, 1890-01-05
OBJECTIONS TO WYOMING.

IIONO ~ NJ Oh4-Np
1t is exceedingly pleasant to notice lead
ing Western papers take uD the cause o
Wyoming when it is assailed by Eastern
publications. The only papers that have
yet had anything to say derogatory o
Wyoming are the New York Sun and
Chicago Tribune. An article from the
first named publication was summary
disposed of BY the Denver Republican
ana now the Omaha Bee deals the same
paper some sturdy blows. The Be-
says:
The New York Sun objects to admit
ting Wyoming into the Union at present,
on the ground that it has not sufficient
population, remarkinG that population
is the final test. According to the re
port of the governor of the territory to
the secretary of the interior, the esti-
mated population was between $4,000 and
los. 900. The Sun. taking the total vote
cast at the last election of a delegate. in
round numbers $4,000. computes the
population as between 5000 and $4,000.
The election was in 1883, and the vote
cast was undoubtedly two or three thou
sand short of the actual voting popula-
ton. Making allowances for this, and
assuming a reasonable gain for the terri
ritory in the fourteen months since the
election, it will be an entirely fair esti-
mate to place the present population be-
tween 10000 and 10000.
Is this s a sufficient number to qualify
Wyoming for statehood Perhaps not
under the theory Of the Sun that popu-
lation is the final test, by which it is
presumed to mean that it should be equal
to the present ratio OF representation.
which is a fraction above ISL 900. But
there is no authority in the constitution
for requiring this population as a con-
dition to the admission Of a state, though
it may be within the discretions OF con-
gress to do so. The constitution simply
says that new states may be admitted by
the congress into this union, and with re-
gard to representation that the number
of representatives shall not exceed one for
every thirty thousand, but each state shall
have at least one representative, the
matter Of population necessary to state
hood not being referred to in the consti-
tuition. Nor has it rs a rule been given
consideration in connection with the ad-
mission of states as a final test. The state
of development and the resources. as
means Of supporting a state government
and i%nsurlng the growth of population,
have been chiefly considered with respect
to the admission Of most of the states.
II this wise and Just principle be OBJ
served regarding Wyoming the friends of
the admission of that territory will have
little difficulty in establishing its claim to
be qualified for admission to the union.
The assessed valuation OF property last
year was nearly S35, 900, 900, a real value
Of about 500, OOO, 900. The territory is
known to have almost boundless re-
sources in oil, coal and other minerals,
and 10, 200, 900 acres Of timber, with as
many OF fertile valley lands. In short,
Wyoming, which ii admitted to the
unions would be eighth in size Of all the
states, having an area of nearly one
hundred thousand square miles, is so
far as her material development and re
sources are concerned, abundantly able to
support a state government, and though
her population may not be much more
han the present ratio of representation
it is of a character entirely worthy to b.
entrusted with the responsibilities and OBJ
legations of statehood. There would b,
no danger of retrogression after Wyum
ing was admitted, but on the contrar.
every assurance OF n steady and rapid ad
vance in population aud material devel
opment.