The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-26
Mcwn- e,s' r.nmanis

ME- " a. "'S YUM Nnni -
Immediately upon taking recess sena-
tor Clarke announced that the commit G
had Invited I!essrs McMasters Of okla
homa, and Judge Mem Of Kay county,
to address the delegates.
Mr., McMasters read a carefully pre-
pared paper showing the receipts and ey-
pendtures OF the territory and strongly
champlonod statehood. pointing out the
great reduction in expenses and taxation
by state government. Mr McMasters said
In part:
Believing that have shown the Ira
perious necessity for statehood the only
remaining question is our ability to sus-
tain II. A state government can be car
rled on for 100000 yearly and pay fair
salaries. Illinois ran successfully for n
quarter Of a century. through all the
civil war, under the constitution OF 1873
with S,0OO the highest salary paid. In
Oklahoma as state talent fully able 20
hll any position can be secured for 81 SOD
a year. Such a salary would make no
mi ilionaires but men who desired 20 grow
rich from salary grabbing could emit
CRATE to other territories. home or for
eign.
Oklahoma has an area OF 5000 square
miles and exceeds In its dimensions l3
states OF the Union. IL IS nearly 5000
square miles great In area than Indiana
and is fully the equal Of that state In
fertility. IL produces every agricultural
crop OF the northern states except the
ice harvest and embraces every product
Of the southern states except sugar cane
and rice In 1885 Il ranked as the Q h
commonwealth wheat and the 18th
as cotton producer. Its productive ca
pacities win easily support ard maintain
100000 people and the day for ques-
tion or cavn Of IT'S resources has long
passed the investigation and scrutiny Of
the eastern railroad capitalist and secur-
ed his approval verified by mis- invest
ments
The population OF Oklahoma is assum-
ed at from 100000 10 5000 people AZ
its present rate Of progress Il would num-
Der half a million at the date Of it's ad-
mission, however much that event might
be hurried. AS IL is an essential qu T.
tion in the qualifications for statehood
our ability 20 bear It's expense 10 a mat
ter Of inquiry which must meet an une-
quiyocal answer. The FIRST requisite IS
population and the second sum lent
amount Of ,sxahle property 20 bear the
expense without adling an into'erallc
burden.
II VIII be seen on an inspection OF
the records that Of thirty-one states ad-
mtted into the Union since 1880 foII
states. including oregon. hai less taau
5000 population at date OF admission
elg. states less than 1900 nine less thar
10000. s'x less ihan 10000 and on y thre,
IN excess Of 10000.
The second question Is a. 20 our dnan-
c'al ability % carry a state " th1Ut over
taxing It's population. Our assessed w.
uation IN 1898 was so O)00o0 The addl
tion from patented lands. which 4%lst al
beginning Of the next century n state
hood ls assured so soon. n fact thi'
be patented 70 1900. and from towasftei
win double the va uation OF 1898 by t..4
dale. Railroads already building. new
enterprises being developed - the nor
NAL Increase Of personal property "
swell our assessment 20 $4,000 400 by th'
can scarcely be considered an estimate
as the property reaching that valuau
is practically on the ground ana IN s'glt
Tbs opening Of The Wichita and adJacen
reservations would Increase the abov'
amount. As bearing on this question IN.
following table gives a number Of statei
with their assessed valuation az so latl
a date as isS0i
Vermont. ssss0s 775. Delaware. gss ssll.
eis: Florida ss5ss 2os; N braska. $685. s.
7sz. Arkansas. sss.l0s.s .ss8, Oregon. E26-z.
0si
Al the dsts Of its admission the ss