The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-08-26
SOME NEW STATES IN 1904
Political Aspects Of the
Question of 0kIahOma'S
Admission
IN Assoeia.ed Press.l

Galveston, Tex, Aug 26.--A special
from Washington 70 the News says
Politicians here do not lose sight
of the fact chat one new and import
ant state, possibly four. may figure
prominently I'm the campaign Of 1904
For thls very reason the recent op
ening Of the Wichita and the Kiowa
Comanche and Apache reservations
to settlement has been watched with
no little interest
Oklahoma. the territory which Will
profit by this new citizenship. has for
some time been a candidate for state
hood honols. Bills providing for her
admission were introduced in the
hfty.sixth congress, but like many
other measures of Importance, failed
LOT consideration for lack of time.
There Is every prospect that the nifty
seventh congress VIII provide for her
admission with reasonable prompt.
ness. The only really doubtful ques-
tion involved is whether Oklahoma
shall be admitted with her present
territorial area, or include the Indian
territory. Her Importance as state
will be Largely determined by the set
tlement of this question.
The bill introduced by Senator
Fairbanks in the last congress pro
vided that congress might in it's dis
cretion attach the Indian territory to
Oklahoma. The people Of the two
territories are considerably divided
over the proposition. As a rule. the
people Of the Indian territory want to
come in as a separate state. In Ok
lahoma there are many who want sep
arate statehood. and likewise many
who desire one state formed Of both
territories. The Fairbanks bill provid-
ed for immediate statehood for okla
homa, LEAVING it to congress TO deter
mne what shall be done with the In
dian territory when the work of the
Dawes commission is finished and ad-
mission is applied for.
Politics Figure.
Naturally politics figure largely in
the case. At present Oklahoma is
Republican, but by a very narrow mar
gin. unless the new population has
materially increased the Republican
strength. This is the feature Of the
recent opening which most attracts
the attention of the politicians. It is
estimated that the new territory
brings in 100000 additional popula-
tion. Half Of this number halls from
the older settled sections of OKLA
homa and Indian territory. The re-
naming $4,000 may be divided as
follows From Kansas, 10000; 15,-
600 from Texas, and the remaining
$4,000 from the rest Of the country,
Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa and Ne
braska leading in supplying this lat,
ter number.
On the hypothesis that $4,000 Of the
settlers were from Oklahoma and the
Indian territory, it night appear to
some that there are only $4,000 new
people in Oklahoma, as result Of
the opening Of the new country; but
as it is clear that new population
must take the places Of the home
steaders, it is safe to assume that Ok
lahoma IS about 100000 more popu-
lous than wnen the census was taken
last June. making her approximate
population at this time about 500 600
JAS to the division Of the new popula-
ton politically that is difficult to de
termine, but investigation suggests
that It is closely divided between the
two great parties. with a goodly bunch
Of Kansas Populists thrown in to make
matters interesting.
Probably the Republicans have the
best Of the deal by possibly as many
as 1000 votes The claim Of Delegate
Flynn that Oklahoma Will he a Repub-
Hcau state if admitted as separate
state Is reasonable, ana this fact Is
10 potent argument with a Republican
congress to admit her separately,
since the Indiaa territory is strongly
Democratic aid would possibly over
whelm the Republican margin Of Ok
lahoma should the one state idea be
adopted by congress.
The Fairbanks Bill.
az any rate, il the Fairbanks bin
Is enacted, the election Of 1902 win
aow ipat how strongly Oklahoma is
3epublican on account Of the new pop
ulaCol, and il the figures look en-.