The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-05
ALL PARTIES
HEAR Nj CURE
AT SHAWNEE
Made a Telling Speech on the
Statehood Question.
RECEPTION WAS HEARTY
Inconsistencies of the Cross
Democracy are Exposed.

Shawnee. 0. T. Oct. 4.-Regardless Of
the fact that rain OF several hours
duration was falling and the streets were
in a sloppy condition, a fair sized audi
enee assembled at the opera house Thurs
day night TO hear Bird s. MCGUIRE, the
Republican Congressional candidate dis
cuss the issues of the present campaign
The majority of the auditors were voters,
affiliated with all political parties, and
TO these men Mr.. Mcclure talked one
and one-haIf hours, fully delinia ting his
position and the position Of his party
on the matters, of interest before the
people at this time.
The congressional candidate arrived
here yesterday evening, having spoken
at McLoud in the afternoon He had
Just completed a tour of Lincoln county,
which proved to be one Of the hardest
trips Mr.. Mcclure has had during the
campaign.
When il became known that he was in
the city, he was beseiged with callers
at the Burt Hotel and was kept busy
until time for the meeting in shaking
hands with people and talking over con-
ditions with them.
Prior to the meeting in the opera house,
the Shawnee band gave a short concert.
Before the conclusion of the program by
this organization, Mr.. MCGUIRE. escort
ed BIZ Mr.. Cash NJ Cade, chairman OF
the territorial committee; George h Nc
Kinnis. Colonel f. S. Goodrich, George
Olltcelt of Tecumseh and others appeared
on the stage. The opear house was nice
" decorated with flags land two pictures;
one of Mckinley and one of Roosevelt
were displayed in conspicuous place.
George E. McKinnis, who has a reputa-
ton as an orator not confined 10 Pot
tawatomie county by any means, intro
duced Mr.. Mcclure to the audience. Mr..
McKinnis spoke of the conditions over
the territory and took occasion 10 act
as a prophet in stating that 'Oklaho-
mas bird" would not fail to be trium-
phant. after the votes had been counted
in November.
When Mr.. Mcclure appeared before the
audience he was given an enthusiastic
reception. In spite of the fact that the
Lincoln county trip had told on him, his
voice was in good condition, reaching
the farthest recesses of Shawnee's opera
house. After speaking of the progress OF
the territory and especially Pottawato-
ME county. Mr. Mcclure stated that
he had appeared in this city some weeks
ago, not TO talk politics, but to address
the people of Chawnee on other mat
tiers. He said that at this time. he was
in the city for the purpose of talking
Of matters. which are of utmost import
ance to the people of Oklahoma, regard
less of politics Il come as an Okla
homan for oklahoma" said he. First.
/ am an American citizen and for my
country; second, I am for Oklahoma and
Oklahomans; third. I am for my. party.
in discussing the important issue Of the
campaign, statehood, I almost wish that
I might come to You tonight. not as
partisan. not as politician, nor as
a candidate. for this matter is a business
proposition and should be considered
fairly and candidly IN a determining
what will result in the most good for
the greatest number of people in our
territory
Mr.. MCGUIRE took up the differences in
the two platforms adopted by the two
political parties in Oklahoma. He ex
planned the ideas of statehood for Okla
homa, stating that the Republican party
had endorsed and declared for the Flynn
bill which at the present time is pending
in the United States Senate, and WIN
come up for hearing on December 3. Be
fore the Cherokee strip was made part
of Oklahoma said the speaker. and
before Greer county was attached to
and members Of other parties were pro-
testing for statehood for Oklahoma. They
were united on this one idea-statehood
for Oklahoma. Conventions were held
in the various cities OF the territory,
resolutions were adopted asking for i'm
mediate statehood. and year after year
protests were made becauseCongress did
not take action. admitting Oklahoma TO
the sisterhood Of states"
The speaker referred to the progress Of
the Flynn bill in Congress. explaining
the fight that was made upon II from
various sources. He spoke OF the atti-
tude OF the Cross party in Oklahoma
explaining that It was not in harmony
with the Democrats In Congress because
OF the fact that these great men. fully
ccgnizant Of the conditions in the Indian
Territory had voted in the house Of repre-
Sentatives for immediate statehood for
Oklahoma. evidently realizing that the
Federal government IS better able 70
take care OF the territory. ard 20 assume
the burdens Of preparing the people for
statehood than IS Okla bona Extracts
from the speeches delivered before the
committees on territories were read. and
these statements gave an idea 81 the
conditions in the Indian Territory at
this time" The fact that Oklahoma must
sacrifice the larger portion Of her school
land II the Indian Territory Is attached
70 Oklahoma before being prepared Tor
that important step was discussed AT
length and opened up a new line o.,
thought. even among those persons n the
audience. who favor and had been talk
ing for the Oklahoma indian Territory
statehood idea Figures taken from the
Federal census were given IN this argu-
Inent and not > single statement made
by slr. MCGUIRE in regard % this matter
could be refuted.
For the bereat q those persons who
do not understand the situation relative
20 the mixed school question. Mr. Nc
Gsire read TIE separate school iaE. IS
passed BY the last Legislature stating
that the matter WIS settled Il this ter
rlrcry. and that owing 70 the sentiment
CT the people IN the territory would seed
ly be settled n similar Eaane-. In
rnsssistely after oklahoma receives an en-
abl,ng act NJ Cross speeches 81 thc
nesro question IN various parts q thr
territory we're shown VI. and here as
-a-.