The Coconino sun., 1920-02-20
HISTORY OF ARIZONA'S
 EIGHT REPRESENTATION

Arizona, the baby state, Saturday, celebrated it's eighth birthday as a state in the United States. Only eight years ago, at 10 o'clock in the morn ing, on Feb. IA, President Taft sign ed the proclamation which admitted Arizona as a state. His signature was recorded on the document with a gold pen presented to him by Frank H. Hitchcock, then postmaster general.
 Eight years ago Saturday ended a fight of more than 40 years during when the then territory of Arizona had been knocking at the back, front and side doors of the United States, seeking admittance into the union' From 1901 to 1912 the discussion of the admittance of Arizona as a state was an annual event in congress, and during the latter years the citizens of Arizona had to- put. up strenuous fight to keep from being taken in jointly with New Mexico.
 There was talk of statehood for Ari- zona back in 1872 when Richard C. Mccormick was delegate, and Ari- zona was credited only with popula- tion of about 12,000.
 Again in 1883 Delegate Grant Oury introduced bill for statehood of the territory of Arizona A few years later Delegate c. c. Bean had a bill to the same effect. Still later Dele gate Marcus A. Smith began hammer ing at congress and each year he had his bill to present to congress asking that the territory be admitted to statehood.
 In 1902 the house of representatives passed and sent to the senate a bill for the admission of Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona, but the measure was under discussion when the senate adjourned in March, 1903. The senate opposition was led by Senator Bever- idge. In 1902 Senator Beveridge and colleagues of the senatorial sub-com- mittee on statehood visited this terri. tory. His report on his return to Washington was adverse unless the territory went in with New Mexico.
 Another committee, headed by William Randolph Hearst visited the territory in 1903 and a third under Congressman Tawney came here in 1905.
 When there was evolved the com promise measure under which Ari- zona and New Mexico were to be made into state jointly, the news was telegraphed to the Arizona legis- lature by Delegate Smith, Feb. 4, 1903. Immediately was returned the answer declaring Arizona unalterably opposed to the joint state plan. Not withstanding this action, concurrent resolution passed the council in Febru- ary, reciting that Arizona under cer- tain conditions would be willing to en- ter statehood jointly with New Mex ico.
 There was a grand melee over statehood in the congress of 1904, with separate statehood bills for each of the territories still remaining out side the pale. President Roosevelt early indicated that he was in favor of the joint statehood bill.
 The proposed joint state would have had northern line 603 miles long and an area of 262,000 squaie miles, second only to Texas. The cen sus of population of the two states in 1900 was: Arizona 122,931; New Mexico 195,310. Arizona has gained 106 per cent in ten years and New Mexico onl 27 per cent.
 The formation of an anti-joint state hood league in 1906 was the next step taken sby Arizona toward separate statehood. At the elections in Novem- Der of that year the total vote was overwhelmingly in the negative.
 President Taft visited Arizona in 1909 and then made public his sym pathy with the aspirations of Ar- z0nans, but warned against the people adopting such d constitution as Okla homa.
 Standing firmly by his previous ex- pressions, President Taft in August vetoed the Flood statehood resolution, principally because the constitution contained the provision for judicial recall.
 A later resolution was approved by the president August 21 upon the condition that the electors of Ari- Eona vote on the recall at the general fall elections in Arizona and New Mexico. The first state election proved a democratic landslide, not a single republican being elected to state office.
 With a golden pen furnished by Postmaster General Hitchcock, cn St. Valentines day, Feb IA, 1912, at .hc hour of 10 a. m., President Taft slgn- ed the proclamation admitting Ari- zcna to the union an 1 telegraphei to Governor Sloan "congratNating the people or tlis, our newest common wealth, upon the realization of their long-cherished wishes" The procla- nation happened to be issued on the 5Oth anniversary of similar dOcu- ment signed by Jefferson declaring Arizona a territory of the confedcr- ate union, and was just ten days short of 49 years since the date of an act of congress establishing the ter ritory of Arizona.
 -0--