The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-26
WOODWARD co.
PEOPLE GREET
BIRD NJ CURE.
Court House Filled by Those
Desiring to Hear Him
ON THE VITAL ISSUE
Many Things of Interest in
Politics of the County,
ON THE VITAL ISSUE

Woodward, o. T, oct 25-Residents Of
this city and county filed the district
court room Thursday afternoon TO meet
and hear the Republican congressional
candidate, Bird S Mcguire. As a rule in
this county no party has been able TO
get large audiences together at afternoon
political meetings. but yesterday was an
exception and a representative assem-
blage greeted the man who is making
such a determined stand for immediate
statehood and the things advocated by
the Republican party in this campaign.
The people Of this portion of the county
were anxious to meet Mr.. Mcclure. Let
tiers had been written TO the territorial
committee asking that he be given an
earlier date here. Men living many miles
from the city had written to the local
committee asking for information rela-
tive to the Mcclure meeting. AS many
as could come from a distance were in
the audience and they were not disap-
pointed in the speech made here by the
nominee Of the Republican party.
Mr.. Mcclure drove in yesterday morn
ing from Mutual were he had spoken the
night before. After rest of an hour he
was escorted to the court room and made
q speech that equaled any made by him
thus far in the campaign. It was a speech
filed with facts and statements that are
not to be refuted. It was 2 logical eIuci-
dation of what the Republican party
stands for in this campaign. The remarks
Of the speaker caused the Republicans
present to pledge themselves to more
earnestly work for party success and the
men Of opposite political faith were
pleased with the candor Of the man and
his fair disposition in treating the issues
that are confronting the people of all
parties. In this count there has been
much work done by the opposition. The
men in charge Of the campaign Of the op-
posite party do not have sincere hopes of
carrying the county for Bill Cross, but
they have desired to break even with the
Republicans in the congressional race.
Republican orators had preceded Mr.. Nc
CURE to this county, and without excep-
ton they have had splendid audiences.
The interest center5d, however, in the
appearance of sir. Mcguire and the Re
publican candidate vas given a cordial
reception charact -ized b the enthusiasm
that has been ono of the features Of the
Republican campaign in western Okla
homa.
The paramount question Of this cam
paign-statehecd-wa the first thing
taken Up by the speaker. The differences
in the two platforms adopted by the par
ties contending for supremacy in this
campaign was explained and the speaker
at the outset Of his speech outlined his
position and the position of his party on
the statehood question. From then on
his arguments were those advocating i'm
mediate statehood for Oklahoma; allow
ing the territory TO become a member of
the union with the fun rights of state.
and the attaching Of the various nations
of the Indian territory after they had
been prepared for statehood by congress.
The position of all parties in the terri
tory upon the statehood question hereto
fore, was referred to by the speaker. who
stated that Immediately after old Okla
homa was settled the men of the new
territory were petitioning congress to adj
nit Oklahoma to the union. and that
since that time statehood conventions
have been held in the leading cities of
tic LSltAADAN B. AAltlt AlFIlOIA14S we're pre-
pared and sent to congress. requesting
and demanding that congress give an en-
aiding act to oklahoma The recent
change in the attitude Of the democratic
part was mentioned. and Mr. Mcclure
stated that ii had been his desire that
the statehood question would rot have
been made political issue but that all
citizens Of Oklahoma would have united
IN a determined effort TO secure state
hood. when this territory is ct the very
threshold eff entering into what has been
so arGuously worked for by the people OF
Oklahoma in the past
The work Of Mr. Flynn in securing
free homes was talked of and the history
OF the Flynn bin was given The speaker
stated that Mr.. Flynn had promised two
years ago when elected delegate TO con-
gress that ne would attempt TO secure
statehood for Oklahoma. Instead Of
making it a political measure Mir. Nc
Guire explained that he secured the as
sistance of the Democratic delegate from
New Mexico and the Democratic delegate
from Arizona. and that the three men
one Republican and two DemCcra ts-pre-
pared and introduced IN congress what is
kncwn outside Of Oklahoma as the
Omnibus bin and in oklahoma as the
Flynn biH. the passage Of which would
give tho three territories an enabling act.
The candidate explained how the bill
went into the house ard before the house
committee on territories. and how such a
vigorous Gght on IL was made by men
from oklahoma and the indian territory
who opposed the bin on the grounds that
Oklahoma should not have statehood an
til the lines could be drawn around the
Indian territory. making it one state
The Ana6ar5o resolution was read show
ing that the territorial committee Of the
Democratic party in Oklahoms was op-
posed 20 statehood Tor Oklahoma unless
such statehood Should inciUde the Indian
territory The resolution represented
that the Democratic party Of The Ferri-
tory was unit on this question. despite
the fact chat there were prominent mem
bers Of the party assisting Nr. Flynn IL
every possible manner % secure state
hood for Oklahoma. The speeches be-
fore the con mittee In the house were re
ferrea 70 and extracts from them were
read. The speech made hy 8 man proni-
nenl in Democratic affairs in Oklahoma
was spoken of. and this man, who is On
the stump today for Mr.. Cross. stated be-
fore the committee that Oklahoma had a
larger population at the present time
than il would have three ye.rs from now.
II is a matter Of record that this same
man. after completing his speech. re-
oues.ed the members Of the comm ictee
that II be not printed II was printed,
,,,-.--.- and i 2 MARI n The re-cr,as on