Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-10
THAT STATEHOOD BILL
Why the Measure Seems Doomed
to Be Defeated,
STRONG FORCE IN The SENATE
0idITlme Leaders May Meet a Snag-COn-
corning the Inner Circle-The Fight
Against Mason.

nHdHtot WaSoh'
Washington, Jan. Especial. Al
though it has appeared to me for some
time past that the omnibus statehood
bill is doomed to defeat, yet / must &C.
knowledge that its friends are putting
up q very strong fight in its favor.
While it is supposed that the opponents
of the measure have been making some
gains, its friends have not been idle.
1t has recently been rumored about
that Senator Fairbanks OF Indiana is
favoring the omnibus bill and doing so
because, among other reasons, he was
chairman Of the committee on resolu-
lions which put the plank in the Re-
publican platform fayoring the admis-
sion of Oklahoma. New Mexico and Ar
iona and specifically named them in
that document. 1t is said the tall In
diana senator thinks he could not well
go back on the platform that he re
ported to the convention. 1t is rather
an interesting situation, as Senator
Beyeridge. Fairbanks colleague, is the
most active man in the senate against
the omnibus bill. Senator Foraker of
Ohio is another strong supporter of the
bill for three new states, and the forces
under Senator Quay are ready to put
up an earnest fight.
A Hint Of Something More.
1t is said there is just q little more
behind the Republican support for the
omnibus bill thar shows on the sur
face. When nineteen Republican SEN
.ators banded together in the last SEES
sion and defeated the Cuban reciproc-
ity bill, there was in the movement
something more than defeat Of the
measure. Senator Elkins of West Vir-
ginia wanted to make himself felt.
For some time he had been insisting
upon recognition by that famous lin
nor circle" Which controls things in
the senate. II was as much to assert
his claims to leadership as anything
else that influenced Elkins to place
himself at the head of a movement
which meant defeat for the old senate
leaders. Now, underlying this fight for
the omnibus bill there is the same
spirit. That powerful force in the SEN
ate composed of Aldrich, Allison, Hale,
Hanna, Cullom. Platt of Connecticut,
Lodge and a few more are arrayed
against the statehood bill. This same
force was in the last session for the
Cuban bill. If they could be over
thrown IN the fight now on, it would
be n second victory of a determined
minority in one congress and would
mean that the Elkins banner that so
long waved with plumes of Blaine was
ascending the mountain OF senatorial
leadership and that before long he
would be considered eligible for ad-
mission to the inner circle.
Going to Canada.
Some of the northwestern men in con
gress are seeking to check the immi-
grafton that has been going into west
ern Canada from the United States.
"Oyer 10000 American citizens went to
Canada during the last year." said Sem
ator Hansbrough of North Dakota,
"and they were the kind of people that
we want to remain In this country"
The senator said he favored more liber-
al land laws for Alaska, giving each
settler 500 acres instead Of eighty acres
as one means of encouraging people to
settle on American territory. if they
must migrate. He also believes that
Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma
will get a large share of this immigra-
ton if admitted as states,
No Longer Ailuring.
A seat in the United States senate no
longer allures Joseph G. Cannon. The
bait may dangle before his eyes, but it
does not tempt him. The powers"
that make senators in Illinois offered
MIN the place before they decided upon
Albert j. Hopkins as the man to defeat
Billy Mason There were some condi-
lions attached which Cannon could
have fulfilled. but after due considera-
ton he decided that he was quite
comfy" where he was and that the
Craftsmanship Of a big committee in
the house was better than a struggle
for recognition in the senate. The sen
atorship was at least six years too late
for him. AZ that time the speakership
was not in sight. With that great prize
safely within bis grasp. Uncle Joe"
wouldn't even look toward a senator
ship. The speaker is the second posi-
ton of power ia the government. 1t is
far ahead of any senatorship and, in
Mr.. Cannon's case, nicely rounds out
his public career. Uncle joe frank
ly says he is too old for the senate.
Didn't Exchange.
To Pete Hepburn. chairman of the In
terstate and foreign COM
mittce, came Charles f. Little1eld, the
brainy and Independent man from
Maine, and said: