The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-02


P. Lincoln of - Reno, appointed to pre-
pare statehood article conforming with
the territorial plauorm has concluded its
work. The article presents strong ar
guments why Oklahoma should have
immediate statehood and gives the his
tory of the statehood fight, defining the
positions of the two parties upon this i'm
portant question The article is address
ed to the Republicans of Oklahoma, and
is a part of the campaign which will be
waged from this time on for statehood
for Oklahoma regardless of the demands
OF other territories or political parties.
The statement of the statehood situa-
ton in full is as follows:
To the Republicans OF Oklahoma:
At the meeting of the Republican terri
torial committee of Oklahoma, held in
TIL city Of Guthrie June %, 1893, the I'M
delrsigned were appointed a committee TO
address the Republicans of Oklahoma on
the subject Of statehood. In pursuance
of the duty assigned US we call your
,attention to the resolutions unanimously
adopted by the committee and also TO the
: subject.
PARTY PLATFORMS.
In all of its recent conventions. the
Republican party of Oklahoma has unani-
nously declared, through its platforms of
principles. in favor of statehood for OK
lahoma, qualified only By condition
that the assent of Oklahoma may be
given. if do desired, by congress. to the
time, if congress should demand it desir-
able to so attach it.
The Democratic party is actively oppos-
ing the admission of Oklahoma, unless it
can be secured by a union with the In
dian Territory It's attitude is statehood
with the Indian Territory or nothing at
this time
IMMEDIATE SINGLE STATEHOOD
IMPOSSIBLE.
Statehood with the Indian Territory is
practically impossible until after the ex-
piration of treaties with the Indians,
which obligate the government not to
extend state government over them prior
10 the expiration Of those treaties in 1903.
No one supposes that congress viii ignore
or override those treaties. Nor viii con-
gress relinqUish its control over the af-
fairs OF that territory. until the chaotic
conditions affecting the rights of the In
dams. and the titles to lands have been
fully settled; and this work viii require
an uncertain period Of time In the opin-
ion of the secretary of the interior, who
has dharge of it. as expressed during
during his recent visit through Oklahoma,
from three to five years viii be required.
The policy Of single statehood advocates,
therefore, is to obstruct and hinder mea-
suress looking to immediate statehood for
Oklahoma. and defeat her admission, an
I'll conditions are such that congress can
consolidate the two territories into a sin
glet state.
DEMOCRATIC NOTIONS AND MIS-
PRESENTATIONS
Tine motive that prompts the leaders
of = the Democratic party in Oklahoma,
inf their policy of obstruction and delay,
isl the hope of securing political suprem-
acy by a final union with the Indian Ter
rttgory Wen knowing that conditions
are such as to make the passage of
.-singIe statehood bill at this time prac-
: ticaIly impossible and hopeless they en-
deavor TO entice Republicans into ali-
snce with them, and 10 hold their own
reluctant and impatient followers in SUD
mission. by persistent representations
that immediate single statehood can be
secured.
For the same reason they are tireless
In declaring that statehood for Oklahoma
is impossible: that the failure OF the
Omnibus bin in the last congress demon
strated that congress will only consent 10
single state. AS TO this assumption,
tho truth is that the Omnibus bill failed
SOLELY because of the opposition to New
Mexico and Arizona. Most of the senators
who opposed the Omnibus bill would nave
voted sor bill admitting Oklahoma alone
Not more than three senators have ever
indicated that their votes for Oklahoma
would be conditioned on the union of the
two territories. Several senator's who
opposed the Omnibus bin indicated their
readiness to vote for an Oklahoma bill
and not a dozen votes would have been
cast against such a measure in the senate
In fact it was well known that the Omni-
bus lfin. with all the hostility TO New
Mexico and Arizona, had safe majority
of from twelve to twenty votes, and that
II would have passed the senate by nearly
twenty majority, if the vote could have
been taken: that it only failed because
of PARLIAMENTARY proceedings, which pre-
venked the taking of vote; thus show
ingI that Oklahoma was strong enough
to jwin for herself and at the same time
CARRY the burden of New Mexico and Ari-
z3na. also
I'm the face Of these well known facts.
Democratic politicians and newspapers
continue to assert .hat Oklahoma claims
20 statehood were adversely settled by the
4 fate OF the Omnibus bill The truth is
the attitude Of senators and the discus
sion in the senate upon that bill. clearly
demonstrated that a bill fro the admission
of Oklahoma can be passed and that no
other kind OF statehood bill can possibly
be passed AZ this time.
No republican who viii investigate the
facts need be mislead by the deceptive
representations OF the opposition 10 Okla
homa statehood. as 10 the conditions upon
which statehood can be secured.
THE FIRST RESULT
As to what would be the finsl result OF
the admission Of Oklahoma with a con
eition reservins to congress the right 10
attach the Indian Territory in the future.
we have no means OF knowing and do not
attempt to give an assurance. But we
do not think IL material TO the interests
OF Oklahoma what congress might do in
that respect; and the future judgment OF
congress, in which, with statehood. Okla