conducting
themselves that their only thought
and their every action will be for the
ultimate good of the state as whole,
and not for the good of any party or
parties. Let us start right in our
state lawmaking by attempting, at
least, to pass laws that have for their
foundation some valid governmental
or economic need.
If we have careful and hardwork-
ing and intelligent session of our
first state legislature, the fact that
President Taft signed the statehood
proclamation will be blessing; if our
legislature runs amuck and passes
laws for the mere sake Of passing
them, or for the primary benefit of
either of the political parties, for
tyears to come. we will look back to
january 6, 1912 with regret and sor-
row.
With the realization Of statehood
we should receive an increase of out
side and foreign capital with which
to develop our tremendous natural
resources. Our dry lands will be irri
gated, our mineral resources devel
oped and our live stock increased
Property will increase in value and
desirability; our towns and cities viii
increase in population. All this viii
come If those in charge of our gov
ernmental affairs conduct themselves
and the affairs of the state in sane
and careful way.
Let us all, therefore, lend hant
to the first administration of the state
of New Mexico with a view to max
ing it an economic and governmental
success in order that in future years
) we may be able to look back will
). gladness to the day when the state
hood proclamation was signed am
New Mexico attained its majority.