The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-27
"RUSTLINGo FOR OKLAHOMA.
Delegate Flynn Hopes to Make the
Territory a State.

Washington Special in Philadelphia Press
Delegate Dennis T. Flynn, of Oklahoma,
is ''rustler" of the true Western type
Just now he is "rustling'' to make Okla
homa a State, and he has arguments by
the ream to present why that Territory is
entitled to statehood. Among other things
he says that more votes were cast in Okla
homa last year than are cast in such States
as Vermont, Rhode Island. Delaware and
Utah. Its population is largely composed of
progressive agriculturists from the East
and middle West, and the majority of them
are good Republicans
I'VE are expansionists in Oklahoma"
says Mr.. Flynn. "If you don't believe it
want to call your attention to the fact that
John c. Price. who is seeking admission
from Alaska. is an Oklahoma man who
went to Alaska only two years ago. We
are already getting too large for our bor-
ders, and are furnishing statemen for our
unorganized territory. BY the way, Price
says he was duly elected by a good ma
jority in total of over 1900 votes, and
claims that his election proves the title of
Alaska Territory TO an organization and a
seat In Congress. Elections, he maintains,
can be held there at comparatively small
cost, in which he differs from Governor
Brady, who says 1t would cost 100000 to
hold elections in that territory"
AS another illustration of Oklahoma's
growth Mr.. Flynn tells how he called on
the controller of the currency the other
day to makeoapplication for the organize
ton of national bank in a certain town in
the Territory. II cannot find your town on
the map" said Controller Dawes, after ex-
amining one of the latest maps Of the Ter
ritory.
Il am not surprised at that" answered
Mr.. Flynn. THAT map is nearly year old,
and this town has only come into existence
within the last six month. 1t has a bona
fide population of over $500, and / am al
ready interested in a savings bank there"
Should Oklahoma be admitted as a State
and there would be little opposition to such
admission, were 1t not for the fact that
Arizona and New Mexico want statehood
also, Dennis Flynn will in all probability
be one OF the first two senators elected
from 1T. Sitting in the highest legislative
body in the world, he could look back over
varied but eminently successful career.
He began life as bootblack I'm Buffalo, n.
Y, and had the reputation of being a first
class artist with the brush and dauber. His
brightness attracted the attention of Grover
Cleveland, then member Of a Buffalo law
firm, and he was given the position of Of
fee boy with the firm. AT the age of
eighteen he moved to Iowa, was admitted
to the bar and established a newspaper. A
year later he went to Kiowa, Kan, estab-
lished a newspaper and began the practice
of law. He was elected district attorney
and afterward became postmaster. He
moved to Oklahoma in 1885, was made post
master at Guthrie, and then elected dele
gate to the Fifty-third Congress, reelected
to the Fifty-fourth, defeated for the Fifty
fifth, and again elected to the Fifty-sixth
with good prospects of reaching the Senate.
Denny" as he is best known, is q native
of Pennsylvania, having been born at
Fhoenixville, Feb. IL, 1862.