The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-11-27


weeds that OF many Of the states, |
the population and wealth OF tho ter
ritory is greater than that Of many OF
the states at the time Of their admis-
sion, ard her citizenship, composed OF
a large majority OF people whom by
birth. education and raising IN the
states guarantees all the necessary
percpisites for good local govern
menS'
"The governor does not state the
case too strongly. The population OF
Oklahoma at this time is in excess OF
900, 600 This is nearly seven times the
population OF Ohio at the date OF her
admission rs state, and more than
Eve times more than Illinois when ad-
mitted In 1915 In fact, only eight out
Of the thirty.two states that came into
the union since the formation OF the
governu. snt had a population at the
time of admission in excess OF 100, 600.
Missouri had but %, 600, and Arkansas
s2 600 when they we're made states.
The school population OF Oklahoma in
1896 was SO 600 The total population
OF each of twenty territories when ad-
n,tted was less tnAn the number OF
school children now in Oklahoma.
"Nor are we deficient IN taxable
property. Governor Barnes says that
III can safely be stated that the as
sessed valuation should be from sixty
to seventy millions instead OF thirty
two million This, in my judgment,
is conservative estimate, and fur
nishes proof that we are abundsntly
able to assume the responsibilities of
home rule and independent citizen
ship.
"Some well info, med people in and
out of Oklahoma seem TO think that
the creation Of state government
would largely increase the rate OF
taxation. There people have evident
ly not taken the trouole to inform
themselves on the subject or they
would know better. The totsl terri
torial tax for this year is over Sl37, 600.
This is exclusive OF all county, school,
municipal and other local taxes. The
average yearly expenses OF the state
government of Kansas for the first
@ We years OF its existence as a state
was but sloe. 62s, or nearly $40, 900 lest
than the Oklahoma territorial tax foi
1897. More than this, Governor Barnes
report shows that under the loose
methods tolerated by our territorial
system warrants are constantly issued
on the treasury in excess of appropri'
atoms. For instance, the governors
report shows that from November 80,
1896, to June 80, 1897, general fund
warrants amounting to slOS ,7l3 were
issued, and this for period OF only
seven months 1t is shown also by
the same report that on the 30th oi
last June there was q warrant fund IN
debtedness OF si99 92s, which has beer
ground out In some way the people dc
not understand, and has got to be paiC
by taxation. This sort OF extraVsgan
financial management would CEASE
under q state government, and the
wholesome influence of home rule.
I've oaghu 10 he n state so that Ns.i
school lands can be utilized for found
ing permanent school fund ouI
necessities for better government arr
30 great, and our case 80 strong, tha
congress cannot decently refuse tC
pass an enabling act. In all its fea
lures no territory ever presented 81
strong case.
"I certainly hope that the ehairmeI
OF the Republican, Democratic ant
Popuhst territorial committees viii
issue call for statehood non parti
sau convention in which the thre,
parties will be represented IN proper
tion to the vote at the last election
and that such a demand for statehood
will be made as will attract the atten
tion OF the nation, and because OF tn
justice Of the demand will secur
favorable action by congress at th
ensuing session"