The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-08-01
LOCAL SELF Government
". a. LEoeETTER EXPRESSES
Hts VIEWS on TIE SUBJECT.
Favo-a . Hon-Psrtisan Convention a.
an early Date. corposeo q Rep
ressntstiss wsr-Believss the
Noon sHi to bs tns 5es;

tnarecert letter 90 the souih Me-
Mester Daily capital " A Leibetter
Is quoted a. saying
Editor Capital Respondiug 10 your
.requss. for my views with regard TO
the msaures pending 90 congress for
relief in the Indian Terr.tory ! beg
20 say that 9 believe the best and
quickest ~ay % ge, relief would be- i1r
everybody % support the Noon bin
This measure represents the deiber
ate Judgment Of The house committee
on territories as o. what should 0e
done f0r the t=rritoy. and is wholly
non partisan. It bears the name oi
q Democrat but t was unanimously
reported By a committee with q Re
publican majority It would give us
an organized government with local
legislature. a governor and secretary
Nth Official connection With the fed
erai government and delegate 90
congress. through whom the rights and
interests OF the people could be made
known and their grievances rernedied
There is no constitutional necessity
f0r a territorial government. but dur
ing nay stay iu Washington this spring
became convinced that the belief
in congress that the territory is not
prepared for statehood and that a
territorial g0s eminent is the only re-
/ lief that could be obtained in the
near future. was 50 strong that be-
l.eve 10 is useless o. urge immediate
[ statehood The Republicans knov the
responsibility for the bad conditions
ln the territory rests upon them. and
with the exception of a few bitter par
tssns. they viii cooperate with the
Democrats TO anording relief. If the
people Of the territory properly urge
their cause. A nou-partisan conven-
tou. composed OF representative men.
should be held some time in the early
fall and a definite plan agreed upon.
The commercial bodies and the busi-
ness men should take a controlling
part in this movement, for in the
measures now pending IN congress
they have the greatest possible inter
lest
Territorial government Is but a TEN
porary expedient al best Back Of all
pending measures Turks the question
OF double or single statehood and the
business interests OF the territory
should dominate the convention 20 the
lertent OF forcing the adoption OF a
plan that will promote the permanent
welfare OF the people II possible
This convention should decide the fol-
lowing questions:
/ T. should separate territorial gov
ernment DE- established with a view
10 ultimate separate statehood.
2 Should the bin for the admission
OF Oklahoma De amended SO as 90 em-
brace the Indian Territory under any
conditions: and If so. what condition
should be urged in view Of the conyic
tion in congress that Oklahoma Is
ready for statehood and that the In
dian Territory is not.
8. What measure should be urged
for the relief Of the territory in case
Oklahoma should be admitted into th'
Union with the proviso that any par
Of the Indian Territory should be an
nexed when ever In the opinion o
d congress it will be the proper thinl
to do.
These questions are before the pee
pie, and should be courageously con
sidered and decided II will be cas-.
h. enough TO keep party politics out o
the consideration Of the bill providing
a territorial government; but | car
not agree with Col Owens and 9th
ers in the belief that action upo
statehood matters-the omnibus bill
as well as any measure which ma
affect the final status OF the India
Territory-will be taken solely wit
.. regard TO the relief and welfare OF IN
people and without regard 10 part
interests. The political possibilities
which may follow the admission
II three. or IN case OF double statehoou
lie four new states from the West an
IL the Southwest, are so great, that "
,e must not deceive ourselves with n
n, belief that only our welfare viii D
" considered While this is tru
every step taken by us should b
non.partisan and every measul
an urged should be directed toward n
vi relief of all the people Of the Teri
tory. Local self-goyernment wit
an efficient system OF public fire.
schools and the opportunity TO d