The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-22
MORE WESTERN STATES.


condition of affairs shaping itself at
the present time in Washington. This
new condition is cryStallized around
the idea that the west is becoming too
powerful in the United States senate
and formidable foe TO the progress
of eastern plans.
The Chicago Times Herald, a paper
that, while denying it, is strongly for
Mckinley and fiercely against Reed,
has the following in dispatch from
Washington:
Speaker Reed is opposed to the admis-
sion at this time Of any new states. He
is using his influence with the committee
on territories to suppress a report in
favor Of the admission of Arizona and
New Mexico. A few weeks ago friends
Of those territories thought they would
have no difficulty in getting enabling acts
through the present session of congress-
Now they are not so sure about it. They
say the speaker has turned against them.
1t is well know that Mr.. Reed views with
alarm and disgust the manner in which
the Republican party has placed itself at
the mercy of the territorial region. The
policy Of admitting as states all the west
ern territories for the purpose of adding
10 Republican strength in congress and
the electoral congress has at last reacted
and became menace 10 he party 1t is
notorious that at the present l1oment the
men from the west completely dominate
the senate. Including the older states of
California, Oregon and Utah, whose two
senators will take their seats within a
few days, no fewer than nine Republican
senators hail from the mountain and coast
region of the United States, or within two
of one-half of the entire Republican mem
bership. If two new states were to be
added to the list, and their representatives
prove TO be Republicans, actually a ma
jority of the Republicans in the senate
would hail from the territorial region.
Speaker Reed thinks this sort of thing
has gone far enough. He looks at the
senate, where there exists now an abso-
lutte blockade of legislation, brought about
by these senators from the far west, and
says enough mischief has been done al
ready. The speaker, like all of the Re-
publicans who are interested in the sue
cess of their party in the coming cam
paign. thinks the senate is now a menace
to Republican prospects. 1t is disgust
ing the country. The people want action
of some sort. They are not wholly sat
listed that what has been proposed would
be efticacious, but they would like TO see
it tried. They blame the senate for its
donothingism, and under the circurn-
stances naturally put the responsibility
upon the Republicans. Mr.. Reed is con-
scious that he did his part well enough. |
No such quick response TO an executive |
appeal was ever seen in this country in |
times Of peace as that which the house
under Reeds leadership gave to the presi- |
Dental demand for remedial legislation. |
That was good politics from the Repub- /
lican point of view, but the measly SEN
ate has spoiled the whale game. Dash /
the senate"' says Mr.. Keed.''
1t is encouraging to know that Reeds |
luminosity to new western states does |
not extend to Oklahoma That Ii does |
not is an assured fact. Oklahoma is |
better prepared for statehood than /
either Arizona or New Mexico Speak
err Reed has rewarded Dennis Flynn re-
peatedly in committee appointments
while he has taken no particular no
tice of the delegates from the other
territories. From this and other
sources it is known that the chance
for an enabling act for Oklahoma in
this year is excellent But
even if Oklahoma should not get it
and should have TO wait several years
yet. no eastern man, be his name Tom
Reed or whamot, can afford to frown
ON western statehood because at may
either Il financial or
tariff views held and exploited by
eastern states.