The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-17
TALK IN
POLITICAL
CIRCLES
Delegate Mcclure Pleased
With HitchcockS. Views
CROSS STILL ASPIRING
Will Run Again for Delegate
If Given a Chance

Guthrie, Q. T., May 16.-Delegate Bird
S. Mcclure was much pleased over the
sentiment displayed By Secretary Hitch
cock on the statehood question MIR
Hitchcock is confident that Oklahoma
will secure statehood at the next session
OF congress and with one exception his
ideas are in line with the Republican idea
OF statehood, as advocated during the
emphatic in his statements that the
Indian territory is not ready for state
hood, and since he is perfectly familiar
with the conditions now existing in that
territory he should be considered as
authority on the matter.
Men who have been looking into the
situation are certain that the Republl-
can position on the statehood matter lis
the correct one. and 1 believe that there
is a general feeling over the territory
that We viii win out at the next ses-
sion of congress- said Delegate Mcclure
Il was pleased to get ideas from Secre-
tary Hitchcock and members of his party
on statehood, for these opinions Will be
of value to me when l begin work on a
statehood bill"
Considerable interest is being displayed
in the forthcoming meeting of the Re
publican committee which will meet in
this city next month. At that time the
entire statehood question Will be discuss
ed and it is probable that men outside
of the personnel of the committee will
be called into the meeting IN order that
the members of the committee may secure
Al.
The meeting, in all events will be an in
teresting one and some strong resolutions
in line with the Republican platform are
looked for.
THE statements made by Secretary
Hitchcock on the statehood question has
had the effect of dampening the ardor
of single statehood adherents," said a
Republican today. Hitchcock knows
what he is talking about and the same
statements were uttered during the last
campaign, but Democrats thought it was
merely Republican thunder. If the Indian
territory cannot be ready for statehood
until after 1906, the Democrats should
give up their constitutional convention
idea and join with the Republicans In
an effort TO secure immediate statehood
for Oklahoma and then they can play
politics from that time on.
However. the very fact that Oklahoma
is Republican. may have the effect OF
proionging the fight, for Democrats real
ize that there will be small picking for
the aspiring members OF their party in
the future state of Oklahoma
-
thinks that the effort now being made
to hold a constitutional convention will
result in nothing. "a constitutional con-
vention at this time, since II would be
unauthorized will amount TO nothing.
There is no funds to pay the expenses
Of such convention. neither is there an
opportunity hereafter to place the consti-
tuition before the people for ratification.
1t might be a different matter II the peo-
pie of oklahoma were united or the state
hood question. but IL will be much easier
to get statehood without a constitutional
convention than with one. When I take
everything into consideration, am sat
isfed that the talk now being INDUCED
in will amount to nothing"
The above statement was made to the
ltPitSFnAdliNt u ll4t I-dSlt ~ oti4dAOE
Havens. while here. and in addition 10
talking against the plan advocated In
Democratic papers. Senator Ravens has
written a number Of strong editorials for
his paper opposing the idea.
Even Democrats are beginning TO be-
lieye that statehood for Oklahoma viii be
secured at the next session OF congress
and number of men prominent in Dem
ocratic ranks have announced themselves
as candidates for state Offices.
J. =. Woolsey. a mmeber OF the last
territorial council. representing the cOun-
Ties OF Noble and Kay. f. r candidate
for secretary OF state. subject 20 the de-
cision OF the Democratic convention held
to nominate candidates for state officers
The Democrats OF Noble county are
behind Woolsev IN the movement and
have resoiuted endorsing him in his can