The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-02
OKLAHOMA
MUST MAKE
IT ALONE
Grimes Says indian Territory
Must Be Left Behind,
DECIDED IN HIS OPINION
"It's Not Right to Make Her
Beast of Burden" F."

Guthrie, o. T, Nov. 1.-William Grimes,
secretary Of Oklahoma and national com
mitteeman, is opposed TO Oklahoma send
ing delegates to the single statehood
convention at Muskogee on November 4
for the reason that he believes that
any effort to secure statehood for Ok
Iahoma with the Indian territory viii
delay the matter until another session of
congress and may possibly defeat such
a measure until many years have passed
away.
Mr. Grimes states that ne has seen
nothing TO indicate that the property
owners In the Indian territory are at
all excited over the situation which ex-
lists there and that the persons who are
clamoring for statehood now are only
few compared with those who viii pay
taxes and support the government. This
minority said 1Ir. Crimes, ''is com
posed of white men ia the various towns
of the Indian territory. The Indian cit
izen, the man who owns the land, is the
one that must be dealt with finally and
until he is ready to give the same sup
port to single government that would
be given by the people Of oklahoma, I
am opposed that he shall participate in
any of the possessions that belong at
the present time exclusively TO the peo-
pie Of Oklahoma"
1T is enough for Oklahoma to support
her own government and people without
assuming the guardianship and support
of the orphans beyond her boundaries.
It is my opinion that Oklahoma should
have immediate statehood, regardless of
the Indian territory. If congress, in
Oklahoma's enabling act, sees fit to say
that the Indian territory should be joined
to Oklahoma. whenever the Indian terri
tory shall advance TO a condition that
would make the union agreea bic from
every point of view 70 the citizens Of
the two territories, I shall make no OBJ
lection. However, shall never be will
ing that the people of the Indian terri
tory shall receive, without compensa-
tion, any Of the revenue derived from
the public lands Of Oklahoma. These
lands belong TO Oklahoma. and as a
matter Of fact should belong t oher for
ever. The argument is used that con-
gress viii adjust all of these matters
satisfactorily, but have the opinion that
the Indian territory would attempt to
take all that she could get and I'm the
end Oklahoma would have to give up
more than her share of the public land
revenues.
Let the Indian territory seek her own
salvation and not make Oklahoma her
beast of burden. Ihis thing of having
the Indian territory on our shoulders
pulling US down and holding us back.
in order that she may be extricated from
difficulties for which we are not now ana
never were responsible. IS unfair, unjust
and intolerable"
Mr. Grimes is Of the opinion that Okla
homa should hold herself aloof from the
Indian territory and take care Of hcr-
self first, and then, II possible. with
out jeopardizing her own interests, give
the Indian territory every. assistance pos
sibIe. Mr.. Grimes has closely studied
the situation and his views on the mat
ter are the result of this study. The
question of the revenues from the public
lands Of Oklahoma has never before en- /
tered into the discussion in regard 10
the statehood alliance with Oklahoma
and the Indian territory It is undoubt-
edly a question which win be a serious
one to settle should Oklahoma become
allied with Indian territory in this state
hood question.