The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-28
CHIEF TOPIC
is STATEHOOD
OkIahomans Are More Anxious
for Ends Than Methods.
WOULD BECOME A STATE
Separate Franchise Preferred
but Statehood First.

Guthrie. o. T, Feb. N.-The question
of statehood is the chief topic of con-
versation in this city Prominent men
from outside towns when they come here
always proceed 10 sound the influential
men of the capital city on their ideas of
the best way to get Oklahoma into the
sisterhood of states
People outside Of Oklahoma seem TO
get the matter of single and double
statehood badly mixed. Some think that
single statehood means one state COM
posed Of Oklahoma and the Indian ter
.ritory while others understand tina tslngie
statehood means one state composed OF
Z, Oklahoma. Here the men who are au-
thority on everything pertaining 10 state
hood always speak of single and separate
statehood. BY single statehood they
mean one state for the two territories
and separate statehood one state for Ok
,lahoma and another for the Indian ter
ritory.
One thing that is very evident to the OBJ
server is, that there has recently been
4 great change in the sentiment in Ok
lahorna in regard to statehood. Two
wears ago the people were divided on this
question. One party said give us one
state composed of Oklahoma or let US
remain a territory The other party SAID
give US a state composed Of both terri
tories or nothing.
All of them do not admit it. but these
two elements have to all intents and
purposes come together and they say
with one voice give US statehood and let
congress fix the boundaries Some Of the
leading Republicans of this city who have
taken prominent part in the agitation
for separate statehood are now very tame
on that matter and privately they ad-
NIT that they would be willing to get
single statehood,
Several conditions have contributed to
bring about this change in sentiment In
the first place there have been a great
many new settlers here during the last
two years and when they come to ask
about statehood they invariably say:
'Why do you want a small state? 1t
costs too much to run. The taxes will be
lighter in a large state
Then another thing that has contribut-
ed to this change is the fact that Okla
homa is stopping over into the Indian
territory A very great number Of Ok
lahoma people who have sold their pos
sessions here have gone over into the
Indian territory and secured land. Friends
and relatives were left here and this is
making a bond of sympathy between the
two territories.
The question of political supremacy in
case of single statehood does not count
for very much at this time The Demo-
cratic leaders here claim that if the two
territories are erected into one state il
will be safely Democratic. The Repub-
lcan leaders admit this in so far as the
first election is concerned. but they say
when the Indian territory becomes a state
along with oklahoma its mines will be
developed and there will b. a great rush
OF people from the northern states and
fn less than five years the state will be
one of the safe Republican strongholds,
Anyone who talks privately with lead
3ng Republicans and Democrats in Ok
Iahoma viii be surprised at the nearly
unanimous sentiment for statehood The
matter of separate or single statehood
IS practically out of the uestion and the
people are saying to congress: Give us
statehood and fix the boundaries to suit
Yourselves