The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-29
PART OF EAST
Is ALARMED
BY STATEHOOD
SenseIess Prejudice Against
Admission Of Territories.
AFRAID OF SENATE POWER
And Its Shift to the Domain
West of the Mississippi.
AFRAID OF SENATE POWER

Washington, NJune 2S-Many westerners
fail TO appreciate the difficulties the
statehood proposition has to meet in the
national congress. Rank prejudice OF
partisan kind is only small item. The
casts jealousy Of the growing political
supremacy of the land beyond the Missis-
sippi is a much more dangerous element
of opposition. n notwithstanding the
scheme of the American government con-
templates that the senate shall not be
based on population, the east is roaring
with a protest against a meagerly settled
section of the domain having controlling
voice in the upper branch. and is calling,
in an Intellectual way Of course. for
remedy.
AS an instance showing how deep seat
ed is this feeling against the admission of
more western territories a writer in the
New York Evening Post, in fact that pa
per's regular Washington correspondent,
gives expression TO a wonderful series of
political fears. He starts OUT by conced-
ing that II is only a question of time be-
fore statehood for Oklahoma, Arizona
and New Mexico p viii be accomplished.
Then he begins his extensive argument
against enfranchising the people of the
territories, on account Of their power in
the senate as follows:
The Democrats at every opportunity
win vote solidly to admit these terrific
ries; Republicans from those states which
have recently been territories incline 10
be liberal in this nae tier. 1t would thus
take but a few eastern Republicans, with
this backing, to edge these territories into
the Union. With the log rolling forces
which they and their friends in congress
are able to set in motion. the outlook for
their waiting long at the door is not
large.
The reasons for opposition in the east
to the admission of these territories have
been much misrepresented. 1t is not,
among fair minded people at least,
question of politics; it is not a question OF
public issues. Whether these territories
believe in heavier duties on wool and
hides and other raw materials than is of
advantage TO the east should not be a
controlling influence. Nor is the objec-
ton a sectional one, or in any sense
racial
The objection rather relates to the bal
ance of power. These territories will not
only move the center of gravity westward
and southwark but viii greatly intensity
the power which the small states, as
such, already posses. The latter is the
real objection. Where small states like
Delaware and Rhode Island are scattered
in among larger ones, with which their in
terests are practically identical, no harm
is done, but where whole section, hav
ing issues and interests Of its own, is
made up Of small states, the injustice Of
its excessive power In the senate becomes
apparent.
There are really four communities
awaiting admission to the Union. since it
is only a question of time when the In
dian Territory will be knocking at the
door, and the proposal TO consolidate it
with Oklahoma is not regarded out there
with favor. The east always suggests
consultations. It would have preferred
to see the two Dakotas remain one, and
to have seen Titan come in as part OF
Nevada. and it would now like to have
Oklahoma and the Indian Territory con-
sclldatoc on the north, ard Arizona and
New Mexico on the south. But these
communities win never think Of doing
that and so four more states and eight
senator's must sooner OF later be expect
ed. This would give to the sixteen states
west Of Missouri. and exclusive Of Gallo
fornia and Texas. thirty-two senators out
OF a total Of ninety-eight. or nearly one
third of the whole. These sixteen COM
munlties had by the census of 1890. pop
ulation of Sos. 600. which is a little more
than that of Pennsylvania and consider
ably less than that of New York. Think
Of the injustice Of giving either New York
or Pennsylvania a third OF the represen-
tation in the senate. and yet q population
of substantially the same size would have
it in the west within these four commune
ties admitted TO statehood.
This comparison. moreover. includes
the rather populous states of Kansas and
Nebraska. without them. the showing IS
still more striking. Were ten states OF
the Rocky mountain belt. consisting OF
Washington. Oregon. Idaho. Montana.
Wyoming. Nevada. Utah. Colorado. Ari-
iona and New Mexico. 70 be put into a
class by themselves, they would have
twenty members Of the senate-more than
one-hfth OF that body-although having
a population OF only 26oo 90. which is con- +
siderably less than that OF Massachusetts /
and bat little more than half that Of Illi-
nois And while it may be argued that
there are small States in the extreme east
and that many OF the present large states
Of tho union began small. these consi1era- /
tons do not disturb the basic fact that /
with the three OF four communities now
waiting once TO be admitted 10 the union. +
a row Of small states in the Rocky noun T
tain region would have a power in nat (
fonaI affairs which would make the real
Injustice OF the old Connecticut consutu- !
ton seem mild And these would always
Be small states By comparison with the
great conmonBeaiths OF the Mississippi
valley.
The senate Is. besides. growing 50 cor /
ssantly in political power that EcEilsh !
writer's often ten about what the 'Aneri- T
can senate IS going to Go. IS II Il we're
the whole congress. and almost cur whole f
government. In that august body The .
Rocky mountain west and the south .
would 50 easily make majority. Vere +
they unitsd On some new issue. that the .
s.,lia business sections II fhe north ard .
east might be lsft almost pozerieSs- +
TSvsnty-ave states would settle The great f
questions Of peace and var. II trade and 1
finance. IN the controlling branch q the .
congress OF the United states Tie cd 4
south could give twelve IN which Il would 4
never ~ necessary . advance political 4
argument The Rocky uountirs cce,s +
give tie rsz- without seeking anT aid /
from such states - Kansas. SehrasAa /
asa che Uakotes suaEl part - rhe
uanefstion ~ thc unsra ana stilt smaller
ratio II these ether thirss whsrh 20 70 j
-, - z---a ----r.-..-n III. 60