The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-22
OkIohama has One Man who Does Not
Want Statehood

OE1Ohama has One Man who Does Not
Want Statehood
A we'll known citizen Of Oklahoma
was in town last night He was at the
Carey and seemed TO be ripe for an IN
terview of Some kind. He was asked
about statehood as that is the most
popular theme in Oklahoma and after
lighting a cigar he said:
NOW, 1 don't want you to use my
name" he began, ''as 1t isn't just the
thing in the territory OF oppose state
hood just now. I expect to be in the
clatter when statehood is granted, and
God knows it wouldn't do TO miss the
big hunters Of pie in sight then, but as
a matter Of fact away down deep in
the minds Of many Of our people state
hood ait this time would be anything
but a blessing.
One firing wf1ich actuates this senti-
ment is the difficulty Of boss rule. OF
course in general way this does not
Amply in the least to administration Of
ficfaIs but IT does apply and very d.
reotly too. to the fellow who assumes
to control his party. Under state
hood, as you fellows in Wichita have
recently learned, the seat of power is
not so distant as to be ont Of reach to
the pie hunters and toadies who climb
into brief control and play hades gen.
really
Now with 1Is the real seat Of power,
as you may term il, Is 50 far distant
that wink and a promise Of support
will not secure a pass privilege except
for t-ie-counting land you know the
walking is not god at any time Of the
year"
"But, now does this affect the mat
ter?"
''WJhy," and cl1oic collection Of ex-
pletives adorned the ambient, don't
you see that It is an easy matter for
one man ito make just as big Show
ing as any other man. and neither be-
ing eirle to deliver the gods the rivalry
ttsef acts as a bar to petty boss rule
$50 YOU think that statehood would
not help matters much?''
'fWe1l. when 1T comes ITO personal
preference my individual interests
would be served better by sta tehood,
as there is no question but we have the
power politically. But statehood a
t11is time would be mighty apt to load
tlle country with some Of the most hair
Drained legislation ever recorded. and
think a good many of our people are
already beginning to view with alarm
the enormous expenditure statehood
would incur and make necessary and
they can't figure out proportfonate bene
fits"
what Is fine feeling as to taking in
the Indian TeTTitory?"
"Tt is growing rapidly. The more II
IS talked over the more advisable II
seems TO include THAT big fertile tract
within the limits OF statehood with Ok
lahoma. The expense OF one state
government would cover everything,
and Oklahoma is rapidly getting into
the idea of saving taxes. The people
there are from many other states and
know what IT means to pay out half
their earnings. In the strip counties
I am told that the taxes are not so
high this year as last, when 1t was
ne-assary to purchase all sorts Of rec
ords and blanks. BUT 1t is high enough
end tf1e growing disposition Is a mighty
favorable Indication for the future"
'Is the immigration keeping up to
any extent 30
eyes. in many localities The coun-
try down about Shawnee and along
the Chootaw seems to be getting the
BIGGEST lot Of the new corners just now.
We need everyone of them, however.
and you may depend upon II, young
man. rrat when Oklahoma does finally
come in whether single or double. IL
wiz knnrk foam off in slIDerh Stvle.''
eyes. the Eagle as in the lead down
there as II reaches all points Of the Ter
ritorv ahead Of any other and Of course
too from the fact that IL Is one Of the
sutcfest papers published anywhere.
BY the way, you might just as we'll
mark me a year ahead on your books
for This last. Talk counts you know
and see You Latter" as ne hurried az
ter an ACQUAINTANCE.