This ambition [to become a state] did not, however, attract the attention of Congress until January 2, 1889, when Hon. Wm. M. Springer of Illinois introduced in the House of Representatives a bill (H. R. 11916) "to enable the people of Arizona and Idaho to form constitutions and State governments." The bill was referred to the Committee on Territories, but was not reported back.

• The Fifteenth Territorial Legislature passed a bill, approved March 21, 1889, providing for the "holding of a convention for the purpose of framing a State constitution." An election was to have been held November 5, 1889, and there were to be forty-two delegates. They were to receive $5 per day each, but "shall receive pay for no more than thirty days." The delegates were to have assembled at Phoenix on the first Tuesday of January, 1890. Governor Meyer C. Zulick, who was an ardent champion of Statehood, approved the bill indeed he had much to do with its passage. But on April 9 nineteen days after approval of the bill Lewis Wolfley succeeded Governor Zulick, and the election which the law provided the Governor should call was never called. See also: "Territorial Governor Conrad Zulick Had His Share of Trouble," by Richard Gorby (Sharlot Hall Museum)