The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-05-26
For Single Statehood.


area OF Oklahoma is 3S, 800 square
miles and the population in 1900,
39S,OO0 Therefore the com bined
area Of the two territories is about
10000 square miles and the COM
bined population in 1900 about
10000 and perhaps today at least
100000. The area of Arkansas
is 81, 3,O45; Of Missouri, 68, 1875; Of
Kansas, 81, 700 and Of Texas, 262,.
900. So you see the area Of Okla
homa and Indian Territory would
be about on an average compared
with the adjoining states. The
population OF Kansas in 1900 was
1,471,OOO, and considering the
way the Indian Territory is so
fast filling up, tine population now
is not far behind Kansas.
The. logical reason, and only
sound reason, why the twin ter
ri.ories should be only one state
is because ii takes the area Of both
to make fair sized and healthy
state. II will make taxation per-
manently too high TO divide these
territories. Indian Territory
would have 81 900 miles of good
and bad land, and this would
make the weakest state in area
and wealth west OF West Virginia,
which has "a, ,645 square miles.
1t must be born in M nd that no
state has been enlarged since the
formation Of our government after
once admitted into the union as q
state. We do not as a state want
to be a mere dot on the map aad
bordered by great and healthy
states like those adjoining.
The expense Of maintaining a
small state is about as great as re-
quired in maintaining large one.
This expense would be permanent
and tObe paid by property holders
Therefore the land owners and
general taxpayers should look
ahead ten years and see the result.
No one but a politician, who now
holds a federal office, or one who
thinks his caliber is large enough
for member Of the u. S. Senate
or for state Office in either Ok
lahoma or Indian Territory should
be in favor Of double statehood.
OF course the federal Office holder
naturally wishes to hold his job,
while the big political guns know
that in two states there will be
more offices TO fill than In one.
But to the most of us who will do
well to be elected ]. p and whose
main mission in the new state or
states will be to pay taxes should
not listen 10 them in this matter,
out look TO our financial welfare
and to that Of our children.
Oklahoma Is beautiful prairie
state and is making the fastest
aud most substantial progress ever
known; and with its school lands
and new public buildings and best
of all its great enterprise and in
dus,ry, il is all right. This Okla
homa boomer should be welded to
this bashful Indian maiden pos
essed Of her vast coal, lead and
Oil felds, besides her timber areas
and numerous other natural re-
sources, aud after this wedding
the new state can soon pay of the
indebtedness OF about 1000, 600,
waioh Oklahoma now owes, and
we would share the benefits alike
OF their school land and public
buildings aud all would show
craftsmanship.
II Indian Territory is not ad
mitted with Oklahoma it will be
several years no doubt before il is
and this means so many years Of
federalism, which smscks strong
Of monarchy, so let no one listen
to some disgrunted chief, but look
we'll to the future, when the twin
territories are one large and
healthy state, aud one that the
stars aud stripes will not blush to