The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-02

4
His idea was that, in general. the three
| most important matters TO come before
! the legislature might well be statehood.
/ public highways and the school bond
| question. Going into specific detail he
was ready to assist in legislation for the
following ends: Increasing criminal mr.
isdietioR of justices Of the peace. doing
away with tax assessors house-to- house
visitation; reducing county officers salar-
les except attorney and commissioner
| provision for protecting school land lease
fund and giving the lessee preference
right when lands are sod. under state
hood by imDlication favoring such sale.
more restriction on liquor traffic in places
too small to maintain police. and many
other minute changes which would &C
cur to the legal practitioner.
Mr.. Wood then proceeded TO argue for
MS kind of single statehood as follows:
The Republican element Of the
legislature will be unanimously in favor
Of single statehood and enough Of the
Republicans Of the legislature entertain
the same view to make q majority, thus
enabling the adoption Of memorial TO
congress accordingly.
The double statehood advocates claim
that the Indian Territory is in such
chaotic condition ana that titles are so
unsettled that the territory is not ready
for change in its form of government,
and that some years would be required
to prepare them for it; in other words,
that the Indian of that territory is in
the way. This is the sheerest bosh. All
that can Zoe said of the intelligence and
capabilities Of the white people of Ok
lahoma can be said Of the same class
in Indian Territory. The census Of 1890
showed Oklahoma TO have a higher de-
gree Of intelligence than thirty-fve states
and territories. and it IS my opinion that
the census Of 1890 will make even a bet
ter showing.
There is no comparison between the
Indians of Indian territory and those of
Oklahoma, for the reason that there is
not blanket Indian in Indian Terri
tory, and that the latter are all that
name implies when we speak of the FIVE
civilized tribes. They are civilized. The
Indians in Oklahoma have gone along
with their tribal relations and attended
to their own affairs while the white peo-
pie have maintained a territorial form Of
government and made the most wonder
full strides in the live of progress ever
known in time given, The territorial
form Of a government was granted to
Oklahoma with a population of 5000
people. If they can maintain such a gov
eminent and within ten years grow To
10000 Of population, why cannot the in
telligent and progressive nOn-eitizen pop
ulation Of about the same maintain a
territorial form Of government. and if the
same savage blanket Indian of Oklahoma
unwilling to accept his allotment. is not
an impeachment, how can the more en-
lightened. civilized, cttizenized Indian of
Indian territory be an impeachment TO
good government in that jurisdiction
Are not $4,000 progressive white people
occupying an area of 81 400 square miles
as much entitled to a stable form Of
government as 39s. 900, occupying an area
of $4,000 square miles. even if the former
have 5000 Indians to the latter's 1000?
There IS but one answer to this, and that
is an affirmative The people Of OKLA
homa are as able to maintain a state
as they are territorial form
of government Every reason why they
are thus able is as applicable to Indian
Territory. The means Of accomplishing
a union Of the two in one glorious state
are within easy reach if the matter is
only properly presented to congress
Regarding these means Mr. Wood went
on to explain, saying:
IT would memorabilia congress to ex-
tend the laws of Oklahoma over Indian /
Territory and to countyize Indian ter
ritory, establishing county seats. This |
done. Indian territory would be a por-
ton Of Oklahoma territory, would at
once find itself in possession Of a corps I
Of territorial officers. at which time the /
governor would appoint a full set Of /
county officers for each county. Em5od- (
led in the same act, or following upon /
It. congress could give to the territory /
an enabling act; a constitutional conven- I
ton could at once be called, with an cleo +
tive representative from the entire ter
ritory. In this manner statehood can be /
quickly and justly"
But how about trSe treaties with the .
Indians Mr. Wood was asked.
THAT is the obstructionist idea, advo-
Gated for the purpose of holding large /
in Indian territory from
which they reap immense gains. but is in
fact, a groundless theory, for the Indian,
as long as he maintains his tribal reia-
tons and holds his lands in common,
would not become citizen of the United
States. but in the abandonment Of his
tribal relations and the acceptance Of his
ands in severalty. which might take
place under a treaty or by his own volt
ton. he would become a citizen, and that
he would do this I make bold to aver.
ct is not right that this handful Of
Indians, adhering TO their old customs
should prevent nearby a half million peo-
pie from enjoying their primary rights Of
American citizenship. There car, oe no
more interference with the treaty rights
d the Indians by giving the non-citizen
element a right TO legislate upon mat
-ers pertaining TO their immediate wants
han there is under the present condi-
ion Of things. where another code Of
avs, not suited to their wants, is Un-
alterably imposed upon them There
ore. IL the gov eminent Of the United
states can thrust out over that territory
he Arkansas code without breach Of
reaty stipulation it can give those peo-
BE the power to enact their necessities
nto laws end yet leave those stipulations
intact
As t. the plan TO admit Oklahoma and