The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-04-26
STATEHOOD MUST WAIT
SPEAKERS PLEASURE

Washington, d. c.. April 2s-The
friends OF statehood for Oklahoma,
Arizona, and New Mexico arc deter
mined to force matters from now on
For six weeks now they have been
patiently awaiting permission from
Speaker Henderson OF the house and
other party leaders to take up the
statehood omnibus bill To each OF
their appeals they have received replies
that as soon as the more important
national legislation was disposed OF BY
the house they would then be given
recognitiou At first the true signiii-
cance of these statements did not
dawn upon the friends of the state
hood bill. NOW they are beginning
to realize that practically all of the
time OF the house during this session
OF congress will be devoted To the con
sideration OF PRESSING national legisla-
ton. Accordingly, they have served
nouce on Speaker Henderson that they
cannot remain passive much longer
and that he must accord them recog-
nition within the near future The
speaker has responded with a prom
isc that next week he will cndeavor TO
give them an opportunity TO have
their bill considered.
Next Monday morning an issue is to
be made Chairman oi, the committee
on territories, accompanied by Dele
gates Flynn and Rodey and other
friends OF the statehood bill will pay
their final visit to the private office
Of the speaker He will be asked then
to state a definite time for the CON
sidcration OF the bill creating states
out OF Oklahoma Arizona and New
Mexico. II he again procrastinates, an
ultimatum will be served on him The
friends OF the bill have been patient
long enough and are now determined
to take il up, regardless OF his wishes
For three weeks past Delegate Flynn
and Rodey on the republican side
Mark Smith, on the democratic side
have been making careful poll OF the
house. They have found that they car
rely upon a good majority to take IN
the statehood bill whenever the mo-
ton is made. They have also discov.
cred that there will be no opposition
and that some OF the strongest mem.
bers OF the house will be against the
bill II has been with the object in
view of allayng this opposition thai
| lntl hdkN 'fuIohtu. ilN plNotll NOnNll
iatorv course. Now they have reach
ed that position where they must eth.
er fight for their rights, even though
the struggle provikes violent opposi
ton or allow the bill to die on the
calendar OF the house.
1t is now within two months OF tn,
announcement OF the present session
and il the bill is to be passed by tn,
house and considered in the senate i
must be taken up without further delav
There will be little opportunity mex
winter to consider statehood legisla
ton as the short session is invariably
consumed by the appropriation bills
However il the present bill can be pass
ed through the house, so that it ma,
be considered by the senate commit
tee on territories and reported bacl
to the senate at this session, th'
friends OF statehood will be content
ed to allow it to remain on the cal
endar until next winter believing tha
they can get that body TO dispose o
it early in December.
There is a hard fight on for th,
friends OF the bill, but they thorough
| ~ realize what is before them and ar,
accordingly preparing for a struggle