The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-12
FIGHTERS FOR
INDEPENDENCE
OF |. TERRITORY
Double Statehood Convention
Lay Broad Foundation
AGAINST OKLAH0MA'S PLOT
Resolutions Setting Forth
lerritory'S Rights Adopted.

Auscogee. I T.. Dec. 1.-THE anti-siugle
statehood convention held here yesterday
was not decided success, if the number
present counts for much. Notwithstand-
ing the small number of delegates, the
basis of the anti-single statehood fight
was laid. and many enthusiastic and ear
nest speeches made. Cooperation with
the FIVE civilized tribes was recommended,
and the principal chiefs wiz be consulted
on the matter.
A preliminary meeting was held in the
forenoon. at which c. A. Skeen of Wa
pauncha. contractor for the national
Chickasaw schools. presided. and Sam
Grayson. Creek citizen. of Eufaula was
secretary. These committees were ap-
pointed:
Credentials-H. T. Estes and NJ l..
Bragdon, Muskogee; ]. S. Holden, Fort
Gibson; W. D. ShalIenberger, Muldrow.
Organization-D. ". Yancy and ". c.
Jackson, Muskogee; ]. j. Morrow. Che
cotah; DR.. ". L. Crowder, Canadian.
Resolutions-D. NJ Haley, HalIeyville;
]. W. Wade. South BIcAlester, jas. Hol-
den, Fort Gibson; r. L. owen. Bep Har-
rison and J. NJ. Shackleford. Muskogee
The meeting was called to order at $780,
by c. A. Skeen. The committee on ere
dentials reported that there were present
46 delegates, from these towns:
Chetocah. 8; Webbers Falls. /; Faim, /;
Muldrow. l; Eufalfa. 3; Fort Gibson, s.;
Halleyvllle, ?: South McAlester, ?; 8Iusko-
gee, 10; Durant, Il; Talala, l; Canadian, 3;
Maple, !; Newberg, 1: Wyback. /; Antlers.
1: Waupauncka. /; Nelson, /; Fairland, l.
The permanent officers were announced
as follows:
Chairman, Major w. C. D. Hines OF
South AIcAlester; vice chairmen, D. H. c.
Nash of Antlers; Jesse Watts of Sallisaw;
". D. Shallenberger of Muldrow; w L.
Poole of Durant; B. F. Harrison Of New
berg; John O'Toole of Canadian; p. S. Da-
wilson of TalaIa. Secretary, Dr. Claude
A. Thompson of Muskogee; assistant
secretary, B. Herstein of Canadian.
After the installation of officers. James
NJ. ShackleforG of Muskogee, ex-United
States judge, delivered the address Of
welcome. He spoke in emphatic terms
against single statehood, declaring that
the Indian Territory was not ready for
statehood, and that when IT was it want
ed it alone. Captain J. S. Holden, the
veteran editor, Of Fort Gibson, responded.
IN the general discussion Robert L.
Owen was the first speaker. Mr.. owen is
a Cherokee citizen. wen known in Wash
ington, and a prime mover in the call of
this convention. He called attention to
the bills for statehood. The first was in
troduced in 1899, and took in all OF the
Indian Territory with Oklahoma. This
bill, he said. was abandoned and a mors
artful one framed, which provides for an
enabling act for Oklahoma to enter the
Union and then annex the Indian Terri
tory, either piecemeal or otherwise, by a
congressional act after the land questions
are settled. He quoted Editor r. A. White
as saying Oklahoma is opposed to single
statehood. He said that the Oklahomans
had left Just two public Institutions for
the Indian Territory-the insane asylum
and penitentiary.
Delegate Dennis Flynn's political life.
he declared, depended on the admission of
Oklahoma with the Indian Territory at
said Mr.. Owen.
He then read the census figures for diff
ferent states when admitted. Delaware
had 5000, New York, $4,000; Georgia, 81
00o. Virginia was the only one OF the 13
original states which had more people
when admitted than Indian Territory has
now. The territory's Inhabitants are
placed at about 500,000. Its land area is
about SzI,0o0 square miles, and many
states have less. He attacked the argu-
ment OF the single staters that Okaho-
mas school fund would help the Indian
Territory, and stated that the income
from school lands was insufficient and an
extra tax had been imposed. He also
referred to the taxes there, which he said
were exceedingly heavy. and that the
Indian Territory was not able TO bear