The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-09
TO BE sELF-eoVERNED.
jefferson Territory TO Run Its Own
Affairs Strictly.


Guthrie, .. T., March S--As reported in
Yesterdays dispatches the house com
mittee on territories Friday authorized
4 favorable report on the Moon bin Civ
ing territorial form OF government TO IN
/ dian territory, changing its name TO ter
ritory Of Jefferson, and locating the cap
ital at South AIsAIester. II provides for
/ a governor, territorial legislature, etc.
! It was also decided not 10 include this
/ oil in the general omnibus bin provid-
/ ing statehood for Oklahoma. Arizona and
! New Mexico 1t win be reported sep
larately to the house
Writing of the bin. the Capitals Wash
iagton correspondent says.
/ For the first time since the commence
ment Of the agitation two years ago for
the creation Of territorial form OF gov
ernmcnt for Indian territory there are
Indications that this movement Will
reach frmuon. Certain it is now that
the Noon bin creating 4 territorial form
Of government for Indian territory viii
he reported favorably to the house
Unless the senate emasculates the bin
as agreed upon by the house when en-
acted, viii be typically democratc-not
democratic in the sense Of American pol
itics, but democratic by reason of its ad-
herence TO the principles Of local self
government To the people Of the state,
under the present bill. viii be left the de-
cision and solution of all the problems
pertaining TO the creation of territorial
government. They viii establish their
own counties. locate their county seats,
make their own laws and manage their
own affairs. SO far as is possible under
territorial form OF government. In only
one instance. in the entire bill. has the
house committee on territories decided
any of the questions pertaining TO local
government. That instance relates to the
location of the capital When the bin
was under consideration bv the commit
tee a large number of representatives of
the territory were present at the meeting
and without a dissenting voice it was
agreed that the capital should be iocat-
ed at South AIcAlester. Members of the
committee were in doubt as 10 the adj
Visibility Of locating the capital. but as
South McAlester seemed to be acceptable
90 every representative of the territory
paragraph 10 remain in the bin.
TIE location Of the counties and county
seats. under the bill. is left TO the terri
torial legislature. An effort was made
70 have the committee divide the terri
tory up into counties and leave the selec-
ton of the county seats to the people Of
each county for decision ~ an election
to De HID. It was apparent. however.
that II the committee entered into the
consideration of this question that it
would endanger the passage OF the bin.
owing te conflicting interests involved.
and the obstinate contests that would
surely arise between towns desiring 70 be
county seats. In order TO avoid any con-
troversy ~ this character the question
was left to the territorial legislature for
decision.
From present Indications the hin VIII
pass tae house wien faw il any amend
ments along with The hns giving state
hood 10 oklahoma Arizona end New
Mexico. The rassa Sc ~ these later three
bins IS already assured. ana & is doubt .
fll whether there win even re- an opror-
st.on il The house H. thelr enactment
It seems 10 De generally understood that
statehood Tor tht three territories. and
territorial form Of government Tor Indian {
territory meets With TIE a7rroval ~ 3
very l-rge majority ~ TIE members 81 f
me house ard that any EFFORT 70 obstruct /
she passage CT TIE hIl woald ne useless. +