The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-21
TIE GUTHRIE CONVENTION.

The strip convention at Guthrie,
judged by the published report of It's
proceeding and the verbal statements of
those who were present at the conven-
ton, was a very successful affair, IN
point of numbers. the extent Of terri
tory represented, the degree of interest
manifested and work done as far as it
pertained to the object for which the
meeting was called, that Of securing the
opening at the earli5t moment possible
of the Indian lands that have been treat
ed for. To that extent the convention
did well: the resolutions thereon though
brief are pointed and seem TO be all that
is required or necessary. The EAGLE
cannot refrain from expressing the con-
viction, however, that the additional
action Of the convention in demanding
statehood for the territory IN
that immediate connection will have
the effect to retard, rather
than facilitate the opening of the lands
in question to settlement, especially the
Cherokee strip, for the very apparent
reason that the statehood question is
political one, while that Of opening the
lands to settlement is not, but one of
business, pure and simple, and one in
which the states contiguous to and with
in easy reach OF the lands are as much
interested as Oklahoma.
The EAGLE takes the position that the
question Of statehood was not proper
one TO be considered by the Guthrie con-
vention, for the reason that that is
local question, Of direct interest only to
the people Of the territory TO be en-
braced. The convention being called
for another purpose, and being com
posed very largely OF non-residents of
the territory, citizens OF other states, for
it to resolve in favor Of statehood was
clearly an interference in local affairs
and unwarranted either by the circum-
stances under which it was being held or
the best interests Of either question in
volved.
a convention was held in Guthrie not
long since in the interest of statehood.
The different portions of the territory
were represented, and the action Of that
body in urging congress to enable the
territory 10 become state was perfectly
competent, and received the sympathy
and Endorsement of all, because there is !
a general Willingness if not positive
desire for the territory to become 4 state. |
The resolutions introduced in the con-
rention of last Wednesday urging the /
statehood question upon congress was |
by territorial delegates, and |
their purpose no doubt was praiseworthy, |
and while no one will accuse them Of |
wantonly compromising the convention |
before the country by thus committing !
it to said foreign subject to the original |
purpose of the meeting, yet that is the
logical effect Of the action referred to.
We understand that the delegates from |
Kansas held a conference prior
to the assembling Of the convention at
which it was agreed that it would be inn
proper for the convention to take any !
other action than that pertaining to the |
opening Of the treaty lands toSettlement,
and the reason why no objection was
made to the statehood resolutions was,
the territory people asked for their adop
ton and the others did not wish to APP
pear as an;agonistic to the proposition,
which they were not, in fact.
As the EAGLE has before stated, the
opening of the Indian lands to settle
ment will not be facilitated by pressing
the statehood question, precedent or in
that connection, but may be Eindered
thereby (the EAGLE trusts that such will
not be the case; While statehood would
be aided incidentally by the opening of
the lands.