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Show 076 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY be sure, many of the leading citizens of New Mexico assisted in the accomplishment of the people’s ‘‘one great idea,’’ but Delegate Andrews succeeded where other delegates for more than half a century had failed. His immediate predecessor, Bernard 8. Rodey, had devoted almost his entire service in futile attempts to secure the rights of complete citizenship for his constituents.**® man), Dillingham, Burnham, mittee on territories. Never the qualifications passed upon very presence to the people this territory by of of at and fitness and Heitfield, a sub-committee of the senate combefore in the historv of the American people were of the people ofa territory subjected to and a committee of either branch of the American congress. The the committee, in the light of its acts and report, was an insult the four remaining territories. This committee held sessions in Las Vegas, Santa Fé, Alburquerque, Las Cruces, and Carlsbad, commencing on Wednesday, November 12, and ending November 21, 1902. This investigation was not in the form usual in hearings before committees in Washington, where voluntary statements are received from those in attendance, but was rather in the form of a legal proceeding in which witnesses were called and sworn and then testified in answer to questions from the members of the com: mittee. A large number of witnesses were thus examined on particular points as to which the committee desired to obtain information, and the witnesses them- selves were selected and summoned by the committee, with the exception of a very few, who were produced at the request of Delegate Bernard S. Rodey. This committee arrived in New Mexico without notice; its method of pro- cedure — closed doors, one witness at a time; the fact that the committee was provided with lists in advance; that it heard some and would not hear others; that it avoided calling the best classes before it; that the investigation was not as to the resources of the country or its financial ability to maintain a state gov ernment; and that the greater portion of the line of iv.quiry was as to the speaking of Spanish, its use in the schools and courts, in the houses and on the streets; all these things aroused a very bitter feeling against Senator Beveridge, thor oughly merited, and was not lessened when the committee made its report. When the report appeared the indignation of the people was most pronounced. There is no doubt that Senator Beveridge was either greatly prejudiced against the admission of New Mexico, or he was the tool of the cabal of New England senators who did not desire the admission of any western territories 10 matter what their fitness or qualifications. The report was carefully drawn, with . evident desire to appear fair, but it approached the subject from a thoroughy intended so to be, ee rs vie | Pe B EALIe RAM, say that he was devoted to the cause of statehood is to state the ve He was enthusiastically devoted to it. He set before himself ast EFS one great object to be attained during his congressional service, the passage i an enabling act for New Mexico. Everything else was subordinated to it, order that this particular matter could have undivided attention. lie pe eA teghin., : of 1910 ss er : Re : of the Constitution ed bed ReteR : = e of the Framers es ee ae ee ae PY * +Parnesa c = es ye dP + Saar Co Ee » : pee of Signatures ae ‘simile eee oe 4 se a> BOL. I Le. ‘“At the — anes his congressional work, at the opening of Cr Congress, he endeavored to arrange with the speaker so that the New Me: L, 1 PAO cys Mies eee ee could weary him so long as there was an argument to ans’ a i oe ee oe an | Pe PAL —r an auditor oe Es “Tn Washington and New Mexico, in hotels and on railroad trains, 12 PU on speech and in conversation, in season and out of season, this was his one sacl edn lo ety Lig.” Bradford Prince, Struggle for Statehood, Santa Fé, N. M., 1910, past mildly. nD and rs 7 » a e = yeie oe Ja pea ee ae ee Ce | CMe ae Fede Saad ek eed Pa at oe ee a eee one-sided, misleading, ee ee @ em was ee ee ee 2 of view and of the southwest. ek ae een -* & oe eastern point the purpose of still further prejudicing the people of the eastern states agains the people |