The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-12-08
DEMOCRATS
FAVOR IT
Leaders of Both Parties Prom
ise a Statehood Bill.

The Kansas City Journal contained
the following dispatch from Washing
ION Tuesday morning:
Leaders OF the Republican party In
both houses have already given assur-
ances TO those interested that there
will be at least one piece OF general
|. legislation at this session, and that
will be the passage OF the statehood
bill.
No less AN authority than Senator
Nelson A, Aldrich, the acknowledged
Republican leader OF the upper house,
vouches for the intention 20 secure
st ch legislation IL it Is possible, al
though Mr.. Aldrich by no means car
ries the United States senate in his
vest pocket, Notwithstanding his lead
ership.
IL will not surprise anyone II the
Rodey-lIamilton bill, passed by the
house OF representatives during the
ffrst session OF the present congress, is
reported from the senate committee
by Senator Beyeridge in the first ten
days OF the session.
Careful canvass of the situation
shows that the opposition which IL
will encounter will be from Republi-
can and not from Democratic Sena-
tors. Still more surprising Is the fact
that these men until recently have
not been credited with taking an in
terest in the statehood question.
Among the strongest OF the opponents
0f the bill Is Senator Foraker, a born
fighter and floor debater Of the
rough.and.tumble sort, who can meas
ire lances with any man on the senate
aoor.
Senator Gallinger, Of New Hamp-
shire, Is also credited with an lnten-
tion 10 oppose the proposed bill Sem
ator Bard, OF California, who has lived
much In the southwest and has seen
with hls own eyes the conditions in
the newly created and smaller states,
has LET IL be known that he will give
his support to no no other statehood
bin that may be proposed.
It Il difficult TO imagine Just what
prompts the opposition Of Senators
Gallinger and Foraker 70 the proposed
bin. IL Is known, in the case OF Sem
ator Foraker az least, that some time
ago he favored inst the sort OF bill
which IL is now proposed to pass. IL
Is admitted that II he makes up his
mind TO fight the bill, IL can be de-
layed iii passing for an unlimited time
and may be defeated o. passage at the
present session. There is strong
suspicion ahat ? : opposition Of For
aker and GailiScSr grows out OF the
personal feeling against Senator Bey-
eridge OF Indiana, rather more than
il does 20 antagonism to provisions Of
the bill Both OF these senator's are
men Of strong personality and long
service Of the upper house OF congress.
They receive with III grace the inter
ference with their wishes by a senator
Who is Junior IN term OF service In
Tie senate. Senator Beyerldge was
put forward during the last session OF
the congress by some Of the old east
ern senators'as the man TO make the
fight against statehood for each Of
tie territories. A coterie Of eastern
senators was determined that, ifstate-
hood must come for the southwestern
territories. the representation OF tile
vest In the senate should be increased
lust as little as possible. II WAS thos
senators that stood behind See-rbr
Beyerldge when he fought for the
compromise Of making two
states out OF the four territories, as Is
now proposed In making this fight
it was inevitable that he should run
counter 10 som9 Of the other senators
who did not accept the mandate from
ouf Of New England and the far east
ern states that the representation
from west Of the Mississippi river
should be kept down II possible.
Advocates OF statehood say that
they can muster enough votes 20 In
sure the passage Of their bin without
the votes Of these senators named. All
they are trying to do now is TO get
these senators 10 agree not 20 fight
the bin. claiming that they will see
that there Is the requisite number Of
votes for the measure.
Successful BAZAAR.