The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-02-08
OKLAHOMA.
1t Would Like to Become a State. --.Is
Not Particular as to Conditions.
st. Louis Globe Democrat:

st. Louis Globe Democrat
The convention which has just been
held in Guthrie marks the beginning
of the practical work in favor of secur-
ing the early admission of Oklahoma
as state. Hon. F. E. Gillet voiced
the feeling of the convention when he
said that the people of Oklahoma were
anxious for statehood on any condi-
tions which Congress would think fit
to impose. Resolutions prepared by
majority of the convention asked for
the admission of the territory to state
hood at the earliest practicable day.
with such boundaries as Congress,
in its wisdom, may see fit to estab-
lish - To this declaration was added
an amendment that if, in Congress-
opinion, sit shall be deemed desirable
at the same or any future time to at
tach any part or all of the Indian Ter
ritory to the state of Oklahoma, the
same shall meet our hearty approval .
The majority report, with this ad-
denda, was adopted by unanimous
vote Of the convention. A committee
was appointed by the convention,
which is to organize Immediately,
and begin an active campaign for
statehood.
1t is to be hoped that the desire of
the Oklahomans will be gratifed. The
chances for admission in the present
congress are, of course, now rather
poor. Only about month of the life
of this congress remains, and many
important measures are still pending.
The present probability is that some
of these measures will fail for lack of
time for their consideration. This has
been remarkably active session. No
short session of congress in quarter
of a century has been confronted with
! the necessity of doing so much work
of the first Importance. Much of this
| work has already been accomplished
or is in stage which insures it's &C
complishment before the end of the
term. Some measures which can not
safely be left to lay over until next
December are still to be acted on. This
renders an extra session inevitable,
and the session will probably begin in
the latter part of March or early in
April. The members of congress, al
most without exception, are averse to
an extra session, but if one has to be
held they would prefer having it come
as early in the year as possible. The
president undoubtedly stands with
them in this idea.
Here is where Oklahoma's chance
for admission will come. The admis-
sion measures will probably fail of
consideration in this session in any
case The time at the disposal of Con-
gress is short, but in the new session
of the next congress there will be
ample time to deal with all measures
of urgent Importance. Oklahoma has
400, 900 inhabitants, for the few thous-
ands which she was below that mark
at the time the census was taken last
June have undoubtedly been more than
furnished since then. 1t has pro-
perty valuation of $75, 900, 600 and has
1876, 900 children in it's public schools.
1t has fifteen national and eighty-fve
territorial banks, and has church for
every 400 of its population. United
with the Indian Territory, Oklahoma
would have POPULATION of about
800, 600, and would be as rich in min
eral resources as almost any state in
the union. There are many states
which are below Oklahoma, as it at
present exists, in inhabitants and in
vlaue of property. When the Kiowa
Comanche and Apache reservations
are thrown open to settlement next
summer it's population will be sud
denly and largely increased. The
claims which Oklahoma presents will
appeal powerfully to congress, 1t is
safe to predict that Oklahoma will add
oro+bor ato, 10 +ho Hoo lxy IT, ,ovE