The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-12-17
oUAYs ACTION UPSET THINGS
GENERALLY IN SENATE.
Must Have Had a Big Poker Game the
Night Preceding His Territorial
Destruction Euloey and Made
Bluff Which Counted.
Special to the Ardmoreite.


body from locomotive to caboose.
When congress convened the omni-
bus bill was doomed There seemed
no hope for IT, The leaders who have
never been defeated. and who did not
seem capable even OF a backset. de-
olared there should be no omnibus bill.
but Oklahoma and Indian Territory
should form one state.
Old-timers who had seen the ma
chine work smoothly for more than a
half century. were absolutely certain
that the game was bagged. cooked and
salted and ready to serve But they
did moi understand how terribly and
dreadfully In earnest Matt Quay was
on the subject Of the omnibus bill.
They knew that the old man was go
ing to make a big bluff for the omni-
bus bill, but nobody suspected him of
having a royal flush to spring on the
leaders and bosses. He entered the
senate chamber with a smile that was
child-like and bland and began TO call
from the opening of the pot
Two weeks ago il was generally un.
derstood that the omnibus bill was
dead, when as a matter of fact It was
unobtrusively very much alive. II
will be passed during the present ses-
sion of congress. Senator Allison. the
veteran leader who has directed sen
ate proceedings without a halt for al
most a quarter of a century. now says:
"The activity of Senator Quay and
Senator Elkins has caused split in
the ranks of the republicans of the
senate. such as | have never before
seen. We must wait awhile and try
to get together"
Senator Quay says: "The old game
of waiting which has killed so many
measures. will not prove effective this
time. | am standing squarely on the
platform adopted by several republi-
can national conventions, and repub-
lican senators cannot afford to open
ly defy their own platforms and nulli-
fly the actions Of their national conven-
tions. 1t has been good republican
doctrine for many years to declare
for the admission of these territories.
AID the democrats of the senate are
all honest. They are standing by their
platform declarations. The republi-
cans, which have determined TO throt-
tie and kill the omnibus bill, are not
honest. AS | said on the floor OF the
senate, If the republican platform is
a lie In one plank like this, II can be
a lie throughout. and we cannot even
trust its declarations in favor of the
principles of protection"
Another senator who objected to
having his name quoted, said. II
have some big whisky interests in my
state and do not want to openly an
tagonize them, else would let you
quote my name. However, what you
want is the facts, and have been in
formed that some. large whisky inter-
ests are in favor OF the Indian Terri
tory's statehood in order that there
may be an enlargement of the whisky
business. believe this to be true,
and other senators believe it. because
IL is natural. The whisky trade is
limited to smuggling now, and with
statehood the national laws would
not extend 10 Indian Territory: and
the red men love fire water as well as
their ancestors loved IT,"
This idea has not been openly made
In the senate. but II is evident that II
has been talked over in the commit.
tee rooms and cloak rooms from the
statement that Il believe II. and other
senators believe it," Very often leg.
isiation is more affected by these quiet
talks among the senators than by all
tho eloquent utterances on the floor
where the senators usually play the
galleries, and the Record for distri.
button in the states.
Senator Carmack of Tennessee
says Il am proud TO say that all of
the democratic senators are in favor
OF the omnibus bill, because they are
loyal to their party declarations. I
am also glad OF 1t because | believe
there is more gratitude in human ma.
ture than men generally believe. and
believe that these new states when
admitted, will always remember that
they owe their sovereignty 70 the
democratic senators, rather than TO
the republicans They will, of course.
entertain everlasting grateful memor.
les OF Senator Quay and Senator lei.
kins. but their chief gratitude will be
to the democratic party for its stead.
fast loyalty to the principle Of giving
sovereignty TO territories as soon as
thew nrQ AZ for ofofoA-a