The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-01
Special Dispatch to the Daily Eagle.

Special Dispatch to the Daily Eagle.
PURCELL, l. T., Sept. 30.-Today assem-
bled in Purcell convention OF delegates
from Oklahoma and the Indian Territory
10 discuss the feasibility of statehood.
Two factions had developed, one in favor
Of single and the other of double state
:Iood for Oklahoma and the Indian Terri
tory The faction fayoring single state
hood believed that only by the coming in
of both territories as a state could a
grand self-supporting commonwealth be
built up. This party triumphed in the
convention.
The double statehood faction desired
that what is now Oklahoma shall form
one state.
The convention was called to order at 10
O'Clock a. m. by Hon. Sidney Clarke of
Oklahoma City.
PRAYER was offered by Rev. S. G. Fisher.
w. A. Ledbetter of Ardmore was elected
temporary chairman. He acknowledged
the honor with appropriate remarks. He
advocated single statehood. He stated
that in conversation with members OF con-
gress he found them III favor of one COM
Inonwealth. He took the ground that all
the land in the civilized tribes belonged
In fee simple to the Indians. and that at
the earliest possible moment the citizens
of the tribes by intermarriage should be
made United States citizens. The condi-
tion of affairs brought about by United
States influence was detrimental to the
welfare of the citizens of the tribes. A
halt should be called and a change insti-
tuted. Allotment should precede State
hood
Frank McMasters moved that every
person present be member of the con-
ventiop. Carried.
Mr.. HornbecI1 of the Minco Minstrel
was elected secretary.
The following committee on resolutions
was appointed: Frank McMasters of Okla
homa. w. w. Asher of Pottawatomie. j.
w. Shustel of Logan, Colonel Moore of
Edmund. J. II. MsXey OF Cleveland, j. L.
Sharp of Purcell, j. +. Gillett of Cana
dian, A. c. Krouse of Ardmore. A. j.
Seay of Kingfisher, w. r. Reagan of
Choctaw. Lewis Hornbeck of Minco,
Frank Wilcox of Washita county.
The following were appointed COM
mittee on permanent organization: Colo
mel Samuel Crocker, James +. Humphrey.
III. f. Ball and John Foster. This COM
mittee reported as follows:
President-James L. Humphrey.
Vice president-S. A. Ledbetter.
Secretary-Mort Bixler
Assistant secretary-L. n. Hornbeck.
Mr. Humphrey. in a most happy man
ner, welcomed the convention to Purcell.
Adjourned till ! O'Clock p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session of the convention
was called to order at O'Clock p. m.
The committee on resolutions made the
following report, which was unanimously
adopted
H.
by congress of an enabling act empower
ing constitutional convention to be
called to create state from the present
territory of Oklahoma and the Indian Ter
rtory, as provided in the Harvey bill.
Resolved, That, as state created by
the enabling act herein prayed for would
have within its boundaries over 600, 900 in-
babitants, that il be entitled TO three rep
resentatives in congress, from the separate
congressional districts to be established by
The constitutional convention OF said terri
tory. in accordance with the provision of
the statutes of the United States.
"Whereas, As the portions of Oklahoma
known AS the Wichita, klowa, Comanche
and other reservations nave been treated
for and have been waiting settlement by
the citizens of the United States for two
years or more; and,
Whereas, \ bill is now before congress
offered by the Hou. ID. L. Flynn ratifying
The treaties for the purpose or giving these
lands to civilization; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we ask congress to at
once pass the bill ratifying said treaties
and opening said lands to citizens of the
United States soon as possible.
Whereas, The present system of land
holding in the Indian Territory is unwise
unequal and unjust to the citizens of the
Indian Territory; therefore. be it
Resolved. That the convention favors
y change of the landtenure in the Indian
Territory, and favors Just and an equal
division of the domain of the entire In
dian Territory among the citlzsns OF each
nation respectively.
Resolved That each of the civilized
tribes select one delegate to meet with the
executive committee at Oklahoma City on
Oct 10, for the consideration of matters
pertaining TO statehood.
Resolved, That the secretary be ordered
to have the memorial printed and two
copies sent to the president of the United
States, tive to the secretary of the interior
and one TO each member of congress-.
Resolved, That this convention earn
estly petition President Cleveland and his
cabinet TO use their influence iu behalf of
the cause for the promotion of which we
are here assembled. j. e., statehood at the
earliest possible date for Oklahoma and
the Indian Territory as one state. =
The following memorial, presented by
Il. ". NcAdams, editor OF the Ardmore