The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-12-09
ON STATEHOOD.
Opinions Of Two Populists and Re
publican.

L II. Laverty, chairman of the Popu-
list territorial central committee,
wants statehood rs soou as it can be
obtained. He said
There are strong arguments not
only why we are prepared for it, but
why we should have 1t at the earliest
possible date. Since the meeting Of
the chairmen OF the different political
parties at Kingfsher / have consulted
many leading representatives Of my
party and found that they were favor
ably inclined toward statehood The
understanding among the chairmen at
RingGsher was that we should take
time for consulting with our people,
and that ubout the middle Of Decem-
Der another meeting should be held at
Oklahoma City to compare notes and
decide whether it was desirable to JOIN
in call for statehood convention.
/ question the necessity for calling
statehood convention, and think that
our people could make known their
TAehIn ~ NhN AhhAhAA lhoN hI k0nNNhA-
emily and with less friction and ex-
pense Icy petition. I doubt also
whether we could get statehood at the
coming session OF congress, but we
may change the complexion Of the
house Ia year from now and then we
will get statehood. Double statehood
would not be advisable. II we could
nts Fd single statehood at once, /
would be in favor OF statehood with
provisions for adding other territory
at subsequent date. There need be
no doubt of our being able 70 sustain
ourselves. l would advocate the re-
duction OF salaries and other terrific
rial expenses. u thing which we could
well afford TO do even now without
damage TO the territory"
William Nj. Jenkins, territorial sec.
retary:
Am l in favor Of statehood? Yes,
most emphatically / am, The people
OF Oklahoma are entitled to all the
| rights ard privileges of American citi.
zeuship Our territory is making rapid
strides towards statehood, Just what
the exterior boundaries will be no one
can now tell. A little time is yet nee
essary TO determine what those boun-
daries should be- Most Oklahomans
would favor uniting the Indian and
Oklahoma territories in one state.
Conditions in the Indian Territory are
changing very rapidly and statehood
Of this character may be nearer than
most of us expect. Anxiety or impa-
tience on our part cannot hasten mat
ters, but, on the contrary may do us
/ tte hid o,tr ffuaa
o. G. Hudson, editor OF the Repre-
sentative, the territorial organ of the
Populist party, Guthrie;
II have urged the agitation Of state
! hood because / believe il is generally
accepted theory that people don't
! usually receive much without asking.
/ We have had several attempts at state
hood conventions in this territory, all
OF which have resulted in the most
convincing argument against IL, be-
cause they have left an impression
! that we are incapable Of self govern
ment They apparently confirmed the
idea which has prevailed in many sec
tions OF the country that Oklahoma Is
Inhabited by long g-horned cattle and
iong.hRir outlaws, and that the bal
ance OF power is held by Smith &
wesson. Our last display OF this kind
WAS pulled of in January, 1896. since
which time the boundary line fanatics
have been storing up gas for an explo-
sion at the next event. / see by The
| Leader that some OF them have been
unable TO wait. The last convention
went off prematurely before the COM
mittee on credentials reported, else
should now be afflicted with the honor
/ OF having been u member.
ut has been my hope that the peo-
Pile of Oklahoma might have a conven-
tion Of sane men, who could urge upon
congress our claims for admission
without fixing the boundary lines, dis
posing Of the Indian question and
relieving congress from other historic
aud constitutional resp possibilities.
The question Of boundaries has been
the disturbing element in every effort
10 bring the matter before congress
and IL Is something In which the peo-
pie have no determinatiye voice. il rs
brought up by politicians for the pur-
pose OF procrastination. II these dis
turbers are to aiiiiet convention il Il