The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-18
SENATE IO Kill H
Very Little Hope for Omnibus
Statehood Bill.
AS WELLMAN SEES 1T
New Mexico May Not be Ad-
mitted for Fifty Years.

Walter wellman, writing for the Chi
cago Herald-Record. forecasts that Ok
lahoma viii not be erected into state
for, perhaps, several years. He does not
think the omnibus bill viii pass the
senate. He offers reasons which, to say
/ the least. do not seem to have any rea-
son in them, why the Dill VIII not become
a lsw-reasons based on politics. The
attitude of the senate, which he describes.
is both Illogical and unpatriotic. It is
not easy to believe that a national body
OF the dignity of the United States SEN
ate would continue to deprive a great
people, ike Oklahomans, Of rights simply
! FOR political reasons. Wellman is posi-
bly, mistaken, but this is what he says:
Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona
viii not be admitted as staotes, at least
not now. Today the house committee on
territories unanimously ordered a favora-
bic report of an omnibus bin admitting
these three territories, and it is under
stood the bill will pass the house. But it
is just as well understood that the bill
viii not pass the senate. An interesting
story lies behind the determination of the
Republican leaders of the upper house
to prevent the erection of three new
American communicative. Their decision
has actually turned on the question as to
whether or not Oklahoma could be count
ed upon to give Republican majorities in
the future.
Of the three territories, Oklahoma is
the only one worthy of statehood and
that it is worthy there seems to be no
doubt. By the census Of 1900 the territory
had 100000 population. It's population is
now above half a million. The people
are intelligent, thrifty and thoroughly
American in their antecedents and char
acteristies. In 1889 the territory gave
Republican majority but since then about
10000 new inhabitants have been added
by immigration. When the new lands
were opened up for settlement the Repub-
lican congress tried its best to preserve
this Republican majority. It gave special
advantages to old soldiers. supposed to
be mostly Republicans, but for some rea-
son the soldiers did not go into the terri
tory in large numbers. An effort was
made TO keep Texas out, as most Texans
are Democrats. but this did 1aot work
well. either. Under the law settlers were !
required to register, and this bave the |
Republicans an opportunity to trace out !
the political agitation of the new inhabi- |
tants.
THE Republicans have had agents out |
securing information. and the report is
that three-fourths of the new population |
are of the Democratic faith. hailing prin- |
cipally from Arkansas Missouri and /
Texas. It is believed the territory is |
now Democratic, and the senate will not !
admit It as a state. This looks a good /
deal like the days Of the slavery extern (
sion question. but Republican senators (
defend their policy on the plea that they !
once bought q gold brick in their invest /
ment in new western states of small pop /
ulation and supposed Republican tenden- T
cies which Immediately turned around +
and aocked with Democracy or Populism, /
and the Republicans do not propose to I
be caught that way again.
''The most the senate is likely TO do is (
to consent to the making of an organ (
lied territory Of the Indian Territory and .
changing its name to Jefferson. This ter
ritory has population of about 400 600,
and many Republicans think It time it
should be united with Oklahoma and the
two together be made into a state. OF
course, it Is uncomfortable that the SEN
ate win forever bar Oklahoma from
statehood, now that the community is
so large. important and deserving.
AS for New Mexico, it is pretty sure
to remain a territory for long time TO
come. Those conservative senators who
oppose any policy that looks to making
states Of our Latin-American possessions
find argument in the case Of New Mexico.
Though it has been half-century under
American rule. it is almost as Spanish ss
# ever was Three-fourths Of the people
are said to retain the Spanish language
and Spanish customs. They are as fond
Of their Sunday cockfghts as are the FL
ipinos. Gambling houses and such things
flourish. The majority of the people are
of a low grade sort. not fit for self-gov-
eminent in the opinion OF men who have
made a study OF them. Real Americans
who so down there to embark in business
get away as soon as they have made
their pile The population OF New Mex
leo is about 2oo.0o0. chiefly Mexicans and
Indians. and II win have to knock at the
door of the senate for perhaps half a
century longer before It gains adnittance
as state.
Arizona Is much more deserving. but
the population Of that territory. only 125.
COZ, is much too small 70 think Of making