, 1890-01-26
HELP NEEDED.
Wyoming's Chances Being
Weighed IN the Balance.
Ex-Governor Baxter at Work
in Washington.
he Takes a Rather Hopeful
View of the Situation

~ DlItel, ~ II
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Wyoming's
chances for early admission into the union
are not the brightest imaginable and
there Is no use d%iscounting the fact
that the friends OF the territory are Just
a little bit inclined to be Respondent. Ii
is a peculiar position in which she stands,
She has no opponents and no one
questions her right to immediate recogni-
tioh, and yet the gravest doubt exists as
to the final outcome Of the struggle
Chairman Plat, of the senate committee
on territories. reported the Wyoming bill
with slight amendments on Monday last
and maintains the utmost confidence that
it will pass the upper branch of congress
early iu the session, but apprehends no
inconsiderable delay when it reaches the
house.
Ex-Governor George w. Baxter, of
Cheyenne, Wyo., arrived in Washington
early this week and has been sizing up
the situation. He has a large acQuaint
ance among the members of congress,
and enjoys their fullest confidence and
respect. He received a request TO ad
dress the house committee on territories
at a meeting on Wednesday, but owing
to the prolonged discussion over the
Oklahoma bill the meeting was postponed
and MIR. Baxter left to day Tor New York.
He expects to return before the next
meeting. however. and continue his good
work. A LEADER reporter called upon
MIR. Baxter at his headquarters at the
Arlington hotel aud ascertained his view
of tae situation.
The little work that | have been
able to do during the brief time | have
have been here, said the ex-governor,
has been almost exclusively among my
Democratic friends. | nave had a thor
ough talk with Senators Harris and Bate
and find them ready to do all in their
power to advance Wyoming's interests.
Senator Harris tells me that rather IN
fortunately for us the Idaho admission
bill which is the same as ours, by some
very e~xasperating blunder, was intro
duced first and has precedence on
the calendar. Action in the Idaho bill is
retarded apparently awaiting until the
supreme court has passed on the test
oath clause in the constitution adopted
last fall by that territory. This may de-
lay our bill some little time. but | have
no reason to think it will not pass early
this year.
In the house, among others, I have
talked with Mcmillan, Bland. Mansur
and Washington. the latter of the com-
mittee on territories, and | cannot ray
they take a very encouraging view of the
situation. They assure me that they
look with the utmost favor upon Wyo-
ming, but seriously question whether any
territories will be admitted this year. The
special danger lies in being tied up with
the other territories. A determined fight
will be made on Idaho and New Mexico
by some, white Others will oppose the
admission of Wyoming unless the bars
are thrown down and all allowed to enter.
This | understand is the position of Mr..
Springer, although l have had no talk
with him on the subject as yet.
II had a long talk with Senator Brice,
the new Ohio senator while in New York
the other day and he seemed to take
great interest in our statehood matter and
is outspoken in his opinion as to the policy
Of the Democratic members of congress.
He assures me that he will urge upon his
friends the necessity and justice of Wy
oming's claims. AS chairman of the ma
tional Democratic committee and senator
elect from the great stale of Ohio his
word will nave great weight. :
"Of course | realize continued Gov
ernor Baxter, what a difficult matter it
is for our Dem lcratic members OF con
gress, with the interest of the great
Democratic party at heart. to sit calmly
down, while their opponents open the
gates 10 territories represented by Repub-
llcan delegates, and see the cruel bolts
close right in the face of those whose
standard is borne by the party of p
site complexion. | can see that it is a
question in their minds whether or not, it
Is sounding the death kncll of the Demo-
cratic territories, by admitting those
claimed by their opponents. My efforts
nave been largely in the direction OF con.
vlnclng them that Wyoming is by no
means n Republican certainty.
1he necessity for united action on the
part OF the Individual citizens of both
parties, resumed Mr.. Baxter. ''sbould
be made known. l think 1t will he nro.
ductlve OF great good if everyone having
acquaintance with members of Congress
however slight, will write them urains
strongly the necessity of statehood. and
bring all the pressure possible IN boar
upon members of the lower branch of
congress. OF the senate [ have no faor
blt some very hard and effective worL
must be done in the other body. and de
Ly is dangerous l would strongly urge
10Th Democrats and Republicans IN
place themselves in communication with
congressman at their earliest convenience"
JAMES 9. MOODY.
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