The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-09
OKEAHOMA'S ROW
Statehood Convention Breaks
Up in Disorder.
Sheriff Turns Out the Light and
the Convention.
ACCOMPLISH NAUGHT.
The Meeting is Made Barren OF
Any Good Results
By the Fight Between the Single
Staters and Double Staters.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. Jan. 9.-After
one of the most intensely exciting
conventions ever held in the Territory,
the statehood convention adjourned,
at sis last evening, having accom-
plished nothing. Its closing minutes
were full of understandable confusion,
delegates acting like maniacs, and all
trying to see who could make the most
noise. It was a disgrace to the terri
tory, and is likely to have the effect
of retarding statehood until another
congress at least.
The convention was the largest,
most represen tative and important had
in the Territory, and great good was
expected from its deliberations. Two
factions, almost equal in strength.
struggled for supremacy, one desiring
single statehood and the other favor
ing any sort of relief Congress might
grant. The latter faction captured
the organization by electing I. f.
HenSley, of Ell Reno, chairman, after
a most tumultuous scene, lasting al
most an hour, the enraged delegates
getting on chairs and bowling and
shaking their fists at each other and
at the chairman. Finally quiet was
restored by the chair appointing Dick
Plunkett, a noted pugilist, of Perry,
as sergeant-at-arms, with six assist
ants. Plunkett gave them to under
stand no foolishness would be allowed.
and the convention quieted down.
The delegates which composed the
two great factions in the convention,
the ''single and double staters," spent
the forenoon in separate caucus, each
ton
At 1920 o'clock the delegates fled
into the hall and the leaders of each
faction said there was nothing like
unity of action to be expected on any
proposition. Frank Thompson of
Pawnee county called the convention
to order and it was opened with
prayer by the Rev. MIR. Hawley. I'm
mediately after the prayer for peace
and harmony the fight began. w. T.
Walker of Oklahoma City, ''single
stater," and Frank M. Thompson of
Pawnee county, a double slater"
stood side by side on the edge of the
stage fronting the delegates and each
began to talk.
At once the delegates mounted
chairs, each faction yelling for its
side. Amid the clamor t. T. Hensley,
a double slater" and a Flynn bill
man, was nominated for chairman,
ard, so soon as his name was mem
toned, he jumped to the stage and,
front, began to talk in a fog horn
voice.
For five minutes he talked against
the clamor. Gradually his loud tones
drowned out the noise and one dele
gate after another subsidized and
listened to his speech.
Then the question OF selecting the
committee on credentials arose, The
double staters'' wanted a committee
of FIVE The ''single staters" wanted
a committee of one from each county
delegation. The committee on Gre
dentials was to decide the rights of
the contest1ng delegations to sit in
the convention.
Chairman Hensley declared carried
the motion to appoint five on the COM
mittee on credentials. Those OPP
posed yelled an appeal from the de-
cision of the chair. From o'clock
till 2:3o the delegates, 800 of them,
howled. Then Patrick Maggie of King
fisher, mounted the stage and the del
egates quoted down to listen to him
He pleaded for peace and harmony
and moved that the committee on
credentials be composed of one from
each delegation.
This was carried, and then there
was lively quarrel over the recogni-
ton of the delegates from the Chic5a-
saw nation.
The delegates from the Chickasaw
nation were recognized and the com
mittee en- credentials retired.
The committee on credentials was
to report at o'clock, but when that
hour arrived they were not ready, and
a motion to adjourn sine die was de-
c1ared carried by the chair. Then
pandemonium reigned for half an
hour. and was finally quieted by Sher-
if Deford turning out the lights ana
ordering them out.
Later the champions of single
statehood held caucus and decided
that the adjournment of the state
hood convention was illegal and
supplementary. Their parliament
ary advisers told them that a
convention presided over by tempo
rary organiza ton could not adjourn
sine die.
On the strength of this advice the
single statehoo@delegate will assem-
bic to-day and pass resolution favor
ing single statehood. As many of the
opposing delegates have gone home
ignorant of the plans of the single
statehood men, the latter can convene
in convention and do what they please
with practically no opposition.
Byers Wins the speakershIp.