The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-22
WHAT CLARKE
SAID ABOUT IT
Arguments Presented by the
0klahoman Carried Weight.
WAS CLOSELY FOLLOWED
Reasons Why Indian Territor-
les Should Not Come In

Guthrie, o. T../Jan. IA Washington
dispatch gives a summary of Sidney
Clarke's statehood argument before the
committee yesterday.
All of the members of the committee
were present The bill introduced by Del
egate Mcclure for the admission of Okla
homa with the understanding that parts
of the Indian Territory are to be annexed
10 the new state from time to time. was
taken up. The arguments Were opened
by Sidney III. Clarke. Mr.. Clarke has been
In Washington at each session of con-
gress for several years in the interest of
The statehood project. He addressed the
committee in a vigorous and effective
manner He was especially emphatic in
his statement that congress would do
Oklahoma an injustice if it refused the
territory statehood because of contentious
In the Indian Territory. There was no
justice, he said, in the assumption that
the people of Oklahoma should be denied
sel6government because of the conditions
In an unorganized Indian country. MIR.
Clarke was closely questioned with refer
cnce TO the conditions in the Indian Ter
ritory by Representative Money of Ten
nessee, who has introduced a bill giving
The Indian country territorial form of
government He answered these Ques-
tions in detail. The questions OF the other
members of the committee indicated that
Mr. Clarke, by his arguments, had
strengthened the Oklahoma statehood
project.
Mr.. Clarke presented statistics to show
there were twelve states in the Union of
less area and fifteen states of less popuia-
ton than Oklahoma. The average area
of all the states east of the Mississippi
river is 6.G00 square miles less than the
area Of Oklahoma. He discussed the un-
precedented increase in Oklahoma popu-
lation. and added:
There can be no doubt that our popu-
laticn at this time is not less than CSC, 900.
This number exceeds the population of
each of the following states, as shown by
the federal census of 1890; Colorado, Del
aware. Florida, Idaho. Montana, Nevada.
New Hampshire North Dakota, Oregon,
Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Ver-
mont, Washington and wyoming
Statistical information comparing Okla |
homa's present population with that of |
other territories at the time of their adj
mission states was one of The features
Of Mr.. Clarke's arguments. He filed with /
the committee a table showing that |
among the thirty-one states admitted to |
the union since 1890, sixteen states had |
less than 5o.eo3 population, six states had !
less than 100000 and only three had pop
uiation of more than 10000. The COM
bined population OF Illinois. Missouri
Minnesota. Vermont and Indiana at the
census following their admission was not
equal to the present population OF Okla
homa. IN eighteen states there were less
votes cast at the election of 1902 than
were cast in Oklahoma. The states which
cast smaller number of votes than Ok
lahoma were: Alabama, Delaware. Flor
ida. Georgia. Idaho. Louisiana, Mssis-
sippi. Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire
North Dakota, Oregon. Rhode Island,
South Carolina, Utah. Vermont and wy
oming.
In opposing the union of Oklahoma and
Indian Territory as one state he said:
let me say that the people of Okla
homa have no i'll feeling toward the peo-
pie of the Indian Territory. We are not
for their misfortunes. 1t must
be apparent to all that if the two terri
tories were to be united IT should be on
equal terms and that the interests of the
pne should not be sacrificed to the inter-
ests of the other. Oklahoma, as 1 think /.
| have sconclusively shown. has establish
ed an individuality TO which it is justly
entitled. All of its properly il has ere
ated for itself Until the Indian Territory
has accomplished the same results or con-
sress has stepped in and equalized the
in many particulars there can ,
be no equal partnership, no peaceful
union based upon equity and Justice
Whatever may be the will of congress
hereafter I believe it will be the best for
all concerned 10 provide territorial gov
for that territory with statehood
to follow at the proper time"
The conclusion of Mr.. Clarke's argu-
nent was a presentation of the reasons I
why Indian Territory was not prepared :
Tor statehood. and especially why it would !
De unfair at this time to annex it TO Ok {
ahoma. After concluding his observa- g
ions Mr.. Clarke said
"A great section of the country nearly .
"a large as the state of Indiana and four
ifths as large as Kentucky, Michigan,
Ohio or Tennessee. and in all the ele-
nents of wealth capable of making one
# the richest and most populous states
n the Union, deserves something better
han to be longer left without any form
# civil government