Patience Rewarded: New Mexico Admitted as 47th State

New Mexico, wrested from Mexico in 1848 at the close of the Mexican-American War, waited 64 years before finally being admitted as the 47th state of the Union on Jan. 6, 1912. As the anticipated day drew nearer, internal political squabbling caused delays. Then there was the matter of a federal lawsuit over land acquisition by a lumber company holding things up. The official inauguration was set for Jan. 1, 1912, but that day came and went without President Taft signing the statehood proclamation. When he finally picked up his pen on Jan. 6 his private office was jam-packed with dignitaries eager to witness the moment. A new inauguration date of Jan. 15 was set, and everyone at last was happy.

The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Washington) printed this article on Jan. 6, 1912, announcing New Mexico’s admission into the Union:

New Mexico Added to Union of States

(Associated Press by Leased Wire.)

Washington, Jan. 6.—New Mexico, the forty-seventh state to enter the Union, ceased to be a territory at 1:35 today, when President Taft signed the proclamation of statehood.

Four members of the president’s cabinet, the two congressmen-elect from New Mexico, a dozen prominent citizens from the new state, several White House employees and three photographers witnessed the ceremony, which took place in the president’s private office. The proclamation was signed in duplicate, one to be preserved in the records of the government, the other to go to the New Mexico Historical Society.

Governor-elect W. C. McDonald, Democrat, who is to pilot the new state on its start, owes his election partly to his personal popularity and partly to factional fights among the Republicans. The Legislature will be Republican.

This article, printed by the Gazette-Telegraph (Colorado Springs, Colorado) on Jan. 6, 1912, explains the complication of the lawsuit:

New Mexico Statehood Delayed by Litigation

Washington, Jan. 5.—Statehood for New Mexico is being held up temporarily by a federal suit against a lumber company.

At the request of the Department of Justice President Taft today postponed the issuance of the proclamation pending the determination of the status of the litigation under the changed conditions. This is not expected to require more than a day or two. The government is endeavoring to recover lands in New Mexico alleged to have been acquired unlawfully by the Alamo Gordo Lumber company.

The United States Court for the Sixth District had sustained a demurrer to the government’s bill in this action. The Department of Justice is seeking by telegraph to place the case in such condition that it will not be affected by the statehood enabling act.

One of the local papers could not help poking fun at the state’s wary citizens, assuring them it was real this time and they could actually believe it, in this notice printed by the Albuquerque Morning Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico) on Jan. 6, 1912:

The ebullient statehood enthusiasm which we urged should be brought out yesterday may now be replaced until further notice. Providence, after all, did interpose. When the proclamation arrives in New Mexico and the signature of the president has been verified by eye witnesses, the people of the state will then be in a position to admit, with a number of mental reservations, that it looks as if probably, statehood has arrived.

According to one local columnist, “ebullient statehood enthusiasm” was not going to be a problem; this column was printed by the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico) on Jan. 7, 1912:

Now for the Greatest Inauguration in the History of New Mexico

By Coral Clyes

President Taft did it! Great bodies move slowly, you know. Wonder will the style of presidents change in 1912?

It isn’t likely. Embonpoint retains its popularity and unless some presidential possibility tends toward the severity of the straight front, we shall continue right on having fat presidents.

Who said, “nobody loves a fat man?”

But this is digression. To return, President Taft signed the proclamation and the date of the first state inauguration is officially set for January 15.

The controversial imbroglio—the more recent developments were but the tardy going off of petards after the real fireworks were over—is ended.

We women failed to find good and sufficient reason for the long delay. The female species are given to fits of imperviousness, you know, when the things done by officialdom seem unduly perhaps nonsensical.

The women folk were most concerned about the gowns for the inauguration which had been “builded” for inaugural ceremonies January 1, and which might in the kaleidoscopic changes of fashion get out of style before the big doings. But all’s swell that ends well.

January 15, only one week from tomorrow, is an excellent date. (The committee will, no doubt, feel greatly relieved at this expressed approval.)

It’s up to us to show the interested U.S.A. that New Mexico is undeserving of the famous and resented epithet “Wild and Woolly.” This inauguration is going to make the effete East sit up and take notice, I wager.

That it will be something extremely out of the ordinary is evidenced by the lavish preparations which will be on with a whoop and a rush now that the date is set.

The decorations alone make one shudder to think of the bills, and the gowns may have a like effect upon masculine purchasers. It’s almost certain that there will be more beautiful costumes than I can describe in a year.

’Tis to be a great event—this first state inauguration. No expense is being spared and if…flowers by the thousands, lively women and dry champagne go to make a brilliant inaugural, success is assured.

And of course, everybody will be full—of enthusiasm, I mean—thrilled with the vast significance of the occasion and proud to honor Governor McDonald and his wife.

Visitors will be attracted to the historic capital by the hundreds, from every part of the state and from various portions of the United States. Crowded and gaily decorated, the Ancient City will be a right good place to be, for those who love excitement. There will be something doing every minute, from the time the ceremonies start in the morning, till the sumptuous ball ends in the wee small hours of the morning after.

It will be impossible to enumerate one-half of the elegant tribe who are acting on the committees: decoration, reception, and so on. Suffice it to say, that the elite of New Mexico will make fashionable background and that everybody’s going who can figure out the wherewithal.

For more information, visit the official New Mexico website.