New-York tribune., 1902-12-16
IN FAVOR OF THREE NEW STATES.
Report of the Minority of the Senate
Committee on Territories

Washington. Dec 15-Mr Bate to-day presented
IN the Senate the minority report from the Com
mittee on Territories favoring the immediate pas
sage of the House Omnibus Statehood bill with
out amendment The report opposes the union of
Oklahoma and the Indian Territory in one State.
II shows minuteIy the condition of each of the
three Territories as to population, wealth and gen
eral features. and says that these are such as to
call for immediate Statehood 1t says that both
the Republican and Democratic parties in their last
national conventions adopted pIanks recommending
each OF the three Territories by name for State
hood Such expression. the report continues,
should be respected by both parties. The report
says among other things:
It never was intended that Congress shsuld bar
by party objection admission when population,
case Of Other States.
With reference to the qualifications of the popu-
1aion OF the Territories the report contends that
lit ought suffice that 95 per cent of the popua-
ton white in Oklahoma, and the $1,000 white
population IN Arizona and the f22 o0 white popula-
ton IN New-Mtxico quite sufficient TO leaven
all the foreign born in each Of those Territories" "
Then follows the remark that whether some of
the Northwestern States now booming with foreign
population had large leaven of American born
people when admitted need not now be discussed
their successful example of Statehood shows
how soon the whole mass becomes AmericaIlized' -
Referring to the proposition to unite Oklahoma
and Indian Territory one State the report says:
All legislation for the admission of States
mas been preceded by expression of desire On the
part or the people Tor admission to the Union. But
the amendment submitted by the Senate Committee
on Territories incorporates the Indian Territory
with the State OF Oklahoma without expression Of
the people OF the Indian Territory to be either
State or part Of Oklahoma So far as your com
mittee has information. this alliance may he the
union OF unwilling people and undesra BILE
connection In no case in the past have the people
or any Territory been compelled by the enabling
act to form constitution against their expressed
will However much the people Of Oklahoma desire
statehood, the Indians have made expression of
any such desire
Summing up the minority say:
Each of these Territories has complied with every
requirement heretofore made by Congress for ad-
mission into the Union Each has popula ton suf-
fcient for representation in Congress Each has
wealth abundant TO support all the expenses of
Statehood Each has institutions in harmony with
republican government understood in the Union.
the majority the Statehood bill One of the por-
by witness that of the white people in the
construction Of railroads" Commenting on this
statement. the minority say:
The ''rfffrafr who follow the railroads have been
the sturdy IriShmen whose pick and shovel and
spade and labor have built the one hundred thou-
sand miles of American railroad Why that ''riffraff
should not be good citizens in NeW-MeXico. as they
in every other State and Territory, the report
does not advise the Senate Protesting that the
witness upon whose testimony this slur riff
ran has been made greatly miSinforIned
take made somewhere between the witness and the
committee, since the testimony has all the
on the part OF Arizona and New-Nexico rather
than TO enlighten the Senate to their republican
form OF government
The report is signed by Senators Bate, Heitfeld,
Bailey and Patterson, constituting the Democratic
membership Of the Committee Territories