The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-22


i've sentiment will be aroused as soon as
| the call issues
| What effect would such a movement
| have on congress-?
This matter was agitated in 1894. and
Mr.. Flynn Interviewed Senator P1att, Mr.
Reed and others, and found no one who
expressed the belief that it would preju-
dice US in the least. Many senators and
representatives represent people who at
taind statehood in this way. Senator
Carey, as governor. called such a ccnyen-
ton. Senator Clark and the representa-
tive from Wyoming participated in the
movement. So did Mr.. Richards of the
interior department. 1 think congress-
men would look with favor upon ii, for
the reason that ali kinds of representa-
lions have been made as to the sentiment
in the two territories, and what the real
sentiment is will be made clearly to ap-
pear"
What course will the territorial officers
take "
i do not think the governor viii Issue
the call, at least not until he is able to
5ddge in what light the national admins
trasicn viii view it. But there is no rea-
son Why he should in any way oppose
the movement. His talk for months has
been ID the effect that he is willing to
retire and he processes TO have no ambi-
ton TO continue in office. A measure of
the kind was drafted in 1894, and Mr..
Flynn expressed himself favorable to the
movement, and objected only to the pro-
vision made for inviting the Indian Terri
tory to participate. He expressed the be-
lief that no portion of that territory
would ever be attached TO Oklahoma,
unless a portion of the Chicl1asaw nation,
and thought it best, if action was taken,
to confine it TO Oklahoma. No officer
having an ambition will take the chances
of opposing it or allowing the movement
to be confined to a single party"
What will be the politics of the new
state?"
There is no certainty. The majority
win be where the best reasons exist. The
country was never so prosperous and
from the STANDPOINT of business condi-
tons the Republican party was never in
better shape. But people are not always
governed by their business interests. If
they were the Democrats would not often
succeed.
"a territorial government has always
been unsatisfactory. To be citizen ot
the United States and have the right to
exercise all the privileges of citizenship
has always been regarded as a high am
bition. The party having the power to
confer these rights and refusing to do SO
naturally loses ground in a territory.
From every standpoint and for every rea-
son but this, Oklahoma is largely Re-
publican. 1t has been assumed that the
Indian Territory is largely Democratic.
This is due to the fact that the earlier
white settlement was mainly from Texas
and Arkansas. But tens of thousands of
people are 1ocking into that territory,
and as far as l can judge they come more
generally from the other direction.
Both territories are prospecting almost
beyond comparison, and it is Republican
prosperity and bears no resemblance to
any condition ever known under a Demo-
cratic administration. and the only rea-
son for not approaching it is the fact
that a Republican majority in congress
refuses to relieve us from an unsatisfac-
tory political condition.
That the Republicans in Oklahoma
have been steadily losing ground is plain
enough, and 1 am unable TO assign any
other reason for it. There is no reason
why the Republicans of both territories
do not see this and will not join heartily
in a movement 10 destroy the conditions
which is every day rendering their sue
cess more doubtful. No careful study is
necessary to enable the Republicans to
see how rapidly they have lost. 1t is only
necessary to look at the result of the
several elections of delegate. For the
first delegate the ratio OF the vote was
100 Republicans to 50 Democrats; the sec
ond loo to 81; the third 100 to II; another,
100 to SO; another, 100 TO 81, and later. 100
TO s.. Once we were defeated. and the
last was too close to be comfortable. a
few years of territorial conditions. for
which a Republican administration has
been held responsible, has changed the
ratio from 100 to SO TO about 100 to 9999.
I see no reason why the Republicans.
shan not enter earnestly into any
calculated to destroy a condi-
ton so disastrous to them. L am certain
ly in favor of it."