The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-01-01
DELEGATE RETURNED.
Rev. A. Grant Evans Returns From
Washington.

been as a delegate In the interest
of single statehood. With refer.
snce to legislation for this terri
tory in an interview In the Daily
Phoenix he says:
"During the earlier interviews !
had with senators 10 congress, !
was told, You people In the In
dian territory have shown no In.
terest in this matter. We cannot
tell what you want A week later
one gentleman remarked that be
was pretty we'll worn on, with the
business. He was getting more
kilograms and letters about II than
he could possibly read. One mat.
ter is very plain and that is that
the people of the Indian territory
are not likely to get what will be
for their best interests unless they
speedily make up their minds
what that is and ask for 1t, and
then keep on asking for II until
they get ii.
"There are now practically two
distinct propositions before con.
gress. What is known as the 0m-
nibus bill, which provides i'm.
mediate statehood for Arizona,
New Mexico and Oklahoma, and
provides further that Oklahoma is
10 be obligated to take unto itself
parts Of the Indian territory as
congress may deem them ready
for benevolent assimilation until
there is no Indian territory left.
The other proposition known
popularly as the Beveridge amend.
ment, strikes out all provisions as
to statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico and provides for the i'm.
mediate formation OF one state out
Of Oklahoma and the Indian terri.
tory, treating them as practically
equal parties to the Union. With
regard to Arizona and New Mexico
We have, OF course little to say,
except, perhaps, that however
great their claims may be, those
of the Indian territory outnumbeF
ing the two OF them combined, are
considerably more urgent. They
both have a good form OF terri
torial government which has
answered fairly satisfactorily for a
number Of years, whereas the
American citizens OF the Indian
territory are absolutely without
organized government enough to
give them power to do the things
most essential In an American re
public, such as making school pro
visions for the children.
"But had the omnibus bill
omitted altogether the clause re
ferring to Indian territory we
might we'll have been content 10
leave ii alone. The proposition
with regard to this territory Is un.
precedented aud un American.
am we'll aware that there are thOse
who say II IL does not make the
| absorption into Oklahoma obligs'
tory upon the Indian Territory
but II certainly does mark that oul
as It's probable destiny, anr
among the many senators to whom
| spoke of this matter / founC
only one who thought there val
any other probable future for ri
than absorption, If the omnibuI
bill should become Law. am no
given to prophesying but my firm
belief is, that within six month
OF the passing Of the omnibus bill
should II ever become law,
proposition would be before con
grsss TO annex some part Of thi
territory, and once our present in
iegrity IS gone there would be nj
chance OF stopping our absorption
at just such rate as might bes
suit Oklahoma politicians. AnC
what are We to get In return iol
sacrificing our right to q voice IL
the making of the constitution
under which We are TO livef Alb
solutely n nothing. For the present
We are not to be touched, and the
Iffkalihoad aaana uaru alrono thal