The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-21

/ appreciation OF our eastern critic Surely
/ a state should be willing 10 reiinquish a
, portion of her Symmetry as a territory
should be, and 4 that be true consistently
the Review OF Reviews should advocate
the changes s 1s9 sted in the states men,
i toned. And while about II, we would
/ suggest that she western projection Of
/ Florida needs looking after and should
: by ait means ~ ached TO Alabama Per-
! haps, however. 1t is easier TO take terri
tor from a territory than it would be
from q state and that is 1nanifestIy the
only Reason y b. the argument is now in
voked only Isainst Oklahoma. Were
II not So We might prepare for q gen
eral system OF rounding of corners and
toning down inn aginary lines 10 suit those
TO who'll irres uIarity Of form or size
seems 70 be 81 serious defect. This
argument for ounding out the ungainly-
forms of the suites mentioned is no more
absurd than tie idea Of attaching No
Mans Land 10 Texas or making COMPARE
sons between states as 30 population and
area. as indulg d in By the writer OF the
article in the Review of Reviews
And Senator Beverage says. following
the same line o. argument as the Review
Of Reviews. in his report on the senate
statehood bill, in sp ea.l1ing of Oklahoma
and the Indian territory:
. oklahoma is too contracted in area
Tor statehood alone and nature and all
human conditions ha1e decreed that they
should be united II is manifest to every
observer that the es st is attempting to
Unite in opposition u the organization OF
any more states in tiae west. The eastern
portion of the United States is gradually
losing what 1t has heretofore maintained
IL the control and management Of politi-
cal affairs of the nation, and is unwilling
to grant any more representation in either
branch OF congress TO the rapi5iy growing
west. Let US brieAy examine the argu-
ment of sienator Beveridge, or rather his
statement. for really it is not an argu-
ment at al, and We find the history OF
the past is all gainst his statement.
Were Indiana Ohio, New Hampshire.
Vermont, Maine. Florida or any other
states farther ease too concentrated in
area for statehood alone? Is not this the
same fossilized argument that was used
against the admission of those states?
1t is a notorious fact that Oklahoma has
less waste Land than any other region in
the United States for the area included.
and all the states. mentioned are much
smaller than Oklahoma. excepting Ohio
States are not admitted for a decade
ror for any one generation of man. but
they are built for all time and are not
admitted to give one portion Of the
United States an advantage over the
other by virtue of size, even though
they might be many years in reaching
their maturity. The east has already had
that advantage and is manifestIy unwin-
ing to give the west an opportunity TO
balance forces Should not the unequal
area between the states of the east and
west be partially equaaized now in this
last opportunity? Would it not be patri-
otic TO do so? Is there anyone who be
neves the west will not continue growing
in popularity more rap 1ly than the east?
With absolute free trade between ell the
states the question of commerce cuts no
figure whatever in state lines. Nature has
never been consulted in establishing the
boundary lines of any state except on
waterways, and that argument cannot be
used against oklahoma. Conditions do
rot enter into the question at all. There
are none that the state line could effect
in the least and there is no amity between
the people of the Indian territory and
Oklahoma, and If the question of afHni-
ties is to be consldered. it would be better
TO tack the northern half of Oklahoma to
Kansas and the southern half to Texas
and be done with the whole proposition. at
once. Unquestionabie settlement in
Oklahoma, as rule. together with the
question of affinity Of it enters into the
question at alb is a matter that should
he arranged by unity along the north and
south lines and not by connections east
and west.
When the great plan OF irrigation for
the west is finally consumated under ex-
listing laws, and it will take time to do
this it will be found that many OF the
western states will be large and unwieldy.
and that the west has been robbed Of all
its proportion Of senatorial representa-
ton. The west is increasing out of all
to the east in its percent of
population and will probably continue TO
do so for the next century. Westward
star of empire is still taking its way
and here on the western border Of the
viii finally be the most dens-
" populated portion of the United States
During the last decade. ending with 1890
Idaho increased her population 81 per
cent; Montana, 81 per cent: North Dakota
= per cent; Texas IS per cent. Wyoming
g per cent; Washington As per cent:
u lille the best showing in the eastern
states for the same time is as follows:
New Jersey. 30 per cent; Massachusetts
3 per cent: Rhode Island q per cent; New
ork p per cent; Connecticut p per cent:
Pennsylvania 10 per cent: New Hampshire
per cent; and Vermont only per cent.
OF the territories Arizonas percent Of
Increase in population during the decade
ending in 1900 was 10s per cent; New Mex
co q per cent and Oklahoma 81 per cent:
10 country has increased in population
IS rapidly as Oklahoma. Her growth is
phenomenal Measured by any standard
of comparison between Oklahoma as she
stands today and any average OF the
eastern states she is entitled to Immediate
statehood To further delay her adrnis-
sion is nothing short OF a political crime.
he fact is. and the people Of the terri
.ory should prepare TO meet &. many pol
1icians of the east ara opposed 20 the
admission Of any more states in the union
rom the west. The development of the
Trans Mississippi territory has not been
sufficiently rapid to justify the action OF
he past according 10 their superficial
argument They are naturally jealous
Il the rapid growing west This is but
It Is part OF human nature We
must expect Il. and expecting il. meet Il
md be ready for their objections Much
u this is honest. beca Use thsv d. not