The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-12-12
ABOLISH THE TERRITORIES.


-..t substitute for the omnibus state
s,ool bill which passed the house at
y,ss last session The bin in question
vides for the admission Of Okla
5 "a New Mexico and Arizona into
e. , Union. and the adoption OF the
proposed substitute bin would result
In admitting the first named territory
alone. There Is reason, however. to
suspect that the narrow majority of
the committee which will favor side
tracking the two far western terrific
ries means by indirectlon to see that
Oklahoma shares the same fate. The
boomer territory Is not wanted In the
Union by those senators who are jeal-
Gus Of the western supremacy In the
upper branch OF congress. but with
ahe certainty OF the house nonconcur-
ring in the substitute measure. even
though II passed the senate, the Re
publican members OF the latter body.
with few exceptions. will be likely TO
vote FOR Oklahoma statehood TO keep
the Republican majority in that terri
tory in good humor. The opposition
In the house. expected to be too strong
60 be overcome is not based upon hos.
tility to Oklahoma's statehood aspira-
lions. but upon the opposition to the
partiality which would allow her to
enter the Union aud shut the door in
The face OF New Mexico and Ari-
3D. "All or none" seems 10 be the
linant sentiment In the house.
can not be gainsaid that the
ent has logic and justice behind
As a general proposition. quite ir.
respective Of their claims for state
hood. Oklahoma. New Mexico and Ar
izona should have their stars On the
national flag. In the days when this
country possessed frontier. there
might have been wisdom in the terri.
tory as a kindergarten Of local SELF
government, but It is doubtful If one
plausible excuse can be urged for the
existence Of a territory within the
bounds OF the United States today
The steady tide of western emigra.
tion has long since obHterated the
frontitr. with its picturesque and rath
or lawless primitiveness. and there is
title OF even provincial or colloquial
difference now between the newest
west and oldest east. The typical
American citizen Is the dominant so
cial force in every geographical sub
division of the great republic. and nu
merically he is strong enough in ever,
one of them to properly support ant
enjoy the state institutions. Their,
may have been rotten boroughs" in
Nolyed in past statehood legislation
No protest of that nature can be tena
bic at present The three remaininl
territories are populous. progressive
prosperous and essentially American
Nothing save sectional jealousy an,
PARTISAN narrowness stands in the wa,
OF tneir receiving tardily. their inner
en- and constitutional rights at IN,
hands OF congress. An examination o.
The early statehood statistics of YER,
many states of the Union will SHOW
that Oklahoma. New Mexico and Ari
zona have for ten years past hat
more American citizens within thei
borders, more miles OF railroad NOR,
developed material resources-in bria,
more OF the prerequisites OF state or
Sanzation than were possessed b,
these states at the time Of their admis
sion. Oklahoma and Indian Territory
tsNen as single entity. as they shoul,
oe' have today population equal 4
tlat OF several states OF the Unio,
combined, and their progress is com
mersrrate TO their populousness.
inv average citizen OF a state ha
small conception OF the political sul
servieDcy implied by territorializatior
The PEOPLE OF the South can bes
understand, for ther memory is bite
oi a satrapy ruled by carpetbaggery.
ieiritory is one OF the chief domesti
appointment preserves of the pres
dent In it the voice Of the peopl
Is mufiled TO a whisper. The guber
material, judicial and other chief ol
Noes are appointive. and the sinel
delegate in congress is little bette
than lobbyist having no vote Tn
territorial legislature is also emasc,
la'ea IN that its enactments are sui
leet to congressional approval. Will
the body polite IS largely under br
ieauciauc supervision at Wishinetor
a territory as best is quasi.depenf
eney. the dumping ground for muc
political rubbish. more or less mike
with political rascalitv III.