The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-02
WHAT CHANGED THIN
0kIahomans Have Faced
About on Statehood.
B. F. BARNES EXPLAINS
Tells of the Unanimity Among
the People.

"a wonderful change" is what B. F.
Barnes Of Ponca City. o. T., says has
come over the sentiments of the people
of Oklahoma on the statehood question
Mr.. Barnes, who was in Wichita yester-
day, said to a reporter for the Eagle:
The sentiment for immediate statehood
is practically unanimous in Oklahoma
When you reflect that a year ago-yes,
six months ago. sentiment was greatly
divided on this question. the suddenness
of the change is remarkable. What
brought it about was the passage of the
free homes bill. The hOmesteader, before
that bill passed, had mortgage on his
farm Taxes were high and with the
prospect Of. no decrease. His mind was
completely occupied with meeting the
trials and ba% ms Of a pioneer expert
ence As an We who has gone through
that experience knows, these are consld-
cradle, and occupy any individual a good
part OF the time. The homesteader felt
that his first concern was 10 lift the viz
tuaI mortgage which the government held
over him. To do this he directed his I'M
divided attention in that direction. Then
the free homes bill passed. Within a
week the sentiment on statehood which.
had been one Of indifference, changed to
affirmation and advocacy Of the statehood
plan. The mortgage had faded away
The struggle had been Hghtened. The
Oklahoma homesteader felt room In his
mind for other aspirations And the first
thing, the first desire he entertained,
was 20 regain that which he had lost
when he moved into a territory from q
state-namely, all the privileges Of an
American citizen. including vote for
the president and vice president Of the
United States participation in the selec
ton Of congress, and a voice IN the Sc
lection Of his immediate officials, es gov
ernor, and 50 forth This he had hsd be-
fore. ana now, when he saw the road
smoothing out before him, he felt the
need OF It again. Statehood would bring
this to him, and for statehood he took
his stand. No agitation accomplished
this change. l. was simply a process
working in individuals. which has made
them eli think alike"
you ask me what kind Of statehood
Oklahoma wants. There IS only one kind
Of immediate Stateho0d-that provided for
in the Flynn bill. II a man advocates
any other kind he does not want immedi-
ate statehood. The Flynn bnl now before
congress- provides for the Immediate ad-
mission Of Oklahoma SIS a state part
or parts or all Of Indian Territory 10 be
4
parts TO be added as they become ready.
Indian Territory Is made up Of nations
mostly unallotesi and not taxable and the
admission az Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory together now would be burden
some on Oklahoma. But it is not pos /
sible. II the two together are to be ad- /
mitted a one state complete Il will be /
ten years before It is done. But if Okla |
homa is admitted now the other parts of /
Indian Territory can be added piecemeal. (
This can begin right away, as the Qua /
paw agency reservation is now organized |
and could be attached to Oklahoma as I
county. The question Of taxation no long
er withholds Oklahoma from the advo- /
cacy of statehood. The proving-up Of /
claims VIII reduce the rate Of taxation /
away down, and that burden will 80.
"Ot course, we want in the ord one /
state Of Indian Territory and Oklahoma, /
a state in size commemorate wirl her
reigh5ors. But in Oklahoma we are
ready for il now, and We want admission
with additions from Indian Territory as
the years roll by"
Mr. Barnes thought that the Democrats
did not expect to elect thelr nominee for
congress. Their fight" he said, Is to
stand next the throne. Much as they are
mis- aiken, there are Democrats in Okla
homa who think that Bryan viii be elect
ed. The Democratic nominee for. congress
IN that case, even in defeat would.bave
n voice in the distribution Of the federal
patronage. a c1rSAlerabis item in 4 terri
tory. No one who understands the sjtua-
ton can argue out or be convInced Of
the likelihood Of Fiynn's defeat It IS
not possible ana the only thing vhich
concerns the Republicans Il the size Of
the majority. They want it biR-blgzer