The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-10-13
HON. {. B. AMES
ON STATEHOOD
Convincing Argument Of
Brilliant Oklahoma City
Orator

As an admirable, logical and uh-
asumlable statement of the Demo
cratic position on the question OF
statehood the Leader here reproduces
the mastery address made by Hon.
Ia B. Ames Of Oklahoma City. deliver
ed az Norman
Thee is one thing about which the
Democrats and Republicans agree in
this campaign That is that the para
mount issue involved is the question
of statehood The Democratic plat
form adopted Dy Enid convention de
clares this TO be the dominant issue
in the campaign, and as is always the
case with Democratic platforms,
enunciates in clear and unequivocal
terms the position of the Democratic
party. The Democratic party stands
for single statehood and for immedi
ate Single statehood and mas so clear
" committed itself to this doctrine
that he who runs may read without
difficulty
Opposed to this position. the Re
publican party in this campaign
stands for double statehood AS is
usually the case with the Republicaa
policies. it is impossible to ascertain
what they are from their platform.
but the argument of the speakers and
tine events OF The past few years CO
tablish beyond any equiyocation that
their true position is for the forma-
tion of TWO states out of these two
territories in order to ascertain the
exac position Of the Republican party
on this issue. it is necessary to brief
| ~ review the history of statehood
agitation for the past few years.
About two year ago single state
hood convention composed OF dele.
gates from both territories was
at South McAlester. This convention
was attended by many Of the leading
men from both territories, regardless
of political affiliation. Many promin-
ent Oklahoma Republicans We're al
that convention and were enthusias-
tic advocates of single statehood;
that convention adopted resolutions
which were explicit in The advocacy
of single statehood and the Republi-
cans present participated in all the
proceedings Of that convention and
endorsed its resolutions.
Less than twelve months 80 an
other statehood convention was
held in the city of Muskogee com.
posed of delegates from both terri
tories. This was also attended by
many leading Republicans from Ok.
lahoma, among them Govern o r
Barnes. MIR. f. II Greer, Mr. II B.
Gilstrap and Mr d. c Lewis, all OF
whom were active and prominent IN
the deibe ations of that body This
convention also took a specific stand
In favor Of immediate statehood II
even went farther than that it adopt
ed a plank by the terms OF which 1t
declared: we are unalterably OPP
posed to any form of statehood which
contemplates the admission of Ok
lahoma and the subsequent attach
ment of the lndian territory by piece
meal" Messrs. Greer and Gilstrap
were both members of the committee
on resolutions which reported that
platform and that plank and both
endorsed the proceedings or that con-
vention in the most nattering terms
in their respective papers, upon re-
turning to their respective homes.
Governor Barnes was by that conyen.
lion elected as one OF three dele
gates to go to Washington and urge
upon cong ess The passage Of an inn
mediate single statehood enabling
act
Shortly arter the Muskogee conyen-
tion and while congress was in ses.
sion, the Oklahoma City Commercial
club and Shawnee Commercial club
and many other Of the leading com
mercial organizations OF the territory