The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-11-13
STaTEHOOD PLANS
AT MUSKOGEE
Reports Show That About
200 Delegates Have
Been Elected

paign Of the Indian territory and Ok
lahoma for statehood. On that date
convention of delegates from both
territories will meet here to outline a
plan of action with which to go before
congress at the coming session.
Indications are that the meeting
will be more harmonious and effective
than other similar meetings held dur
ing the past two years. At some Of
these there has been manifested
spirit Of rivalry not to say jealousy.
that has made the result Of little val
ue. The growing importance Of Ok
lahoma, and the organization that the
territorial form of government has
given to the political parties there.
las aroused the dwellrcs in the In
dian territory with a doubt of the
good intentions of their neighbors.
The people here have a peculiar po-
sitiol as citizens. They are in no
sense members Of hte commonwealth.
The five civilized tribes of Indians
the Creeks, Cherokees, Choctaws,
Seminoles and Chickasaws-absolu
ly own all the land in the territory, a
section as large as Ohio, practically,
and they exercise the management
of affairs, except sucff as are held by
the federal government. The whites
are simply here on suffrance and are
in far less Independent condition
than the dwellers in any other part
OF the nation. To be sure. they out
number the Indians three to one. OF
the 400 600 residents in the territory,
only $4,000 are Indians in any shade
of blood But the land is theirs,
while in oklahoma the settlers are
their own masters.
AS business has advanced the in
terests Of inyestm ct and Of develop
ment have overshadowed political
considerations in both territories, and
the movement now in progress is for
the bstterment of this line of inter
ext rather than for the obtaining OF
political plums solely The outside
world does not realize fully hoy great
is the business advancement in the
Southwest, nor how rapidly capital is
developing the marvellous resources
of this practically virgin region. Dur
ing tre past decade there has been a
constant cureailing Of the agricultural
section OF the plains. The Opening OF
the western end of the territory, now
known as Oklahoma, gave homes tc
nearly half a million people. and YET
the Western states are steadily gain
ing in population. The whites have
come 10 this end of the territory
under leases, and as residents on gov
ernment town sites, to do the business
of the country reginos. They have
waited and hoped for another open
i1.g that would give them the lands
of tie iy etribes. but without any en-
couragement so far as free gift il
concerned There will be an opening
It IS already under way. but il will b'
sale of the Indian lands, not a gift
plans Regarding Admission.
Several plans ere contemplated b.
the business me nof the territory TO
presentation to congress. One o
these contemplates the union OF Oh
lahoma and the Indian territory II
one state, TO be admitted without IN
loss of time. It Is unlikely that thi
viii be done The Indian lands ar
"a vet held by the Indians, and ther
can be no local government as 1t !
understood in other ctates. Then
400 there would be an unfair advan
age to Oklahoma in the contest for tn
oapital and the state institutions, an
tbe Eastern settlers are anious Tor
DELAY. The most popular plan i
nrobably. to have two states admitte
AZ the same time. aud under the sam
conditions. This is open to some
the objections Of the former course
relsts. % the eastern end. Thel
too. t.4ere Is doubt II this can be don
now. The experience with NeVad
has made tn government chary
taking chances on small eommo
wealths. The plan that seems to met
with most fayos is one that co
templates the organization Of on
state, Oklahoma. with the Indian te
rstory as part, each of the tribe
lends forming a county, and so allo'
ing the eastern end TO have a sort
local government. It Is argued th
in the course OF few years, when u
whites have the Indian lands, sue
os the tribal members are willing
sell. the development will warrant Il
establishment OF a state, and tn
the counties can be detached wi