Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-18
FIGHT FOR STATEHOOD
Conference to Be Held Here
Next Week.
PLANS TO BE FORMED
ADVOCATES OF ADMITTING THE
TERRITORIES TO MEET.
Delegate Flynn Explains the Signifa-
canoe Of Recent Action in Okla
homa-Mr. Quay's Purpose.
PLANS TO BE FORMED


leo. will be resumed next week. when
meeting of the leading advocates Of state
hood will be held here for the purpose Of
outlining plans to get the statehood bill
through the Senate. Delegate Dennis
Flynn of Oklahoma has reached Washing
ton and he will be joined soon by Delegate
Rodey of New Mexico and delegation
from Arizona. Mr.. Flynn told The Star re-
porter today that he did not believe the re-
suit of the elections in the territories would
have any especial effect upon the state
hood bills prospects He called attention
to the fact that Oklahoma had gone repub-
lican that New Mexico had reelected Dele
gate Rodey, republican, by a tremendous
majority and that the democratic victory
In Arizona had been generally discounted.
The contest in Oklahoma was fought out
upon the issue Of what is known as single
statehood" or the admission of Oklahoma
and the Indian territory together as state
as opposed to the proposition that Okla
homa be admitted alone, the provision in
the bill creating the new state authorizing
Congress to add to 1t such portions of the
Indian territory from time to time may
be deemed advisable The republicans sup
ported this proposition and on the strength
of 1t elected their candidate, Bird MCGUIRE
as Mr.. Flynn's successor in the House.
Statehood for Oklahoma Alone.
Mr. Flynn says the result is clearly an in
dorsement of the project for statehood for
Oklahoma alone with the provision indi-
Gated. He asserted positively that In his
judgment Oklahoma would be a safe re-
publican state and that republican senators
should not hesitate to vote for the terri
tory's admission through any misgivings as
u Ctan In 10 oil
that he was confident that President Roose-
welt could carry Oklahoma by a large ma
jority, as the President was popular with
all classes there. and would have many
supporters even among those who voted
for the democratic territorial candidates at
the recent election. Mr.. Flynn Is confident
the Senate will pass the statehood bill.
Other members of Congress who are in
terested in the project for the admission of
the territories do not share Mr.. Flynns
feeling of assurance with reference to the
outcome Of the contest over statehood. 1t
Is conceded that much will depend upon
the report that will be made to the Senate
by the subcommittee of the Senate commit
tee territories, headed by Senator Bev-
eridge chairman of that committee, which
Is now making an investiga ton into the
conditions in the three territories. During
the recent session of Congress the commit
tee held several hearings and obtained much
informat ton concerning the population, tax
able property, mineral and other resources
of the territories but in the Judgment of
Mr.. Beveridge, 1t was deemed best that an
inquiry be made by members of the COM
mittee In order that they could report to
the Senate eye-witnesses facts bearing
upon the statehood proposition.
Oklahoma's prospects will probably be
complicated by the action Of lone state
convention" which has been called to meet
December 3. The statehood bill will be
taken I'D in the Senate, according to agree
hat ha va
reached Washington indicate that this con-
ventlon will be composed of at least 900
delegates. and resolutions will be adopted
representing their sentiment on statehood.
The present plan Is also to send a delega-
ton consisting of a hundred representa- tive
citizens from both territories to Washing
ton to urge the admission Of Oklahoma and
the Indian territory.
Senator Quay Will Lead Fight
1t Is understood that the fight for state
hood in the Senate will be led by Senator
Quay of Pennsylvania, who Is a member Of
the Senate committee on territories, and
who believes the statehood bill should pass
without any unnecessary delay. 1t was
through the efforts of Mr.. Quay that an
agreement was reached by which the bill
was to be made the unfinished business in
the Senate December 10, and he has done
his utmost to create sentiment among sena-
tors in its favor. Mr.. Quay believes the
Dill should be passed by the Senate as It
came from the House and without any pro-
longed discussion. During the recent ses-
sion Mr.. Beverage was very emphaticaI1y
opposed to the statehood idea. Friends of
the bill are wondering If the investigation
he and his committee have conducted in
the territories has caused him to change
his views. The advocates of statehood are
counting on the support of President Roose-
welt. whom they are quoting as fayoring
the admission of the territories without any
reference to their future political affilia-
tons.
Sentiment in the House.
In the House the statehood bill was not
regarded favorably by Speaker Henderson
and other republican leaders, but the senti-
ment there for the bill was so strong that
the Speaker finally consented to it's con-
sideration. The democrats stood with the
advocates of statehood and the combina-
ton formed such a large majority that
when the vote was taken the bill was pass
ed without opposition. 1t is believed that
all the democrats in the Senate will favor
1t.
Delegate Flynn Is so confident that Okla
homa Will be admitted that he Is giving
consideration to it's future as a state The
understa nding is that when it has been ad-
mitted he will be elected one of the new
states first senators. He has served four
terms in the House and would have beer
renominated this year had he not decided to
relnquish his position. His successor, Mr.
Mcclure, Is young lawyer of ability
Delegate Rodey of New Mexico is also
spoken of in connection with the senator
ship. He received a strong Endorsement
at the polls and will be active in the fight
for statehood when 1t develops In the Sen
ate. He Is a native of Ireland, but came to
the United States when a boy He pre-
pared for the bar in Boston, but went to
New Mexico In 1881, and has since practiced
law there. He has held several territorial!
Offices.