The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-11
THINKS THERE
IS A CHANCE
THIS SESSION
Washington Correspondent
Says Statehood Has a Chance
TO BE FIRST THING UP
Work ofthe Committee Which
Is to investigate.
TO BE FIRST THING UP

GGuthrie 0. T.. Nov. la-The Wash
ington correspondent Of the New York
Evening Post says, writing Saturday:
Congress VIII plunge in medias res on
its assembling in December. Wednesday,
the third day of the session, has been
set in the senate for the vote on the bill
which has already passed the house for
the admission of Arizona. New Mexico
and Oklahoma TO statehood This means
that one Of the most important questions
OF many years is 10 be settled, practically
without debate in the senate, and after
action in the house which was assumed
st the time to be more or less farcical.
That body wanted TO do something TO
help the Republican candidates in the ter
ritories at the fail elections, and so it
finally decided, in a spirit of good ma
ture, TO let the bin pass. The Democrats
were substantially all for it, while the
Republicans were afraid in many cases
10 present a bold front against it, on
account of the possibility of future re-
venges when the three actually begin to
send members to the electoral college.
1T oftens happens that one house
passes bill in the spirit of insincerity,
leaving the other to correct any errors,
and relying confidently upon its doing
s.. A score OF such measures get through
one house or the other at every session.
But the advocates of statehood by Sc
curing an agreement IN the senate to vote
on December 3, which then seemed a long
way of. having brought the question to
an issue at & time when the senate is
NJ more ready 10 act than was the house
The committee on territories have not
It is Believed, even made 2 report in this
congress. Certainly President Roosevelt
f. his annual message. did not recon-
mend the admission OF these territories,
although he was strongly urged to do 50,
ara from his Rough Rider associations
was expected 10 have "A warm feeling
toward the new southwest. He gave as
his reason Ter not making this recon-
rnenoaaou that THE complication over
what to DO with Indian Territory in case
Oklahoma was admitted as a state with
ont f. seemed to him SO serious that he
wanted more time to think about it,. This
same complication is no nearer settlement
now th1n last December The local pol
n!cians Of the region would ike two
states instead Of one. and they present
Etl4tE tf Lt-H-i r-iNttiE tNtcf.f-r Lt SNOW ilH
the indian territory should not be merged
with Dilahoma. But does the rest of
ine country want four new states in'
that quarter, with eight senator's?
The senate committee on territories has
wisely planned trip of investigation;
fits report viii presumably be in readi-
ness Tor the senate on the opening day,
or perhaps made public before The pres
idents message usually absorbs attention
on the first day and the report of the
secretary OF the treasury, with the book
OF estimates, on the second. Since the
voting must take place on the third day,
unless the agreement be vacated by unan-
imous consent. it might be well for the
ittee TO set its hndinge before the
public in some form before the assem-
biage Of congress, and so give the country
a chance to express itself on the question
The committee Of investigation. which is
TO start out from Chicago on Monday,
will consist of Senator Beveridge Of In
diana, Dillingham; OF Vermont, Burnham
of New Hampshire. Nelson of Minnesota,
and Bard OF California, Republicans; with
bate Of Tennessee and EIetfeldt Of Idaho. |
Democrats. This group, only a part of
the committee on territories, profess to |
state out with open minds ready to be |
influenced by what they find as to the ma
tcrial and moral resources of the would |
be states and their guarantees Of per-
manence.
several arguments favor the admission |
of these territories. Under our system, |
they VIII have 70 be admitted sooner or !
later and a few years one way or the |
otner might make little dIuerence in the |
lie of a nation. The Demncrafs ON re- |