The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-28
SINGLE
STATEHOOD
OUT OF REACH
Freeman Miller of Saltwater
Writes Letter on Question.
is FIRM IN OPINION
Says Oklahoma Must Wait on
Indian Territory.
S FIRM IN OPINION

/ Guthrie. o. l.. Sept. Fireman E.
Miller Of Saltwater in a letter to the
Observer. the new Democratic paper.
gives his ideas on statehood for Okla
homa. Mr.. Mile rsays as follows:
Whatever may have been our personal
or political notions concerning how and
when statehood ought to come to the ter
ritory of Oklahoma. it may be fairly said
at the present time that Oklahoma alone
viii never be admitted to the Union as a
state. Manifest destiny has reserved Ok
lahoma and Indian Territory for a COM
mon fate, and when statehood comes to
Oklahoma, Indian Territory in some man
ner viii be irrevocably welded to her fu-
ture It has become so evident to the
common sense Of the people Of Oklahoma
that all thoughtful persons now concede
that only one state will ever be erected
out of Oklahoma and the Indian Terri
tories. The dominant power of the great
eastern states in congress is such that
they viii not give four senatorships to
the people OF Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory. We may as well face the
facts and cast about for making the oest
we can of the situation.
Two processes are proposed for the new
single state: One the immediate admis-
sion of Oklahoma and Indian Territory as
one state; the other for Oklahoma to be
admitted a state at once, with the IN
dian Territory added TO her by piecemeal
from time to time, as the conditions of
the various tribes shall be composed for
local self-government
1T may ue safely said that the first
plan cannot be carried out now. There
is very little if any, OF the Indian Terri
tory that is really ready for statehood
outside Of the cities. The soil, the tribes.
the Indian citizenship and the Indian
governments are not Grady. They would
be expected to or7ose such a radical step
at present and it viii take from four to
six years for these conditions to be re-
moved. Go not believe that they will
be ready for statehood short of that time.
So that immediate statehood with Indian
Territory added is out of the question
just now.
"on the other hand, the proposition
which involves adding Indian Territory
to the state of Oklahoma by piecemeai is
very chimerical It would be a source of
constant annoyance and friction to the
people of Oklahoma. The people there
might righteOusly oppose such a scheme
with everything in their power It ap-
pears to me that their present condi-
tions, bad as they are, would be prefera-
bic. No elaboration is needed to convince
any thinking man that such a course
would be detrimental TO their immediate
ccnteHt and share in the new state gov
ernment; and being so, there would be
such hates and jealousies engendered
as would affect the political and social
history Of the state for years to come. In
my judgment, this latter course would be
very inexpedient.
what then? Congress VIII not give
Oklahoma statehood alone; the Indian
Territory is not ready for immediate ad-
mission with her in the judgment OF
congress; and 1t would be inexpedient to
admit Oklahoma alone and add the IN
dian Territory by piecemea1. Then, we
much wait for statehood until congress
says the Indian Territory is ready for it,
Il am not voicing my own opinions
when I say these things. Personally I
am for an immediate statehood for both
territories. More than eight years ago
wrote an argument for that proposition. .
I was member Of the committee on res
olutions at the South McAlester conven-
ton: and in the last legislative assembly
drafted and supported a single statehood
memorial. calling for immediate statehood
for both territories, which was adopted
But we are up against a condition: and
believe that no one viii seriously contend
that congress looks at this matter through
our spectacles. It is my deliberate judg-
ment that statehood IS at least four
years of for the people of Oklahoma.
In the meantime. however. there IS
another course which personally favor.
and if congress could he brought to adopt
it I believe it would be for the lasting
good Of these peoples; that IS. the creation
of a single territory out OF she two terri
tories until such time as they be admitted
as state. All thoughtful persons con-
cede now that they wiz ultimately be
united. II congress viii not give them
single statehood now. let it give as sin
gle territoryhood
Let the people of the two territories
get used n each other; let them learn 70
iegislate. have a common set Of laws.
common public officials. and live and ac-
things as q unit. II this be done
for two. four or six years. ali the friction
Incidental TO common statehood for them
VIII have been W0rn away. aud they VIII
together take up the work OF their com
mon destiny with many intervening OBJ
stacles forever out OF the way
81 truss this suggestion may be careful
y ard honestly considered by the people
'f th= two territories. their press and
.h .r puulc men. Ye have in the past
-7d al sorts OF statehood conventions.
How Would it 40 Ter the people Of Okla
aoma aad Indian Territory 10 have "a
single TERRITORY hood convention and 80
3own to Washington ana ask congress 10
1ut them into operation