The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-07
NTIMENT Is
OVERWHELMING
IN OKLAHOMA
For the Passage of an Imedi-
ate Statehood Bill.
QUAY THE HERO OF HOUR
Majority of Democrats Pro-
testing " it'll Republicans.

Guthrie, o. T. Dec. 6.-''where is the
Democratic party Of Oklahoma att" is
the question arising in the minds of the
Cklahomans who are watching the pro-
gress of the statehood bills in congress
and the effect that the substitute measure
has had on the Democrats Of this terri
tory. The defeat of Bill Cross can be
accounted for by the answer 10 the first
question.
The answer Is easy to the Republicans
an dmany Of the leading Democrats do
not deny it. The majority Of the Demo
Gratis on the west side were at the time
Of the election, as they are now. Tor
statehood for Oklahoma alone. Those on
the east side are for single statehood
and have never changed, but two-thirds
of the Democratic vote OF Oklahoma is
found on the west side, and so the pre-
vailing power. and that which helped to
elect Bird MCGUIRE to congress.
When news OF the action of the senate
committee was received in oklahoma
the Democrats west of the Logan county
line were heard to murmur against II. as
well as the Republicans of all the terri
tory. The Democrats as we'll as the
Republicans call it a piece of legislative
jugglery, performed for the purpose CT
depriving Oklahoma of any statehood for
at least two years. The Democrats of
the west side have thrown aside e&5n the
Guise of ever having been for Bill Cross
and single statehood. and are now for
the welfare OF the territory.
The action of the senate committee has
called down the condemnation of the Re
publican party members on the party in
congress and the calling of a convention
for a stand on statehood viii let the
whole country know that the Republican
party of Oklahoma means to be hOnora-
bic and stand by the provisions of the
rational Republican platform, although
the party in congress go back on it, In
the national platform. it viii be remem-
bered that statehood for Oklahoma alone
was endorsed. 1t is little wonder that
these people are indignant.
The politicians here declare that it Is
political game Of eastern senators to
deprive this territory of statehood for
selfish reasons, in that they do, not wish
the west to become any more powerful
than IL is. Should the west become the
dominating party it might cut down some
of those river and haTbor appropriations
and build up the irrigation proposition
Mat Quay is winning the admiration OF
Oklahomans for his stand on this matter
notwithstanding the fact that they under
stand he has his own reasons for wish
ing to have the omnibus bin passed.
There is also a great deal of confidence
in him expressed by both Democrats and
Republicans, and if his fifteen supporters
hold out as he does Oklahoma will yet
have statehood alone at this session Of
congress.
In close connection with the action Of
the committee in Washington and the
stirred up condition of affairs IN Oklaho-
ma as result is the meeting Of the sin
gle statehood advocates in the Indian
Territory. A talk with the authorities
here reveals the fact that while the idea
is given out by the spielers that the
whole of the Indian Territory is for sin
gle statehood, this is not a fact That
territory is made up of d great many
people from Arkansas. These people are
southerners. They do not want TO mix
with the people OF the north composing
the territory of Oklahoma. and conse-
quently they prefer statehood alone
However. it is perfectly apparent that as
far as wishes go congress viii not hear.
but its erratic action has led to a discus
sion OF ali phases Of the statehood ques-
ton