The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-10-23
soPER ON STATEHOOD.
Has Plan for Making One Great
State-Present Il to Congress.

state-Present II to Congress.
Plny l.. Soper, United States Attor-
ney for the Northern district OF the
Indian Territory has a scheme for the
organization OF Oklahoma aud the In
dian Territory as one state. which will
be embodied In bill and presented TO
congress this winter He claims tor
It that. If adopted. II will not violate
the oountry's treaties with any Of the
Indian tribes. and at the same time
will give the people of the Territory a
better form of government and repre-
sentation in both branches of con
gress.
THE territory ought to be divided
into counties and each county be Civ
en- n separate seat of government and
its own officials" said Mr. Soper
Three commissioners should be ap-
pointed for each county. and a POLL
tax should be imposed upon all men
between the ages OF p and 60. the
money raised to be applied to build
ing roads and bridges which are
sadly needed. Few people outside OF
the territory know that although 60
has 100000 people 1t has absolutely
no road law.
Schools should he established and
supported by general taxation. Each
county should have a probate judge
having concurrent jurisdiction with
United states Judges in misdcmeanor
cases, and having power to transact
all probate business and keep records
OF their proceedings
Each county should have a regis.
ter OF deeds. also. $50 that AN initial
conNeyanoes may to recorded. and
each county have q complete set of
records 1t will not bee long before
many deeds Will Doe beng made by the
Indians The Creeks already have ue
power IN q modified form with ta.
consent OF the secretary. they may d'
pose of 100 ont ot each 100 acres r.
their land, and after five years un"
last March will Doe able TO give clean
dtles. The recorders should De PAID
fees, and thus save the government
great deal OF expense.
Oklahoma and the Indian Vcw.
tory should remain within the Uaun-
daries of one state. All the lr liam as.
eryations should remain such u.F
the times named in the various o. .
les have expired. and the local govern.
ments have passed out of existence.
ON March /. 1906 The treaties wI.n
the Indians having expireo. the Indian
also should come Within the juisd
tIon OF the state government. with
the same rights and duties as other
citizens.
"lf this plan is adopted we win
break no faith with the tribes UI.l
which the Dawes commission "a, u.a.g
agreements and avoid Eastern ONO
sition TO statehood ON this ground ~.e
Republicans can hardly object TO .rs
scheme. because with Repuhlioaa
majority in Oklahoma they win D..
able to elect two United States sons
ators and two statesmen. The poop
OF the Indian Territory can hardly
object because they will be directly
represented in congress and will uo
longer be absolutely at the mercy a.
legislators who do not know their
needs and have not their interos, d.
recuy at heart
Delegate Flynn, of Oklahoma. intro.
duced In the last congress 1ul
providing or the division OF the Indian
Territory into counties. Mr. So1er
points out tnat his plan, while some.
what more comprehensive, is in ha..
mony with this measure.