The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-03
It CAN GET IN NOW
Dennis Flynn Says Oklahoma
Can Become a State.
CONGRESS Is WILLING
No Question in His Mind
About the Matter.

you can give It as ny opinion" said
Dennis Flynn last evening TO a reporter
for the Eagle. that f the present Iegis-
lature Of Oklahoma passes the statehood
iii. Oklahoma viii be admitted as a state
in the near future. Congress vii admit
the territory Il il knocks for admission
this year"
pAre you aware that the admission Of
Oklahoma would cancel your present Pc
s-tion?"
Yes: I have thought OF that" said the
delegate from Oklahoma That place
would go glvnmering # Oklahoma should
become a state"
This utterance from the popular Okla
homan Is one Of the most significant re-
lating 10 Oklahoma given in many months
DELEGATE Flynn does not become delegate
until tomorrow. but he has been down IN
washington working for his constituency
n the departments. While in Washington
he has had special eye 10 discovering
what the sentiment Of congress would De
as to the admission OF Oklahoma as
state, and his utterance % the reporter IS
evidence that he has found that congress
IS willing 70 admit Oklahoma as state
IN this connection i IS significant also
that congress refused TO ratIfy the Dawes
commission treaty with the Cherokee In
dams because the treaty contained a
clause prohibiting the United States from
including the Cherokee nation IN 2 state
until after the expiration OF eight years.
This means that congress means 70 make
Oklahoma and the Indian Territory one
state, probably adding the nations 70 Okla
bona as they become fl for the duties OF
participating in statehood.
Mr.. Flynn said he found IN Washington
that the old prejudice against Oklahoma
coming in as a state had disappeared.
L may De new 20 readers that thare
are two ways 70 admit states. One IS for
the congress to pass an enabling act and
the state then framing constitution and
coming in. Colorado, Utah and the later
states were admitted n this way. The
other method IS by the territory electing
officers, including senator's and asking
their admission to congress and the sad-
mission Of rhe territory as a state. Mich
igan did this. also Tennessee, Texas, Cal
ifornia, Kansas and other states This
second plan is the one now on tapis in
Oklahoma. Mr.. Ravens. a councillor in
the territorial legislature has introduced
a bill providing for the election Of q con-
stitutional convention in Oklahoma this
year in July, and the election Of q terri
torisI legislature and state officers next
December. The legislature 50 elected
would elect two United States senators
and these would go down 70 Washington
and ask for admission Mr.. Flynn says
they would be admitted
The one barrier IN the way Of this plan
IS Governor Barnes who, IL is said, may
veto the statehood bill Of course that
would put a quietus to the whole matter.
AIr. Flynn said he worked hard 10 get
the Comanche treaty ratified so that the
big Indian country could soon be thrown
open TO settlement. but ne had not been
able TO overcome the ficul-ies-
Mr.. p. ?. Baruer Of Ponca City was n
company with Mr.. Flynn yesterday. He,
too has been in Washington, and ne says
there Is no question in his mind but that
congress will admit Oklahoma as a state
II she asks 10 be admitted.
Mr.. Flynn, the idol of the Oklahoma PEG
pie, IS in the best Of health and says he
IS determined to spend the spring a { home
in Guthrie and put in some trees and have
a garden. He hasn't been IN Guthrie in
the spring tor seven years.
He says one Of the Big topics II CONVEX
sati0n in Washington at this time IS the
Louisiana purchase celebration for s.
Louis in 1903. FIe saws It IS 4 winner and
viii be a marvellous exposition