The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-04-17

The putting OF all these separate
propositions into a single bill was a
surprise.
Since the opening of congress a
number of bills have been introduced
proposing to admit one or another Of
these territories, and they were all re
ferred. They seem not to have been
taken very seriously. The people in
terested in the affairs of some of the
territories were not agreed among
themselves, and each territory stood
alone in seeking to become a state.
The danger of the passage of any of
the bills was not. therefore. supposed
to be great. as none was expected to
command the necessary support.
The combination of these three prop
ositions into one was a shrewd bit Of
strategy. The omnibus bill, as It is
called. makes common cause among
the three territories. The delegates
from these territories had been can
yassing for votes and had got a good
many pledges. Then they pooled their
issues, and claim that they have votes
enough pledged to pass their bill. It
is true that votes that are pledged and
votes that are cast do not always cor
respond. as many an enterprising pol
iucian has realized. But the friends
Of the bill claim to have all the Demo
Gratis and ninety Republicans commit
ted 10 its support. If this is correct
they can lose a number Of them and
still put the bill through the house
It's chances in the senate are consid-
cred good if it gets there.
The Republican leaders say in oppo-
sition to the bin that the making OF
new states has gone on too rapidly
There are fifteen states that have but
little more than million inhabitants,
and yet they have thirty senators. one
third of the whole number, while they
have but twenty-three representatives.
This OF course, Affects the votes in
the electoral votes cast by these fir
teen states. more than half represent.
ils the senators, and therefore have no
relation to population. The members
- the house OF some of them are due
not 10 population but to the require
ment that every state must have one
representative
This is true enough. bat it is not
new. in fact it is very stale. It
was just as wen known when Idaho
Wyoming. Montana, North Dakota
South Dakota and Washington, not to
go back TO Colorado and Nevada, were
admitted as it is now. and ali these
are among the fifteen states referred
to, They were admitted for purpose
and the fact that they had very little
population. and were likely to con
tlnue in that condition for long time
was as Wen known then as It is now.
OF course this elaborate and arith-
metical objection is not .ae real one
Arithmetic has been known long
time, and this calculation is not at all
intricate. The fact that all the Demo
Gratis are supposed to favor the omni-
bus bin is suggestive. Partisan con
siderations are at the bottom of the
the opposition. II is true that two Of
these three territories have Repubh-
can delegates, which would suggest
that the Republicans would be gamers
by passing the bill But appearances
are deceitful. and the opponents OF the
bin are unwilling to trust them. They
figure out that at least two Of the ter
ritories. and possibly all three, will
turn ont Democratic states within a
few years. Such predictions are not
very Trustworthy. Expectations OF the