Towards Statehood: Handshakes and Name-Calling
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In 1873, after the 1869 defeat of a movement for New Mexico Territory to become the State of Lincoln, Territorial Delegate Stephen B. Elkins introduced an Enabling Act for statehood in parallel with a similar bill to admit Colorado.
The New Mexico Statehood bill passed the House and Senate and returned to the House because of Senate amendments. However, in order to act on the bill, the House would have to suspend the rules, and this required a two-thirds vote. The possibility appeared achievable until fate stepped in.
Representative Julius Burroughs of Michigan gave a powerful speech in support of protecting the civil rights of freed Negros and chastised his southern colleagues. The gregarious and affable Elkins, who had not heard a word of the speech, walked in as Burroughs was being congratulated by supporters. In his characteristic fashion, Elkins walked up and vigorously shook the speaker’s hand.
Several southern members who observed Elkins were angered by his action and were determined to thwart the affable Delegate’s efforts on behalf of New Mexico. This now infamous handshake cost Elkins his two-thirds majority and set back statehood for thirty years.
One impediment to New Mexico’s inclusion in the union of states was its not insignificant Hispanic and Native population. There was a lot of prejudice in the late 19th century and this did not help the newly acquired western states.
This prevailing attitude was summed up nicely by one politician who stated that “Utah has too many Mormons, Oklahoma too many Indians, New Mexico too many Catholics and Mexicans, and Arizona, not enough of anyone.”
Many well intentioned but misguided proponents of statehood believed that the name New Mexico was an impediment in and of itself, evoking confusing echoes of our southern neighbor. In 1889, there was an attempt to rename the state Montezuma, although Lincoln was the most persistent of these alternative names.
One B.S. Rodey championed the name Acoma, as this would place our state first in the alphabetical roster; but the people of New Mexico consistently looked with disfavor on any attempts to meddle with their long established identity.
Next: Finally, Statehood
Claude Stephenson is the New Mexico State Folklorist
