The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-12-09

better that the matter be dropped
where it is II we can't 10 before con-
gress seuaibly and ask for statehood,
we should at least save the territory
from such another Disgrace as the last
convention.
"i have read with interest an inter-
view in The Leader with my friend d.
c. Lewis, OF Oklahoma Oity. That
gentleman draws a magnificent con.
clus.Ju from premises which are en-
tirely assumed He evidently imag-
ines that the proposed convention is 20
be called for the purpose Of determia-
ing boundary liues. ar that IL is a
movement for double statehood, and
upon this mistaken hypothesis he
argues at length for single state
While ! believe that geographical and
other conditions point inevitably to
single statehood, / also believe that
congress is able to cope with even such
an important question without the
valuable assistance OF Mr.. Lewis aud
myself Outside OF it's prematurity
| the prime pol fault have TO find with
his Illumination is its exaggerated be-
| littling Of Oklahoma's resources. He
pretends TO be in favor OF single state
hood, and yet he adds fuel to the In
| oian territory opposition by arguing
! for them that they have nothing to
gain by joining themselves TO okla
homa. the home OF hot winds and the
birthplace of sand storms His Argu.
ments amount to an appeal to the In
dian territory to allow us TO become
their Sahara, with the inducement Of
fered OF furnishing our own sand
This does not have the appearance OF
] 1. ~. -.
IL rather looks like an endeavor TO
perpetuate a territorial government, t,
and FOR years TO come TO compel our
people to submit to the un-AmericRn
process OF taxation without represeu
tatiou.
II purpose 20 defend Oklahoms
from the attacks OF traducers who
publish TO the world that it is the
cradle OF calamity and the home OF de.
spair. I his year Oklahoma produced
more wheat and cotton and turned of
more cattle, from their respective sec
tions, than any other equal areas on
the face OF the globe II there are
failures in oklahoma, so there are ir
| Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and other
states. Some counties, even in west
ern Oklahoma, have never suffered 9
crop failure, while Kay county alone
has produced enough wheat this yeAl
to FURNISH the Indian territory with
bread With our resources | am opposed
to playing with the role OF Lazarus al
the Indian gate. am opposed TO the
proposition Of Oklahoma enactlng the
part OF mendicant, begging for an
nexation TO the Indian territory "a an
act Of charity. II we meet Ia a single
state, we will meet as equals; and the
area, population and industry that oui
territory furnishes will prove an eter
nal monument of contradiction to the
slander OF its traducer
THE question is not upon boundary
lines. 1t is whether our people have q
desire to be liberated from dis
franchised political impotency ano
placed upon the proud pedestal oil
American citizenship. When we can
meet in convention that has no am.
bition TO assume congressional prerog
Atives and enter concerted plea for
statehood, then congress will realize
that we are intelligent enough ia
govern state and will fix our bound
aries in accord with reason. | am in
favor OF such convention. But IL il
is TO be a Babel OF contention bound
airy line agitators, it had better never
be called | have no desire to bring
discredit upon myself and dlscredii
upon the territory by encouraging
such farcical proceeding"