The Washington times., 1902-04-02
DIFFICULTY over
GRANTING STATEHOOD
-;Gis.t
Applicant Territories Are All
" " Democratic.
~
OMNIBUS BILL REPORTED
Provides, for Admission of Oklahoma,
Arizona, and New hexicO-comInittee
Able 10 Force Measure-0vertures to
the Speaker. . .-.s...,,- -. ,,~
OMNIBUS BILL REPORTED

The House Committee on Territories
yesterday reported. through its chair
man, Representative Knox. the omnibus
bin granting statehood TO the Territories
of Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Behind this action lies a tale of some
interest. 1t has been known for some time
that the friends of the Territories were
determined to put the bill through the
House this session, if possible. and that
the Speaker and the House leaders were
determined to prevent its passage.
1t is generally believed that Arizona
and New Mexico will be Democratic. and
that Oklahoma is more likely to go Demo
cratic than Republican. Consequently. the
admission of these Territories at this
time is considered to mean an addition of
certainly four and probably six Democrat
ic Senators to the Senate and from six to
nine Democratic votes to the next elec-
tOral college.
A Coordination Favored.
But the Delegates from these Terri
tories, each with his eye ON a Senatorship.
AMI their friends from the West and else
where formed a combination. and so con-
ident are they in its strength that they
believe they can pass the bill over the
heads of the powers that rule
1t was first agreed by the committee
that an omnibus bill shouli be reported
But on objection being made. it was de-
cided to report the bills separately. 1t
was then found that while all the bills
YI.-
the House. none of. the bills separately
could be assured of passage. So the com
mittee returned to the omnibus bill again.
1t has been said the Speaker sent for
Chairman Knox and roughly demanded
TO know what he had made him chairman
of the committee for if it was not to
prevent undesirable legislation, and that
he would hold him responsible if the bill
was reported from the committee. This
is authoritatively denied. The Speaker
did however. consult many of the chair
men of the leading committees. whom ne
regards in the light of his cabinet, and
they were almost unanimous in their opin-
ion that it would be most undesirable
and unwise thing to do to add four or
six Democrats to the Senate.
Yesterday.a group of Republican mem
bers of the. Committee on Territories.
headed by Representative Knox and Dele
gate Flynn, Of OklanOina, neid an inter-
view with Speaker Henderson from which
they emerged in high feather.
The delegation said they were certain
they had enough votes to pass the bill,
and that unless he gave them a rule for
cons Iteration they would call it up and
try to pass,it in the House. The Speak
er said he would let them know in a few
days If they could have the rule or not,
and the delegation departed.
I7i Home Rule.
The report filed yesterday is very
lengthy ono, and in addition to enumer
ating the other claims of the Territories
to statehood. it points out that our ter
ritorial lposstssions in different quarters
are clamoring for home rule" and that
it has already been given to Porto Rico.
and is substantially promised to the Phil
ippines.
From the islands of the sea. new pos
sessions of the United States,' it says,
comes the cry for home rule. The Amer
lean people hasten to announce to the
world their purpose to grant it.
There is but one kind of rule possible
in the United states. 1t is that of SOW
ereign States. What we readily grant to
the land but lately foreign. and to the
alien race let us not withhold from our
own"
Under the bill the constitutional con-
yention of Oklahoma is TO adopt an ir
revocable ordnance TO permit Congress
to add part or all of Indian Territory to