The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-11-18
CAUSE OF SINGLE STATEHOOD
Speeches Delivered at the MuSkO=
gee Convention

statehood by ali the rules and precedent
formerly governing the admission ot ter-
ritorics. We have proven c1ucluf.yeiy
that our claims are superior % those OF
many % not most of the states WHOM they
were received into the Union That Hs
states some of the Eastern common
weaiths now exercising those prerpsa-
I sivos could no more compare with ok
/ lahoma in the fun stature OF her state
I hood than the rotten. pocket -bofouRha %
/ Old England 40 the IMPERIAL common
rhcy don't want figures. Their bowels
OF compassion are not moved by our arith-
THE BEGINNING.
This statehood movement began eight
years ago ovGr west here across an imag-
mary line which divides us--and which Is
only imaglnary-and II has been itnerate.
~ travelling about and occasionally spout
ing precedents and statistics towards
Washington and thus far has failed 10 re-
ceive recognition. The time has now come
TO demand II.
OF ours do. but they are scattering. i
don't know how IL Is here. but over our
way if you trace the pedigree Of the OBJ
iector you Will find, almost without eX-
ception, that they are related by blood
or marriage to a federal commission.
These knockers have not been idle.
They have control Of the open door
20 legislative favOrs, ard thus far our own
messages have been delayed in transmits
iudice which may betray mon into q mis-
taken view of their own interests-to ev-
cry passion which may lead them to dis
obey the impulses of their understanding.
They affect alarm for the public good,
when nothing so much endangers that well
fare as their own unparalleled pretenses.
Not ready yct'-"the incapacity OF the
people TO govern themselves the nabil-
ity OF the state TO sustain It's the bur-
den OF their cry. ] draw no COMPARE
sons, but history tells me that this was
the doctrine taught by Nerros and Hast
ings-the oppressors and plunderers Of
THE WORK DONE.
We have appealed To argument, but in
vain. We have cited precendent. without
avail We have invoked justice but JUS
ticc has been dumb as wen as blind
No process Of reasoning known 60 man
viii convince the understanding OF those
who receive periodical vouchers from the
Cuitcd states treasury department. The
perils of statehood become infinite and in
surmOuntable. when they see monthly or
quarterly returns at hazard Tie people
can not reason away the seductive inilu-
ence 70 the salary check, nor will they
try longer.
We are met with the charge that this
statehood movement is only the deep laid
plans OF politicians and those out OF Of
flee TO get In. The representation at this
convention Is a complete refutation of the
charge. IL you think the people of Okla
homa wish the present status to continue,
go among them and the Illusion Will be
d!spelled. They may not be making much
fuss about It, and over here We have heard
there Is often a sufficient and significant
reason for silence No man In France was
heard TO complain OF the bastile while It
existed, yet when Il fell II came down
amid the universal accamation of the ma
tion.
Talk about It being democratic move.
Why, one of the best editorials that has
appeared advocating immediate single
HtNfehpOl VorHpffks N Ia fpInunnq of
the leading republican newspaper OF ok
lahoma. It's editor sits here an honored
member OF this convention / don't know
the politics of your people out here. But
knows anything about repubncans-that I
He never made a meaner kind than Cover .
nor Barnes and Frank Greer, both here I
as delegates to this convention
They have said we want the Indian Ter /
ritory so as TO make. a democratic state. /
we deny the soft Impeachment, That is. Z
not personally but Collectlvely-in our /
capacity as delegates to this convention. 4
Personally. l am bound 10 admit that II 1
things keep going the way they nave late |
~ II would be mighty nice to have some /
thing TO depend on besides Tammany and |
Texas.
But above and beyond everything else
beside which all other considerations
shrivel into insignifcance-w do not want
10 saddle a sawed-of state, gerryman-
dered for political purposes out OF its
NbAAANiAAN aNiNAlif uNhilNht 0lhlhtAltl
and tax-ridden. upon our posterity. We
want TO be something more as "a state
than a kansas-anneX, or a New England \
iruck-patch We can not afford 70 enter
statehood without you, for we are not /
unaware OF the fact that no states area
was ever increased after admission We
DO not want To become the caudal ap-
pendage OF a possibility We are proud
1t our conJoint geography Let's not l
Rhode lslandize and Delaware each 9th.
en-
BE sTEADFAsT AND HONEST.
Gentlemen, let our purpose be not frus-
.rated by any such delusiye policy as
statehood for oklahoma with its original
boundaries, with provision To receive the [
indian Territory should Il be- deemed exc
ledient, later AS the architects OF the
state Of oklahoma, let us not begin with
shack. ana throw sop to conscience
by providing for lean-to. IL we need
more room afterwards. Aud let me ten
you the addition would never be built
The purposes of this scheme don't intend
hat IL shall. They want IA miserable lit.
he Aka state, cut to the measure OF poll
lcai ambitions, ana run by the macniuc.
We want state constructed with AN I
imi4e ground plan, sufficient 10 support
ne supCrstruuturc Of a majestic common Z
Ntalth-the peer of any IN the Union, one
hat is bigger than any man or set Of
men. one that Is not ashamed go touch cl
lows with tho imperial domain OF IT'S
lelshhors, Kansas and Missluri and Colo I
elNcd iu party spoils. Let's make a state
.rst and inquire about It's politics after. I.
yards such Is our vision of The state
n oklahoma, and We don't propose 10 an.
oW and half-baked Oklahoma politician, \
rouhied with senatorial nightmare, 70 dis
urh tho spirit OF our dreams.
BAD IDEA
III this convention declares for state
iood Tor oklahoma alone. with an ar.
ansemcnt that might OF might not add
oruons a. the indian Territory, We would I
BE- placing single statehood in the arms OF
nurse that would strangle it ln the cra-
lie,
III gentlemen protest alleging as "a basis
hat 10 throw state or territorial lines
ruuud the Use uilcs would bee "a violation
n treaty stpulouOns. we say TO them
nneedns that their protest has a valid 4
rounu-Which We do not-whtn ala lh,
lmefican people begin 20 look upon the
moral ANA legal side 81 the Indian quos-
iont For four hundred years the domain
4 the Red man Ia the North American
onunent has been usurped By force or OBJ
aimed by artinces yet more criminal
sn.t Il rather late 20 begin preaching
md sniNelng noWf Every one familiar
NTH Ia. lnntUu .14 i