OCR Text |
Show AN ELEMENT OP PERIL. It Is quite possible, judging from the reports which come from "Washington, that both houses of Congress may finally consent to the passage of the Statehood bill, In amended form. As amended, the prospect is lhat Oklahoma Oklaho-ma and the Indian Territory would be admitted as one State, and Arizona and New Mexico as one State, subject to the approval of both of these Territories, each voting separately, on tho proposition proposi-tion to come in Jointly As to these two Territories, it has been assumed that New Mexico would vote In favor of Joint Statehood, an a matter of courso. It Is the larger by far In population, and would expect to control In all the joint matters, would have things all its own way, In fact. ! Naturally, It would like this, and so favors fa-vors the Joint admission. But in Arizona, settled by pushing Americans who shrink from what they call tho "Greaser" control of New Mexico, it has been the universal expression ex-pression so far as heard, that the Territory Ter-ritory would reject with scorn tho proposed pro-posed Joint Statehood with New Mexico. Mexi-co. And for a largo portion of the people, peo-ple, the enterprising, vigorous American Ameri-can element, this expression has been true and representative. There Ih, however, u considerable element of the population of Arizona which is not subject sub-ject to the ordinary influences that govern gov-ern mankind In their political and civic actions. That position would vote on the Statehood matter, as on all other matters, as moved upon by "the authorities" au-thorities" in Salt Lake City. Not long ago, we had word thut certain prosecutions prosecu-tions were in preparation agalnBt polyg-amlsts polyg-amlsts in Arizona, by the U. S. authorities, authori-ties, who could not be restrained by the local law-defying sentiment of the settlements set-tlements which tako their direction from Salt Lake church leaders. To stop thoso prosecutions, and head off any others of like character that might bo threatened in the future. Statehood on any terms would be the complete para-lyzer. para-lyzer. Suppose that for tho purpose of making Arizona a secure nesting-place for the polygamous cult, the church au- ' thoritles here should "counsel" the brethren in Arizona to vote for Statehood. State-hood. That tho New Mexican control would bo remote would be all the better; bet-ter; there would be the loss probability that polygamy would be Interfered with; and If any official got troublesome by way of "persecuting lh Saints," why, they have votes, and his successor would have had warning. It may not be a safe thing altogether for the men of Arizona to rely too much on their ability to defeat Joint Statehood in that Territory; they should first find what "the authorities" In Salt Lake mean to do about It; If these should counsel the brethren to vote in favor, their case may be lost before they know "where they are at." |