The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-04-04
kansas city Times }

Washing on in yesterday morning.
e papers stating that he was antagonis
b tic to the statehood bill as prepared
= by the subcommittee of congress
J The Washington dispatch ated thai
y Mr. Flynn desired that Oklahoma City
r should be substituted for Guthrie
not only for the capital, but for the
r place of holding the United States
b court.
THAT dispatch undoubtedly orgi.
mated with Collegiate Mcclure" said
Mr Flynn. and, while accord him
the same rights | demand for myself.
demand that when ne gives cut In
formation he shall at least ccnfne him
self to the truth.
Committee Called on Flynn.
The first | knew of new bill was
when Chairman Hamilton requested
me TO rttSad commit ee meeting
last Tuesda morning. Al the same time
ne informed me that while the sub
committee had inserted in the bill
that Guthrie should remain the CAPT
tai until 1910. that it unders tood tha
it was in accord with Delegate Nc.
Cures wishes. but that he presumed
tha the committee would have to
shoulder the responsibility. Mr. Ham
ilton said there were various items
I in the bill that he would like to have
me discuss with the committee. /
visited the committee room in com
pany with Mr. Mcclure. and when
Chairman Hamilton called upon me
for my views | stated frankly that |
did not think that congress, If 1t in
tended to give us self-government,
should attempt to locate the capital,
but that this mater should be left
to the people.
Il informed the committee that I
had held the capital at Gu hrie during
my entire term OF Office because |
knew that II It were changed while
we were a territory, the state, when
we were admitted. would submit It
again to a vote Of the people. Iasked
haw the capital came to be located In
this bill as there was no precedent
for such a thing in previous enabling
acts. The chairman at once requested
that Mr. Mcclure make a statement.
Mr. Mcclure replied by saying that
he hoped thecommittee would pass
the matter for the present.
Wants Capital Fight Held Back.
Il stated that did not expect to
remain in Washington all winter and
hat thought that whatever action
was taken should be in the open. /
have never mentioned Oklahoma Sty
as the capital Of Oklahoma. Neither
have I ever heard its citizens express
desire for the location of the capital
at their place; and the statement that
! did suggest the location Of the
capital at Oklahoma City is an abso-
lutte falsehood My position when in
Washington and now is that the peo-
pie Should have The right to soy where
the capital shall be permanently (
located.
II did suggest leaving the capital
where it is for a year, if desired in
order TO keep II out of the constitu-
fional convention With reference to
changing the United States court
from Guthrie to Oklahoma Cit want
tc say that | never brought the sub
iect up
The statement that was opposed
TO preference right being given to
school land lessees is absolutely false
and could have been given only for
what purpose | do not know, by
Delegate Mcclure, as there were no
newspaper men at the meeting.
II did object. and do now. to his
changing the bill that was indorsed
b the Republican convention that
nominated him. and for which he
clamors SO loudly at all times except
when he desires TO change it, OBJ
iect to the school lands being sold
By appraisement which was a change
from the bill indorsed by the conven-
ton which nominated him. believed
that the lands should be disposed Of
in conformity with the plan which the
Republican convention indorsed.
Is stlll for M'Guire, He Says.
"With reference TO the Tonkawa
school land reservation. / called the
attention ~ the committee TO the fact
that 1t was a change from the Old bill,
this bil giving them 10000 acres.
did not understand it was a terri
iory Institution, and Mr. Mcclure
seemed 10 know as little about it as
did but during the discussion Chair
man Hamilton referred to the acts
20 fIa rQQp Io.foiot,rrn ,.-bauo a., an