The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1904-12-08
Report of The Governor.

Washington, December, 4.-Gov.
Ferguson of Oklahoma has made his
annual report TO the secretary of the
interior. On tie subject Of statehood
Gov. Ferguson says:
Oklahoma should have statehood
/ would be n matter of justice TO
grant il and matter of injustice TO
longer withhold It Seven hundred
thousand citizens in this territory are
deprived OF the rights of elective gov
ernment. The people of Oklahoma
have in the past demonstrated their
capacity TO govern themselves. For
ove,' one year in the early days the peo-
Pile were without organized govern
ment, yet they were a law unto them
selves. The law.abiding instinct of the
American citizen prevailed and crime
and wrong-doing were rare exceptions
to the splendid, orderly conduct of the
people who laid the foundation of the
commonwealth Of Oklahoma, In No
Mans Land, now Beaver county, the
people lived for nearly ten years in
land without law and absolutely free
from the penalties of courts, yet socie
ty was pretty well protected and the
rights of the residents generally re-
spccted. These conditions were typi-
cal Illustrations Of the sentiment for
law and order which has always pre-
vailed in Oklahoma The people Of
this territory have the moral qualificG-
tions that entitle them to statehood
From an educational standpoint they
are eminently fitted for self-govern-
ment. The territory maintains seven
educational institutions of higher
learning. There are eight Institutions
OF advanced learning in the territory
under control of individuals and be-
neyolent institutions There are COM
mon schools maintained in every
neighborhood We pay more for edu-
cation than for all other public inter
ests. Tho advancement in public inn
provenepts has been phenominal Il
: is believed that in rapid advancement
, Oklahoma stands unrivaled The val
uation is about $540,OC0,O0O if every
thing is estimated at its real or casl
value Then, with 100000 people $40,
! 00o,000 worth of property, the majo
slowed upon our schools. unprecedent
ed advancement along all lines of en-
>. terprse, it seems that Congress shoul,
give us the authority to exercise in ful
rights of American citizens. The fla
- of our republic will not be complet
II, until upon its field of blue is place
s., the rising star of Oklahoma.
a The situation as regards Z penitenti
-, AIRY is a grave one. Gov. Ferguso
says; =
i. The Territory mas no penitentiar
30 and its prisoners are kept in the Kar
., sas penitentiary at Lansing under
:. contract price of 40 cents per day fc
each prisoner What to do wit
>. them in the event that Kansas shoul
A refuse to renew the contract is a prol
lem for serious consideration, as tn
=, contract with Kansas will expire o
- January % next, and the Kansas AT
a, thorities have expressed disinclin;
:. tion to renew, Oklahoma now has 81
-. prisoners in the Kansas pententiar,
l., The territory has now, and has had fC
90 several years, a public building fun
no sufficient to erect penitentiary an
an other public buildings, but there is
- congressional prohibition against
~ each year, and has been for some tim
,u past. When the federal appropriatio
a., bill is passed by Congress, the porto
Lo of il relating to oklahoma invarabl
:. contains prohibition against the les
- iSlative assembly of Oklahoma maxim
provision for any pablo building, no
"a withstandlng the fact that there is
,a the treasury of the territory amp
oo funds to erect penitentiary buildin
= and equip it for service, This cor
J., gressional prohibition should be rt
moved st Louis Globe Democrat,
as Watson and the Democratic Party
ed Thomas Il. Watson had his last sa
de at Crawfordsyille, Georgia, one day Las
as week Watson don't like the Demo
In cratic marty "A cents worth His do