The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-02-25
Mcclure
Getting the Double
Gross inRepublican
Congress

feature of the executive session of
the house committee on territories
his week was the indignation of the
delegates from the territories. Rodey
of New Mexico, Wilson of Arizona.
ANA Mcclure Of Oklahoma mado dem
onstrations which threatened the
peace of congress The most pacific
Of the bellicose trio was Mcclure. 1t
was not SO much because the Oklaao.
ma delegate got any hing he wanted,
but because he expected less.
Mcclure has known for a week that
IL any statehood legislation was enact
ed for Oklahoma he must accept In
dian territory as part of his state. His
fight now is to make the best terms
possible He wants Oklahoma to dom
mate in constitutional convention if
the provision giving both territories
representation is incorporated. He
would be still better satisfied If In
dian territory had no representation
at all But was attached to Oklahoma
al some future date
Mcclure Has Lost Backing.
The Republican membership has
not given Mcclure the backing which
he counted upon The majority in ord
er to get through its bill admitting
New Mexico and Arizona as one state
VIII make any sort of concessions the
Democrats may demand for Oklahoma
and Indian territory short of creating
two states.
But If Mcclure is sorrowful vii
son the Arizona delegate, is beside
himself with a combination of indie
scribable emotions which manifested
themselves in language not transmit
table by telegraph. The Republican
membership of the conference. which
lasted from 10:30 o'clock this morn
ing until o'clock this af ernoon, did
not once indicate any intention of
yielding to Arizona's claim for state
hood The majority declined all Of
fers of compromise or concession. It
would neither fix a day for Arizona's
admission nor agree to incorporate
provision which would admit it as
state when II had a certain popula-
ton All It would do, If anything. was
to tack Arizona onto New Mexico and
provide for a state almost as large as
Texas. with mountain chain running
through it which made It four days
travel ana a distance of more than
900 miles to get to the proposed
capital from certain parts Of Arizona.
Mr. Wilson served notice that his peo-
pie would not have statehood on any
such terms. He accused Delegate
Rodey of New Mexico of breaking
faith with him. Wilson alleges that
Rodey had agreed TO stand pat on the
two states plan for New Mexico and
rizona. Rather than delay his own
territory in admission Rodey has
agreed to accept joint statehood with
Arizona.
Senators Complicated Affairs.
Senators who co not want statehood
were prominent factors in complicat-
ing the situation today Weeks ago
there was an understanding between
Republican members Of the territories
committee in both branches Of con-
gress that when the house finally re-
ported its bill It should be such a
measure as the senate could pass
The demand that one state shall be
made of New Mexico is stronger on
senate than the house side and the
request Of the senators to the com
mittee was almost in the nature of
an ultimamm The political fight this
session will come in the disposition Of
rizona's contention
The Republicans will attempt to
force the Democrats to accept joint
statehood for these territories as
condition Of which state shalt be
made of Oklahoma and Indian terri
tory. II the OklahomaIndlan terri
tory claim could be divorced from the
New Mexico-Arizona situation. state
hood bill could be passed without dif.
hculty Even with the existing com
plications the chances for Oklahoma
ana Indian territory are much bright
er than those Of the other territories.
Representative Lloyd OF Missouri, a
Democrat member OF the territories
committee, expressed himself today
as being confident of the passage of
an OklahomaIndian territory Joint
statehood BILL
Lloyd Wants Two States.
I'VE would like to see two states
made Of these territories" he said,