The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-25
STATEHOOD IS
THEIR TOPIC
Delegates from the Territories
Are Kept Busy.
MAKE DEMONSTRATIONS
DEMONSTRATIONS
Republican Members Have
Not Backed Mcclure

Guthrie, o. T., Feb PA Washington
dispatch says that Rodey of New Mex
leo. Wilson of Arizona and Mcclure of
Oklahoma made demonstrations in the
committee on territories which threatened
the peace Of congress. The most pacific
Of the bellicose trio was Mcclure 1t
was not so much because the Oklahoma
delegate got anything he wanted, but
because he expected less.
Mcclure has known for a, week that if
any statehood legislation was enacted for
Oklahoma he must accept Indian Terri
tory as part Of mis- starte. His fight now
is to make the best terms possible. he
wants Oklahoma to dominate in a consd-
tutionaI convention if the provision giving
both territories representation is incOr
porated. He would be still better salts
fed if Indian Territory had no represen-
5ation at all, bat was attached to Okla
homa at some future date.
The Republican membership has not
given Mcclure the backing which he
counted upon. The majority in order TO
get through its bin admitting New Mex
ico and Arizona as one state viii make
any sort of concessions the Democrats
may demand for oklahoma and L tan
Territory short Of creating two states.
But if Mcclure IS sorrowful. Wilson,
the Arizona delegate is beside himself
with a combination of indescribable emo
tions which manifested themselves in Ian
suage not transmittable by telegraph.
The Republican membership of the con-
ference. which lasted from 1890 o'clock in
the morning until o'clock in the after
noon. did not once indicate any intention
Lf yielding TO Arizona's claim for state
hood The majority declined all offers
of compromise or concession. 1t would
neither fix day for Arizona's admission
nor agree to incorporate a provision
which would admit it as Il state when 1t
had a certai npopuiation. All it would
dc. if anything was TO tack Arizona onto
New Mexico and provide for a state al
most as large as Texas, with a noun
tain chain running through il which
made it four days travel and a distance
of more than 900 miles TO get to the
proposed capital Of Arizona. Mr.. Wilson
served notice that his people would not
have statehood on any such terms. He
accused Delegate Rodey of New Mexico
of breaking faith with him. Wilson al
leges that Rodey had agreed to stand pat
on the two two states plan for New
Mexico and Arizona Rather than delay
his own territory in admission Rodey has
agreed to accept joint statehood with
Arizona
Senators who do not want statehood are
prominent factors in complicating the
situation Weeks ago there was an un-
derstandiug between Republican members
of the territories committee in both
branches of congress than when the house
finally reported its bill it should be such
a measure IS the senate could pass.
The demand that one state shall he
made of New Mexico is stronger on SEN
ate than the house side and the request
of the senators to the committee was
almost in the nature of an ultimatum
The political fight this session win come
I'm the disposition of Arizona's conten-
tion
The Republicans viii attempt to force /
the Democrats to accept joint statehood
Tor these territories as condition of
which a state shall he made Of oklahoma ,
and Indian Territory. If the oklahoma (
Indian Territory claim could be divorced [
from the New Mexico-Arizoua situation. I
E statehood bin could be passed without |
difficulty Even with the existing com /
plications the chances for oklahoma and |
Indian Territory are much brighter than Z
those of the other territories.
Representative Lloyd of Missouri q /
Democrat member of the territories COM /
nittee. expressed himself as being CON 1
fident of the passage of an oklahoma /
Indian Territory joint statehood bill.
we would like TO see two states made I
Of these territories" he said but are /.
willing te take the SINCE statehood hill /
rather than have further delays But one 4.
Democrat will not consent to making one F.
state Of New Mexico and Arizona. The T.
proposition is as unfair as it is absurd. - f.
Arizona will now make as hard a fight /
20 prevent statehood legislation IS it for I
merly made 10 accomplish it. Speaking /
for the people of his territory, 3. A. I
Fowler. president of the Phoenix board /.
of trade. said:
'Arizona's laws are based upon those /
Of the eastern states. its institutions T.
customs and speech are the same In .
other words. il is American through and /
through In New Mexico. on the Other /.
hand the population is largely of MeNi- F.
can descent the laws are based upon /.
the Spanish the institutions and customs F.
have naturally grown out of and from {
those Of old Mexico: consequently it (
would be very difficult to adjust the al .
fairs Of the two territories in satis- 4
factory manner and make one homoge- 4
neous people.
To the stiu additional proposition 10 4
admit New Mexico as state and en- /
body I'm the enabling act an automatic T.
provision ny which Arizona shall become 4
q state when its population shall have in
creased 10. say. 25ooJa people. The people
Of Arizona would heartily subscribe.
What is most desired among US is some /
definite action The question OF popuIa- I
tion would he rapidly settled through i'm /
uiSratiou and the great irrigation works F.
which are now being constructed by the I
government and it Will bring into culti- /
walton hundrejA Of thousands Of acres Of I
she most fertile soil in the country. con-
pled with the most favored climates
TRUSTED THE CLAIRVOYANT.