Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-10-23

-A-~-N---~-f
ganixations. declaring IN favor of sin.
gle statehood and in favor Of the ST.
multaneous admission OF both terri.
tories as one state.
Democrats for One State.
Last spring the territorial demo-
cratic executive committee IL a meet
ing at Oklahoma City, passed reso-
luton declaring for immediate single
statehood. and furnished each demo
orat in congress with a copy OF this
resolution. thus placing the party on
record through its committee and in
line with the sentiment OF both repub-
llcans and democrats. as expressed in
the two statehood conventions recently
held. In April the democratic terrific
rial convention assembled at Enid and
adopted a Platform in which they de-
clared that the dominant issue of the
campaign was the issue OF statehood
and that the democratic party tender
ed this as the issue which the repub.
lican Iarty must meet
II thus appears that the terrific
rial democratic platform was, and is,
In line with the McAlester convention,
tho Muscogee convention, the business
mems organizations OF the leading
cities OF the territory. and of the non.
partisan. patriotic sentiment or both
democrats and republicans
With the issue thus supported and
thus rendered by the democratic par
ty II was hoped by the conservative
and non-partisan friends of single
statehood that the republican terri
torial convention would fall into line
with the views OF such men as Gov
ernor Barnes and Mr. Greer and G..
G. jones and A. H. Classen, and
hundreds OF other prominent republi'
cans al over the territory. and by de-
claring for single statehood eliminate
this important proposition from the
domain Of politics so as not to leopard
lze II In the chances OF political
struggle. But these hopes were moi
justified and the republican conven
ton in the face OF all the proceedings
had up to that time, remained silent
on the question OF single statehood anc
contented itself by a single endorse
ment OF the Flynn Bill. using the fol
lowing language: I'VE endorse the
Flynn statehood bill which has
passed the house and is now pending
in the senate. and we pledge our hon
est efforts to the passage of this bill
at the earliest possible date" Tha
bill provides statehood for Oklahoml
and lrovides that Oklahoma shall ex
press its consent to the attachment
Of the Indian territory after all the
| l.. NJ nh
ject to taxation. which would not b'
for twenty or thirty years. The plat
form stops with that endorsement
il does not express the position Of th'
republican party upon the question o
whether this territory shall be at
tached, nor does 1t express any pur
rose on the part of the republican
party TO hasten this attachment II
any way, shape or form.
In view OF the fact that the republi
cans end bill which postponei
single tatehood for twenty or thirt!
years, and in view OF the fact tina
they do not express any desire for sin
gle statehood. and in view of the fac
that the non-partisan statehood con
ventions. the business mems organi
gations, and the democratic party hay
all taken uneQuivocal stand in favo
Of single statehood, the conclusion 4
irresistible that the republican part,
is dominated by set OF leaders VIII
oppose single statehood
l. therefore, return to my origina
proposition. which is, that the demo
cratic party stands with the busines
men OF Oklahoma in favor of singl
statehood, and that the REPUBLICAN
party is against the business interest
of Oklahoma and stands for doubl
statehood. and We all agree that tn
question OF statehood is the dominRn
issue OF the campaign.
Argument for single Statehood.
Having defined the issue. let US nov
examine the reasons which supper
tho position of the democratic part
and the business mems organization
OF tho territory. In the first place
from the standpoint OF territorial e,
tent. single state composed OF bot
territories will be comparatively
small state. The area in square mile
Of the states and territories west c
the Mississippi is as follows:
Oklahoma. $4,000; Indian territory
900; Texas. 266,Tso: Kansas. So
0S0: Mlnnesota, s3,365; Arkansas. SO
$50: Missouri. 69.4lO; Iowa. 56,025
North and South Dakota, l5o. 900; Nj
braska, 1850; New Mexico, l22.5so
Arizona. 900; Colorado. los.s
Utah. SA,970: Idaho. A.S00: Montanl