The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-03
People in Both Territories Are
Badly Divided.
HOT SHOTS BOTH WAYS
From Citizens Who Want the
Territories 10 Keep Apart.

ing appears so certain as a condition Of
! absolutely complete confusion in sentiment
in the matter Of double or single state
hood.
In the Indian territory what sentiment
is not largely lethargic, is hopelessly d.
vided. and If it were possible TO take a
vote on the matter the people there who
are opposed to any coalition with Oklaho-
ma would be found TO be in a majority.
although it is conceded that the leaders in
public affairs, the politicians, VIII domin-
ate the Muskogee convention and pass
resolutions in favor of single statehood.
! They could not however carry their own
nations on the proposition.
In Oklahoma the sentiment against
| statehood with Indian territory is I'M
doubtedly growing, and whereas formerly
that sentiment was meager, it would
probably be found today to be Of sufficient
strength to vote down the single state
hooders.
An instance Of the growing sentiment
for statehood for Oklahoma is furnished
/ by the Kingfisher Free Press which inter-
! viewed farmers at random on the street
! Thirty of those interviewed were for
single statehood; thirty-four Of them were
positively for statehood Tor Oklahoma
alone
F. T. Cook, a leading Republican OF the
territory takes this stand Several of the
! Indian territory papers and the eastern
! Oklahoma papers are making a strong
/ fight for what they are pleased to call
single statehood" The facts are there
/ is but one kind of statehood for US, and
that is statehood for Oklahoma as she
now stands. There is no more sense in
! the idea of a united statehood for these
two territories than there is of one state
! of Arizona and New Mexico. Oklahoma
/ is as distinct from the Indian Territory as
/ New York IS from Texas. The Indian
+ Territory with no public schools, no roads
/ or bridges. no public buildings, no real
/ estate upon which TO pay taxes to be
placed upon equal footing with Oklahoma.
which has all this, is absurd We now
/ have more wealth than several Of the old
I states. and more population than many.
/ Give US statehood and let the Indian Ter
ritory take care of herself
/ over in the Indian territory the men
/ who oppose union with Oklahoma are
/ equally set in their opinions. Robert Z.
/ owen. an Indian citizen in an open letter,
says:
/ In my opinion nine-tenths Of the In
/ dian territory people and taxpayers are
/ opposed to giving Oklahoma power to
( tax us. and the other tenth would be in
/ fun harmony when it was too late to
+ abate the disastrous grievance. The past
+ is the only way in which to judge the
! future, and I well remember the Chero-
( KEGS. who received allotments in the
! Cherokee outlet in Oklahoma, whose al
/ lotment was taxed beyond the productive
value of the land and thus rendered val
/ ueless. Let John W. Morgan and his
family tell the sorrowful story.
The only plan OF union OF Indian terri
tory and Oklahoma that has ghost of a
show for adoption is the one mentioned
by Hon. Thomas Bixby. Annexation as
the nation gets ready for it..
I'm other words the Oklahoma state
craft viii hold a constitutional conven-
ton and establish an organic law suitable
TO its own plans and its own ambitions.
its own selfish interests and purposes,
not to say the private schemes Of politi-
clans trained by expert practice in the
art that viii give Indian territory and its
people what the Oklahoma people call
the worst of it.. In the establishment
of this constitution and its organic law.
the PEOPLE of the Indian territory viii
not be permitted TO open their mouths
When the traps are all laid and in order
the annexation win come as the nation
gets ready for it.
II have some comprehension Of the mo-
tive of the Oklahoma craft and see sport
in this ambitious game. but no thought
full citizen Of the Indian territory should
give support to the scheme.
''The Indian territory has a territory
much larger than, many OF the admitted
states 1t will be state about the size
OF Indiana, state that holds a disting-
uished place in the union. 1t has a popu-
lation greater than dozen Of the admit +.
ted states. and in five years VIII rank
over twenty of the states in population. 1t
has magnificent coal. great gas. oil and
mineral prospects. rs well as superb agri- +
cultural areas and fine timber and build
ms material Of granite. marbll and stone. f
il is capable Of entering Immediately into
q high position as one OF the states and .
VIII do as soon as the land titles are set (
tied. which VIII be a year or two longer. f
Untl that time we had better bear the .
taxes that we have than TO rs to those We
want rot.
'"rhe single statehood movement IS I'm F
my opinion. q plan 20 make Indian terri .
and thus IN persuade the committees ~ .
congress that the people of the Indian
territory desire the passage Of the Flynn
bll AS the Indian territory people are
not invited To participate lin This conven-
ton and their views are rot desired hr.t
Culv chose persons ~ favor az union with
Oklahoma invited. No resolution passed
on November "a az 5Iuscas-e hy this pro-
posed pretended convention can De con-
structed Is committing Indian territory
70 the approval OF the Flynn bill
"ThA facr that none who oppose single .
statehood are invited 70 the already cut
and dried statehood convention IS a r2lna-
ablbe acknowledsement that the venerable .
Statesmen Hocker and Castle knew thst
fair convention in the Indian terriror-
would r. strongly against the scheme 90
let Oklahoma tax her people ard d1uir-
ate the laws ~ life I'm our country
ITO use the Single Statehood convention
resolutions of NaTeHlber 4 rozL as
voice 81 TIE Indian territory weuld p
fraud and Il VIII not be permitted
swlNDLiNe ~ REIMBURSEMENT.
Sharp Practice is Being Played On
Innocents in New Lard.
Guthrie o. IT, Nar. --Tae - Reno
Beu savs
Several soed uature3 Fl Rsuo Specs
iatars have been sHtndled rtry neatly
OK Homestead rrt-lr- .r who amer .tt-