The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-16
congress carrying on their shoulders

MI. D. w. Mc2Sedls Tie sSuAOE ne1uDcI
| OF the executive committee for Oklaho-
ma, has upon several occasions shown a
special ability in putting his ideas on
paper in an effective way. The following
extract from the Oklahoma State Capital
tells great deal in few words:
GAS the time for the Transmississippi
Commercial Congress approaches the in
terest Of Oklahoma in the affair in
creases. ]. W. McNeal, president Of the
Guthrie National bank. is one Of the two
national committeeman for Oklahoma
1.-THE advantages to Oklahoma growing
out Of this congress will be the result of
increasing the amount OF commerce to
southern ports rather than to northern
or eastern ports" said Mr.. McNeal. 1.-The
position Oklahoma occupies gives her i'm
mense advantages by reason of having
strong markets both to the north and
east as well as to the south. Guthrie Is
equally distant from Houston on the
south and Memphis on the east Port Ar
thur, st. Louis and Chicago mark a
wider circle of cities, while Kansas City
is the nearest Of any of the larger cities
and will always be a great market for
live stock
oklahoma is beginning to be appreci-
ated on account of the immense crops
produced during the short time it has
been opened to settlement. The future
will doubtless see one state comprising
the same boundaries as the old Indian
Territory. When that time comes We
have an area twice the size of Ohio or
Indiana We have climate far superior
to either Of those states in point of
health and personal comfort We have
the greatest fruit producing country in
the United States. We have the greatest
grazing country: country that in year
is able to export over 600,o 900 head of cat
tie, 2O,0O0,ooO bushels of wheat and over
100000 bales Of cotton needs markets We
not only need railroad lines to all the
large cities of the United States, but we
want connection by steamship lines to all
the large cities of the world With our
newly added possessions Of Hawaii. Porto
Rico, Philippine Islands and a ship canal
acress the Nicaraguan peninsula the sun
would never set on American ships float
ing under the American flag and carrying
American produce This great basin ly-
Ing IN the heart OF the United States
will produce enough to feed the world.
but We as Americans must control its
traffic. We must own the Nicaragua
canal. We must own the ships that
carry our produce. When this time comes
every American can well feel that he Is
The Child of a King
The meeting Of the Transmississippi
Congress will call attention to all these
facts and stimulate the congress of the
United States to prompt action looking
oward the building of the Nicaragua
canal"
Hon c. M. Barnes, governor of Okla
homa, is giving the congress a great deal
or personal attention. He has led all gov
ernors in naming territorial delegation.
winch will join in the trip to Houston.
In addition, the mayor has called upon
the mayors, business organizations and
county commissioners to name delegates.
and before choosing them to find ont
whether or not they will go. Following
IS the delegation as named by Governor
Barnes: Hons. o. r. Fegan, F. H. Greer.
Frank Dale, Guthrie; ]. B. Charles. Sac
and Fox agency; W. H. Mead, Kingfsh-
er; David Mcpherson, Oklahoma CITY.
G. W. Sutton, Cleveland: Sylvester Sol
DAM, Ponca City, and D. c. Lewis. Okla
homa City.
Hon. Sidney Clarke, a member of the
executive committee, has been an import
ant factor in the work of the Transmits
sissippi congress since its birth In fact,
Mr.. Clarke has taken a personal interest
IN this organization and majority Of
similar bodies. which have had for their
chief object the upbuilding of the west.
In recent interview Mr.. Clarke has
written:
oklahoma has deep interest in the
session OF the Transmississippi congress,
which meets at Houston, Texas, April IT
to ri. From the first settlement of this
territory, our people have looked to the
gulf ports as the natural outlet for the
products Of our farms, and for the i'm
portation of much that we consume. No
where on the American continent and no
where in the world. has there been such
rapid development in all material /
things and in every variety Of human |
as in this territory OF Oklahoma
and all this has been accomplished in the /
short space Of ten years
while all this is unprecedented and
promises to excel the past. We have |
abundant qualifications for statehood and /
we look to the Houston meeting Of the (
states 20 emphasize the
Just demand we are now making OF the 4
congress Of the United States to admit
Us into the union. The Wichita congress
spoke in favor of statehood for Oklaho- /
ma, New Mexico and Arizona I doubt 4
not the session at Houston will do the
same in the most emphatic terms
There is no subject embraced In the /
,all for the April meeting but what Ok
ahoma has an interest, either directly or
Indirectly. The subject Of irrigation, the
Nicaragua canal. the Pacific cable. rail
-oad transportation, exports and imports
through gulf ports, good roads and home
manufactures. are all matters Of vital
Importance 20 thise rapidly growing sec
ion of country. Our wealth is mainly
Produced from the soil Our cotton.
wheat, corn and many other staple pro-
lucs capable OF expectation TO foreign
markets, ought to go TO the guile ports as
he nearest and best outlet. and many Of
,ur chief articles Of importation should
come in from the same direction
at IS true that the TransmississIDpi
congress does not meet TO promulgate
my local interest, but the entire region
: represents is interested in the devel-
.pment Of each one % the states and ter
-itories west Of the Mississippi river and.
fortunately. on account OF geographical
position and relations to the eastern
tates. what IS the interest ot one IS the
interest o. all.
ct Is fortunate. in my Judgment. that
Houston vas selected for the meeting
his year That there viii b = large at