The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-27

oaHhs III inc last congress provided that
congress- might In its discretion attach the
Indian territory to Oklahoma. The people
of the two territories are considerably di
vided over the proposition. As rule. the
people of the Indian territory want to
come IN as q separate state. In Oklahoma
there are many who want separate state
hood, and ..xewise many who desire one
state formed Of both territories. The Fair.
banks bill provided for immediate state.
hood for Oklahoma. leaving 1t to congress
to determine what shall be done with the
Indian territory when the work OF the
Dawes commission Is finished and admis.
sion Is applied for.
Naturally. politics figure largely in the
case. At present Oklahoma Is republican,
but by very narrow margin unless the
new population has materially increased
the republican strength. This Is the fea.
ture of the recent opening which most at.
tracts the attention of the ponticians. It
Is estimated that the new territory brings
in 100000 additional population. Half Of
this number halls from the oder-settled
sections of Oklahoma and Indian territory.
The remaining $1,000 may be divided as fol.
lows: From Kansas, 10000; 100 from
Texas and the remaining 5000 from tho
rest OF the country, Missouri, Arkansas.
Iowa and Nebraska leading in supplying
this latter number.
On the hypothesis that $4,000 of the set
tiers were from Oklahoma and the Indian
territory. it might appear to some that
homa. as a result of the opening of the
new country: but 1t is clear that new
population must take the places of the
homesteaders, it is safe to assume that
L4.ahoma is about 100000 more populous
than when the census was taken last
June making her approximate population
at this time about 100000. AS to the divi-
sion of the new population politically. that
is dlmcult to determine. but investigation
suggests that it is closely divided between
~ h1yN III
of Kansas populists thrown in to make
matters interesting.
Probably the republicans have the best
of the deal by possibly as many as 1900
votes. The claim Of Delegate Flynn that
Oklahoma will be a republican state if ad-
mitted separate state Is reasonable.
and this fact is potent argument with
republican congress to admit her sepa-
ratey, since the Indian territory is
stron~ly democratic and would possibly
overwhelm the republican margin of Okla
homa should the one state idea be adopted
by congress.
At any rate, if the Fairbanks bill is
enacted. the election Of 1902 will show just
how strosly Oklahoma is republican on ac-
count of the new population. and II the
figures look encouraging. the Indian ter
ritory can be attached in time for the cleo
ton of 1904. If the campaign OF 1874 should
find the two territories in as one state 1t
would be a state of a million people. win
easy to see it might cut an important fig
ure in the presidential campaign If the
contest should he close.
Arizona and New Mexico too. are still
clamoring for statehood. Arizona. accord
irg to the new census. has pOpula ton OF
less than 1875 coo. while New Mexico is stlil
under 200 600. New Mexico is now repre-
sented by republican delegate, but The
democrats are numerous enough to carry
the territories most of the time. Arizona
i ITO and nh
main so. even statehood should be grant
, ed at the hands of a republican admins
tration.
If Oklahoma should be admitted as a
separate state, and Arizona ana New
Mexico should also be admitted. the
chances are in the absence of an adverse
tidal wave that Oklahoma and New Mex
leo would add eight electoral votes to the
republican column. while Arizona would
, give three to the democrats
On the other hand, should Oklahoma ana
Indian territory be admitted as one state
in time to participate in the election OF
1904 and Arizona and New Mexico should
also be admitted, the democrats would De
more than likely to capture the seven from
Oklahoma and three from Arizona. leaving
the republicans little more than an even
chance for the three from New Mexico.
Since the admission of the continental ter
ritories is bound to be seriously consl.ered
by the new congress- the determination OF
the question of separate statehood for
/ Oklahoma and the Indian erritory is of
great Importance both to the great parties
and to the peope of the territories as well.
The only certain thing at this time is that
Oklahoma will be granted some sort of
statehood She may be admitted and Ari-
IONA and New Mexico left out but 1t is
! certain that when the Oklahoma bill comes
up for consideration. the Arizona and New
| Mexico people are going to make desperate
! efforts to get in