The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-16
CITIZENS OF
SAYRE TURN
OUT EN- MASSE
To Hear the Champion of
Statehood, Bird Mcclure.
GIVEN A FINE RECEPTION
Issues of the Campaign are
Ably Presented.
GIVEN A FINE RECEPTION

Sayre o. T, Oct. 15.-The citizens OF
the prosperous city of SayTe and sur
rounding community assembled Monday
afternoon TO greet Bird S. Mcclure, the
Republican congressional candidate
While in every respect 1t was a Repub-
lican meeting, yet Democratic business
men and farmers with their Republican
friends and neighbors gathered to hear
a discussion of the issues Of the cam
paign. After days rest, Mr.. Mcclure
was in splendid condition TO appear be-
fore the people and did not fail TO make
a speech which impressed his hearers
with its argument and clearness OF logic
The speaker was introduced by J. Frank
Trimble candidate for representative III
Roger Mills county. Mr.. Trimbles IN
PRODUCTION was pleasing and when pre-
sented to the auience, the congressional
candidate was greeted by a storm OF ap-
plause. The platform upon which he
stood was artistically decorated. Flags
and bunting were used in profusion. AZ
the rear was a picture OF the martyred
president and it was before this picture
that Mr. Mcclure stood 10 address the
audience.
The principal topic of the afternoon
was statehood-immediate statehood for
Oklahoma There was d desire mani
tested by the audience to have this sub
ject discussed in detail Mr. Mcguire
took up the early history Of the statehood
matter. referring TO the united work OF
Democrats, Republicans and Populists in
their effort TO catch the ear Of the na-
tional congress, in order to impress upon
them the need of statehood for Okla
homa. A comparison Of the attitude Of
Democrats a that time was made with
their recent action in declaring by reso-
luton TO congress that they were op-
posed as a party 10 statehood for Okla
homa in any form unless ii included
statehood with the Indian territory.
The Anadarko resolution adopted last
March protesting against any kind of
statehood for Oklahoma alone, when the
matter was being considered by con-
gress, was read to the audience, clearly
demonstrating that the Democrats on
that committee were more concerned in
taking care of the Indian territory than
in their own territory.
The progress of the Flynn bill, after be-
ing introduced in congress was given and
the vote of the Democrats, which was
almost unanimous. uniting with the Re
publicans upon the proposition was re-
ferred TO by the speaker, giving an in
dication to the persons in the audience
that Cross and his supporters are not
in harmony with the Democrats in con-
gress.
The provisions of the Flynn bill were
read and every proposition explained.
The clauses referring to the school land
of the future state were discussed and
the fact that there is a demand among
school land lessees for settled conditions.
is an argument in favor of imemdiate
statehood for Oklahoma, the school land
proposition will then be taken up and
settled by Oklahomans and not in a
legislature composed OF Oklahomans and
Indian territory people.
The condition Of the Indian territory at
this time, without dollar for public
utilities, or even release from tribal
relations or conditions was conclusive
evidence to the Sayre audience that
statehood for the Indian territory is i'm
practicable at this time. The attitude
of Senator Joe Bailey OF Texas. who is
for statehood for Oklahoma, was pre-
sented, and was another factor in the
arguments made that caused more than
one Democrat TO wonder II Cross and his
men could secure sympathy from his
party elsewhere. Mr.. Mcclure discussed
the statehood question for more than an
hour and Democrats who were in the
audience had no hesitation in saying
that every argument made by Cross was
shattered with telling force by Mr.. Nc
Guire.
The speaker mentioned the mixed
school question, which was enlarged
upon by Cross while in this county.
Cross stated that the mixed school ques-
tion was not settled. and in reply to this
statement Mr. McGuirep reduced a copy
of the session law of 1901. reading the
present law. giving its history, stating
how the matter went to the supreme
court and that Chief Justice Burford had
decided that II there was one colored
child in a school district it should have
a separate school, and if there was a
white child in a school district it should
have a separate school. There was q
radical difference shown in the speeches
made by Bill Cross in Guthrie and
Iangston and those made in this county.
These differences were not especially
pleasing to Cross friends and his evident
duplicity did not gain him any friends.