Statehood (American politics)

Columbia sits in a chair with the American flag across her lap. She is holding a star and has a pot of stars and sewing materials next to her. Standing on the left are three male figures representing “New Mexico, Arizona, [and] Oklahoma,” “waiting for their stars” to be added to the flag. The U.S. Capitol building is in the background. Caption: Columbia (to the three territories)–Your stars shall be put on the flag just as soon as those politicians in Congress will let me.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907; Arizona and New Mexico in 1912.

President Roosevelt pointing during a public address

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-06-11

Theodore Roosevelt found Charles Dwight Willard’s letter interesting, and thinks it is a wonder that Willard has lived this long with his health challenges. Roosevelt reflects on their being “within range of the riflepits” and reasons that all is well should they be hit as they have “fought the good fight and accomplished something.” He found the anecdote about Harrison Gray Otis at The Outlook lunch amusing, and it is true that he found it proper to leave Lyman Abbott’s correction to his article even though he believes that The Times building was dynamited. He is pleased with the success of Edwin T. Earl’s paper and comments on the corruption of other newspapermen. Roosevelt comments on the progressive contingency having to “use the curb quite as much as the spur” in dealing with the popular movement against big corporations and men of wealth. Willard’s compliments of his article pleased him, especially as he admits to sometimes feeling dispirited about them. As an ex-president, Roosevelt must balance standing up for what he thinks is right without appearing to censor the current president. However, he is “extremely indignant” that President William H. Taft vetoed the statehood bill for Arizona and New Mexico. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Theodore Roosevelt received the telegram signed by George Curry, George Armijo, and Muller requesting support. However, he cannot do anything more to have Arizona and New Mexico admitted as separate states.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Frank H. Blighton for the letter and enclosures, but does not know what action there is for him to take on the matter. He has already given his explicit opinion regarding Arizona and statehood.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-05

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary acknowledges the “copy of the edition” that R. H. Rose sent to Roosevelt. When Roosevelt was recently in New Mexico, he endorsed the movement for statehood.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-03

Theodore Roosevelt hopes that Senator Lodge will support statehood for the New Mexico Territory. The Territory’s Governor, George Curry, might call on Lodge regarding the statehood bill. Roosevelt suggests that Governor Curry might be one of the new state’s Congressmen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-23

Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed hearing from Robert Harry Munro Ferguson. His current travel is his last “business trip,” and he hopes to see Ferguson and visit John Avery McIlhenny next time. Edward Grey recently wrote to him about his brother, George Grey. Roosevelt confirms that he wrote the article on Governor Morton. He agrees with Ferguson that Arizona and New Mexico should be admitted to statehood and that Great Britain needs time to reshape its government. Roosevelt wishes he could see Ferguson and his family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-07

President Roosevelt believes it is crucial that the New Mexico and Arizona statehood bill passes this session and hopes that President-Elect Taft will reverse the impression that he opposes the measure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-20

President Roosevelt thinks very highly of Governor Curry, and was flattered at the newspaper clipping he sent him. Roosevelt is doing his best in the statehood fight for the territory of New Mexico, but the odds are against them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-10

President Roosevelt congratulates Governor Curry on what he has accomplished. Roosevelt is trying to get Congress to grant New Mexico statehood and will see what he can do help Judge Edward A. Mann.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

President Roosevelt thanks Ralph H. Cameron for his congratulations. Roosevelt hopes that he will have the chance to sign the bill making Arizona a state, and promises that if he does Cameron will receive the pen he uses to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-07

President Roosevelt reminds Senator Beveridge that when they spoke, he urged him to admit both New Mexico and Arizona as states at the same time. However, he acquiesced to Beveridge’s decisions and told Senator Frank P. Flint to do the same. As far as he knows, Flint did so. Now Roosevelt does not think any good will come from further delay. Keeping the territories out for even a short time will only make them irritated at the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-19

President Roosevelt tells Henry P. Bardshar that Governor of New Mexico Territory George Curry is a “first-class Governor.” He assures Bardshar that he will push separate statehood for Arizona and New Mexico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-11

President Roosevelt assures New Mexico Territory Governor Curry that he will do everything he can to secure separate statehood for New Mexico and Arizona.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-11

President Roosevelt is pleased that Ralph H. Cameron has been elected to represent the Arizona Territory. He tells Territory Chief Justice Kent that he will urge separate statehood for Arizona and New Mexico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-09

Responding to a letter from Edward Kent about the territories of New Mexico and Arizona being admitted to statehood separately, President Roosevelt says he does not want to bring the matter to to Congress until there is a change in temperament there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-31

President Roosevelt invites David Decamp Thompson to write to him at any time. He agrees that he should assent to the proposed Oklahoma constitution even if he feels it still has some defects. Roosevelt sees Thompson as one of the real forces for good in the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-27

President Roosevelt tells Senator Beveridge that he believes both New Mexico and Arizona should be brought in as states at once.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-04

President Roosevelt informs New Mexico Territorial Governor Curry that he has met with congressional leaders about statehood, but they are at an impasse concerning statehood for New Mexico and Arizona. Congress would like to wait until after the 1910 census and proceed from there based on the population data. Roosevelt has also written to Arizona Territorial Governor Joseph H. Kibbey, and does not see much point in addressing the matter in his upcoming message.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-24