New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-03
NEW STATES PROPOSED.
OKLAHOMA. NEw-MEXICO AND ARIZONA
NOT LIKELY TO BE ADMITTED AT
THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS-
rRy TELEGRAPH ID THE rRIsuNE.I

fBY TELEGRAPH ID THE TRIBUNE.
| Washington April 2.-Statehood for the Terrific
ries of Oklahoma New-Mexico and Arizona is more
promising at present than at any previous time
since that question has been agtated in this Con-
gress. The House Committee Territories. OF
which Mr.. Knox, of Massachusetts, is chairman.
has favorably reported omnibus bill granting
statehood to the three Territories. and Speaker
Henderson to-day virtually promised Chairman
Knox and Delegates Flynn. Rodey and Smith. re-
spectively of Oklahoma New-Mexico and Arizona.
who called him in body that he would give
their bill day after the Cuban Reciprocity
bill is disposed of, which will be in about two
weeks The delegates say that they have secured
a sufficient number of pledges guarantee the
passage of the bill by big majority, and that its
consideration will not consume more than two
days of the time of the House.
The situation in the Senate, however, is not so
favorab to the bill as it is in the House In fact
1t proba BILE that if the should be brought
before the Senate this session it would fail and
with this knowledge to guide them 1t is thought
that the friends of the bill will not 1t in the
Senate at this time, the hope that at the short
session of Congress- after the elections of next fall
have shown that both Oklahoma and New-Mexico
safely Republican, and that Arizona is good
fighting ground the Senate will look with more
favor the proposition TO add three more states
the Union.
The bill carries with it provision for the annexa-
ton of Indian Territory to Oklahoma. provided the
people Of both of those Territories vote for this
proposition.
same in Ohio. and Indian Territory is
of about equal dimensions. with the population Of
each continuing to grow at q rapid rate. 1t is
thought that two States instead of one eventually
will be made of them. BY the last census the
population of Oklahoma shown to be nearly
four hundred thousand, Increase over the popu-
aton 1880 of 544 per cent. and the population of
Indian Territory is greater than this, with
a correspondngly greater percentage of increase in
the same period In other words. there are now
nealy million white people in these two Terri
tories alone. and when the anomalous tribal rela.
of Congress. will be done within three or four
years the population there will grow even faster
tory, however. is overwhelmingly Democratic, ana
probably will continue to be, since ITS emsTallonl
other Democratic States. But Oklahoma is soldly
Republican. and from the character and source OF
change its political leanings and thus Will SEND Two
Republicans to the Senate, unless OF course lnq 10
majorites overwhelm the present he eeai Ga
strength. Mexico. too. appears TO De saely ~.
mainly from Republican communities through I me
operations of large land companies mining sgnni
gigantic colonization enterprises there. ,,.
On the other hand. Arizona seems hopelesstg
have come largely from Democratic sections of the
country. New-Mexico's population, according 70
last report gives population OF $4,000 The per
Gs s Of ga b bs Of fT w
only o. The wool interests of NewMexico are so
strong that t,ers % 6 epmoan paf
IF Oklahoma should be admitted II would De en-,
should Indian Territory be taken in separately
after while its representation would be quite as
nor New Mexico would have more than one mem
Der of the House Thus II these four IeTr d
mission would in way disturb the political bal
of the country. nor even endanger it. as each
Congress and the Electoral College