Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1906 — COERCING THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA. [ARTICLE]

COERCING THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.

The defeat of President Roosevelt’s scheme by the Democrats to force Arizona into partnership with New Mexico, appears to have enraged him against the people of that territory. He threatens then that “if they let this*chance go by they will have to wait many years before the chance again offers itself, and even then it probably will be only the present terms—that is on the condition of being joined with New Mexico.” Arizona is Democratic, New Mexico is Republican and the great majority of the voters are Mexicans and the Roosevelt scheme is to force the two territories together, and make a Republican state. This plan is very obnoxious to the people of Arizona, who are largely Americans and prefer to remain as a territory than to be ruled by the Mexicans. Thanks to the Democratic amendment to the enabling act the people of Arizona have the right to vote, for or against, the joint statehood plan. The federal office-holders are already engaged in an active campaign to induce the voters to accept the statehood with New Mexico. They should be attending to their official business.