The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-08-13

come change OF sentiment among
our public men. They are beginning
90 realize that statehood can not be
much longer delayed The Democrats
have favored statehood at all times,
but being in the minority on the com
mittoes they have never been able
to secure an opportunity Of expressing
/ thmeslves upon the subject, as each
bin introduced in the house and senate
has been consigned TO the musty pig
con holes OF the respective territorial
committees Of both bodies. Could a
vote have been had on The question Of
the admission of Oklahoma in the com
mittees of the house and senate dur
! ing the last congress, the bills intro
duccd in the respective branches
gould have been favorably reported.
But through the influence Of the domi.
nant party. consideration Of the bills
was never granted.
The publication OF The statistics ~
the territory as gathered at the last
census, will have much TO DO with the
consideration OF the question at the
coming session of congress. In fact,
an effort is being made OF induce the
president to incorporate in his annual
message to the fiftyseventh congress
recommendation that the territory
be admitted into the union.
President McKinlty is personally
favorable to the proposition and it is
not at All improbable that he will en-
body in his message a recommends
tion which may add another star to
the constellation of the states. A rec
concentration in favor Of statehood by
the president would put the proposition
lin such shape that the Republicans
could not very well afford to ignore
1.-THE bills which will be introduced i'm
lmediately after congress convenes.
The census reprot, showing the pop
Iulatlon of the wetern states and terri
tories reveals some interesting facts.
The population OF Oklahoma, when
the census was taken was 39S,SS1.
The opening OF the Kiowa and wichita
country will add to the population at
least 100. 900, making a total of prob
ably 100000 people. In point of popu
latlon, therefore, Oklahoma is entitl-
ed to admission, especially when It is
known that twelve states in the union,
many Of which occupy conspicuous
places, through their able delegations
in congress, are greatly inferior to Ok
lahoma in point of population.
Twelve States Are Smaller
The state Of Wyoming has a Dopula-
ton of only 92,53l Nevada, 42,SS5;
Idaho. 161,77S; Delaware; 1875;
Montana. 243,S29; New Hampshire,
4l15SS; North Dakota. S19.1l6 Ore
gan, 4l3.536, Rhode Island 42S,556;
South Dakota. 4O1 $40; Utah, 276,747;
and Vermont, 343,641 Yet each Of
these states, with the exception OF
lWyomiug and Nevada are represented
in congress hy Two United States sen
ators and two congressman. The
states OF Wyoming and Nevada, whose
combined population is only 134SG6-
less than onethird the population OF
Oklahoma-haye four senators and
two congressman. Sixteen OF the forty
FIVE states in the union have a popula
tlon Of less than 100000.
The state of Main mas furnished
three speakers OF the house OF repre-
sentatiyes, who served in that capac
, ity three terms each, or a period o
twelve years In the senate her sen
ators have exercised exceptional In
nuence in shaping the policy Of tht
general government and In the enact
e ment OF federal laws This Is but on
] OF the many instances which could b
, enumerated as illustrations OF the ur
i just discrimination which is heia
y practiced IN the admission Of states.
! One Of the particular causes for IN
e reluctance of the national Legislature
Z 10 admitting Oklahoma o statehoo
arises from he premature and hsst
$ admission of other western states /
g the Fast The admission Of Colorad
n elected Hayes president Of the Unite
J. states and defeated Tnden.
s. The admission of Utah, wyomln
4 North Dakota South Dakota and Il
aho gave the Democrats maiorlt
Z during Cleyelands last administratiC
y and It has been due 10 the fear that q
a lahoma viii result IN the election
q two Democratic senators that has pr
u veuted the territory from being adm
Sc ted