The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-10
MCGUIRE BILL
LIKELY TO PASS
viii Be Reported to the Com
mittee Without Changes.
ARGUMENTSNOT COMPLETE
Other OkIahomans Expected to
Aid in the PIeadings.

washington, D. c., Jan. 9.-At the pres
Mcclure statehood bill will be reported
out of the committee on territories with
out changes and passed by the house 1t
will require number of days for Dele
gate Mcclure and other Oklahomans to
complete arguments before the committee.
Senator Sidney Clark of Oklahoma City,
who is undoubtedly one of the best posted
men on statehood conditions in the south
west opens the argument for Oklahoma.
Senator H. Z. Ravens of Enid, Frank H.
Greer of Guthrie, and A. II. Geissler Of
Carmen, will also address the committee
upon the fitness of Oklahoma to become a
state id the Union. Governor T. B. Fer
guson is expected to appear before the
committee. Ex-Delegate Flynn has
promised Delegate Mcclure to assist him
In securing statehood. If Mr.. Flynn ar
rives here before the arguments are COM
pleted before the committee he will also
address that body. The committee has
devoted almost the entire time this week
to hearing arguments advanced by Dele
gate Rodey and others of New Mexico. 1t
Is the plan of the committee on territories
to hear all arguments before any bills are
reported upon by the committee. 1t is be-
Neved, however, that the Mcguire bill
will come out Of the committee sometime
this month After it is reported Delegate
Mcclure will insist upon early action in
the house. He is devoting his time to
statehood, as he considers this the most
important measure Oklahoma has in con-
gress.
IoIa af e~s,, rIa etof al,n hos
arrived here to. work for single statehood.
IT is the consensus of opinion of these
men that the Mcclure bill will pass the
house. They state that their only hope
for a single statehood measure is in-the
senate. Tom H. Doyle of Perry, one of
the leading Democrats of Oklahoma, has
prepared single statehood bill. 1t pro-
vides for a constitutional convention COM
posed Of 20 delegates from Indian territory
and 20 delegates from Oklahoma. These
delegates in the Indian territory are to
be apportioned among the various re-
cording districts, each district to have
not less than one delegate. The delegates
from Oklahoma are apportioned by coun-
ties; the greatest number of any one
county being given Woods county, which
- five. In preparing his bill Mr.. Doyle
provides that the future state shall be
known as the state of Oklahoma There is
a clause providing two court districts;
the Indian territory to be known as the
eastern district and what is now the ter
ritory of Oklahoma to be known as the
western district. South McAlester is the
seat of court in the eastern district. Al
Ter the passage of the act the governor Of
Oklahoma on August list, 1861. is author
tied and directed to issue proclamation
calling election in November. 1904, to
elect delegates to the constitutional con-
vention. The constitutional convention is
60 be held in April, 1905, following the last
session of the territorial legislature. The
election for state officers will be held the
following fall and the election board shall
consist of the governor. secretary of Ok
lahoma and certain delegates elected to
the constitutional convention.
The single statehood bill in relation to
school land matters closely follows the
Mcclure statehood bill. 1t leaves the sale
or retention of school lands to the legis-
fature of the state; 1t provides that the
lessee shall have preference right to pur-
chase. and that he shall receive rea-
sonable amount for his improvements, I'M
der rules and regulations prescribed by
the legislature If the school lands are dis
posed of. Mr.. Doyle stated that he con-
eidered the Mcclure bill absolutely fair
In its provisions concerning school land
matters. It is needless to state that there
is little hope for the passage of the single
statehood bill 1t is a Democratic mea-
sure, and an effort will be made to secure
the solid support OF the Democrats in
congress. Many of the Democrats who |
are expected to assist in pushing this bill |
have already indicated that they are in |
favor of the passage of the Mcclure bill.
II is probable that the delegation of sin |
wle statehood men will not remain in |
Washington any length of time.