The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-03
LEWIS ON STATEHOOD
He Favors Combining Indian
Territory
AND OLD OKLAHOMA
Resolution for Statehood In
troduCed by 7. N. Athen.

Hon. D. C. Lewis Of Oklahoma City,
spoke as follows favoring statehood, but
opposing Statehood for Oklahoma as ROW
bounded:
1t is an easy task TO erect a structure
and name it house and then point to
it as your dwelling or abiding place, but
to erect a structure which would have all
the outward appearance of a well con-
! structed building, building which would
meet in approval the critical eye of the
| wei informed architect, a structure you
1 yourself would be pleased with, a struc-
ture perfectly adapted to household pur-
poses, convenient and possessed of every
essential, symmetrical and perfect as to
display the results of wisdom and the eff
fects of good taste, IS a vastly different
! proposition.
1t Is also an easy matter to stand be-
fore this intelligent body and proclaim
that all our territories are, of right en-
titled TO immediate statehood, and such
statement might meet the apparent APP
! proval Of some on account of their per-
! sonai ambitions or animosities, but to con-
vince the thinking world that the best in
! tsrests of our entire nation callss for the
early admission Of all our territories as
now formed and as now bounded, would
! be a hercUIanean task.
| AS this is a delTberative body, met here
! for an exchange of ideas-to make and to
mold public sentiment, and to cause the
same to be crystallized into law, ask and
| frnplore of you, that SO far at least, as
/ Oklahoma is concerned, you study the
| question carefully, and insist that the
| X-ray of reason be applied before you
| form any conclusions, and then so move
as not to create an unhealthy sentiment
! in favor of a proposition which will be a
curse to rising and future generations in
! Oklahoma.
The boundaries of New Mexico are well
defined and the possibilities of that terri
tory are well known and understood.
Within its mountain sides are known to
be rich deposits of minerals, and to ac-
quire which will require large expenditures
of money and give remunerative employ
ment to thousands. And the soil, where
/ team be covered with water g.ver forth
bounifully. The people have been patient
in waiting, and for the asking, New Mex
leo ought to be admitted into the union
as a sovereign commonwealth, and its
people given the rights of American free
| men.
From what 1 have said, do not think I
came here to plead the cause Of New
Mexico, for I came not for that purpose,
but to plead for another people, anxious
and willing to assume the responsible
ties of statehood, providing they can be
included in a state embracing the proper
boundaries and who do not want state
hood except under such conditions, and I
ask this convention and its members TO
take no steps and do no acts calculated to
crystalline public sentiment in favor Of
the creation of a politicaI structure, I'M
calmly in form, imperfect n its parts, and
lacking the very essential necessary to
| great growth, great wealth and influence,
as a sovereign commonwealth in the coun-
ellis of the nation, and individual prosper
ity for its people.
The word Oklahoma Is easy to speak: II
is musical TO the ear And the lands
Oklahoma, are fair TO look upon-so much
so, that it has been christened 'sThe Lands
of the AFR God" The territory is not,
as come of our eastern brothers would
fain believe the home of whilring sands,
! hot and bhghting winds and the birth
place Of destructive tornadoes. Neither is
it the breeding ground of cut Threats,
black legs and outlaws, not the rendez-
vous for prAOn escapes, but on the con-
trary. is the home of an energetic, active,
patriotic law-abiding, God-fearing peO-
pie, anxious for their conditions TO be i'm
proved and willing and ready, under GER
tain conditions, to assume the response
bilities Of state government but too unset
fish and too devoted to their homes, Their
families, their firesides. to be willing to
fasten undesirable political boundaries
upon future generations, even for per-
sOnal gain or seIf-promotion. We want
statehood, but with proper boundaries.
We want one state created out of Okla
homa and the Indian Territory and moth
ing less. And when so proclaim, voice
the sentiment Of nearly every man,
woman and child living on the farm in
Ol<lahoma-the sentiments Of those who
earn their living in the shops. behind the
counter. at the court room or in the school
house; aye. when say. zone state to be
created out Of Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory" 7 voice the sentiments of all
classes III OhldNOlld. except JlllSe VINO
mix politics for a living and possess no
! visible means OF support; for our people
are DESTROYS. when the state of Oklahoma
is added 70 the sisterh0od Of states It shall
he represented on our emblem of liberty
ny star that all Okahomas can point
70 with pride and proudly say, That :
a star Of the first magnitude, and not a
tw.nkler; that star represents a state with
such natural and hidden wealth that the
eyes Of the speculative world are turned
towards ia state where the homes are
not rendered valueless by excessive taxa
tion. and where the people have something
eFa 10 do than 10 abuse their public ser
wants and n prophesy the early downfall
OF the republic"
Look a. The map for a moment and you
VIII see that ,he present boundaries o.
Oklahoma are unnatural. ard SD crooked
thar it as much as a mans life is worth
10 attempt TO follow them. The eastern
boundary line cf ok hama Is a disgrace
TO the congress that decided IT. ard 10 our
civilization. Nature itself has s3iemn,y
declared against Ok-aboma's present
b7undaries Read her sisn-o7aris: The
rivers in their courses suggest one state.
and the ripping waters IN t1cir onward
course sing the song That IL union there
: strength
Oklahoma. as now bounded. IS essentially
---------.-------
------l