The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-16
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RENEWAL OF THE STATEHOOD FIGHT.
M. M. MURD C X, EDi T o r.

the fight of Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona
for admission to the Union as states will be re-
sumed at the next session of congress. The same
dispatches embrace the predictions that the applca
ton of Oklahoma will be accepted while the appli
cations of the other territories will be rejected
If Oklahoma is admitted it will be allowed repre-
sentation in the lower house of congress on the
basis of the census returns of 1900
New Mexico and Arizona, it is said more deter
mined than ever to secure ADMISSION and will be-,
when the time comes to open the fight better
equipped than at any time heretofore to support
their claims.
If these territories become states there will be
no left in the main body of the United States
of America not under state government, save Indian
Territory and the District of Columbia. Probably
no change will ever be made in the status of the
District of Columbia, while Indian Territory will
undoubtedly be ultimately attached to the state of
Oklahoma and become a part thereof.
But time will come when Alaska and Hawaii
will ask to be admitted into the Union and if they
are the United States senate will then consist of
100 members or nearly four times more than were
this country began.
Practically no trouble experienced by the
older states formed under the constitution in secur
ing statehood but as sectional question of sav
cry became an issue of importance statesmen in
the north as well as in the south, while they said
but comparatively little about it, were decidedly and
keenly interested in the admission of states on
count of the influence they would have in the senate
in the determination of the status of slavery.
Vermont was the first state admitted into the
Union after the adoption of the Constitution 1t was
a part of New York until 1871. AS early as 1777
however. her people declared their independence of
New York and adopted their constitution but
were not recognized as independent state by the
government then acting under the articles of con-
federation In 1890 she purchased her independence
from New York for the of $4,000 and congress
took her into the Union with constitution dozen
years older than the Constitution of the United
States Kentucky was admitted in 1892 much in
the same manner 1t was ceded by Virginia and the
day the cession became effective it became state
by permission of congress, already granted.
Tennessee blufed her way into the Union June 1,
1896 Instead of asking" to be admitted she de
manded it. Tennessee, like Vermont declared her
self independent of North Carolina at early stage
of the revolutionary and organized herself into
a state taking for her Franklin and adopting
a constitution. The confederation did not recognize
her but in 1890 North Carolina conceded independ-
ence and it remained under territorial form of gov
eminent till 1896 when it was admitted, its "de-
mand" after a long discussion.
The northwestern territory, including the present
states of Ohio Indiana Michigan, Illinois and Wis
consin was organized under the authority of the
articles of confederation all the states ceding their
claims to the lands between Pennsylvania and the
Mississippi river and between the Ohio river the
south the Great Lakes of the north. The govern
ment vested in governor and Judges until the
free male population full age should have reached
5000 when territorial legislature might be elected.
Ohio was admitted February 49, 1903 with consttu-
ton not submitted to the peope Indiana was admitted
by nenabing act December II, 1916, and Illinois
b. petition and an enabling act December 8. 1918.
Michigan had trouble getting into the Union. An
enabling act was introduced in 1888 but defeated
congress learning that there was dispute with
Ohio concerning boundary lines In 1885 Michigan
having adopted constitution and formed state
government memoralized the President for admission
and congress passed an enabling act with the under
standing that when the boundary dispute would be
settlad she would be admitted The state wasadmit-
TED Jsruary % 1881 Wisconsin also had trouble get
tipg into the Union, being admitted by the procama-
ton of the President May % 1S4S congress having
passed an authorizing its admission by that
means The first constitutional convention held in
Wisconsin made a report that was rejected by the
people, this causing a delay of nearly two years,
The original Louisiana purchase consisted of the
district of Louisiana and the Territory of Orleans.
In March. 1895 congress passed an act authorizing
the Admission Of the Territory of Orleans when its
free Inhabitants would number 10000" This came
about in 1912 and it admitted as the state of
Louisiana April 80 1872. The district Of Louisiana
became the territory of Missouri March s. 1895 and
on March 1919 the southern half of il was cut of