The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-27
STATEHOOD is
THEIR THEME
Single Statehood Is Now the
General Desire.
CHANGE OF SENTIMENT
Indian Question Is in a Fair
Way of Settlement,
CHANGE OF SENTIMENT


of the territory of Oklahoma doubtless
wonder how it happened that the peopl,
all over this great country just at this
time seem to be so unanimously in favor
OF single statehood
One does not have to look very far into
the dim past to remember that only a
short time ago this matter of separate
or single statehood was a debatable ques-
ton among the people Of Oklahoma. 1t
will be remembered that some Of the de-
mocratic leaders in congress encouraged
the separate statehood advocates, in the
belief that if two states could be made
OF the territories each would be demo-
cratic and thus add to the prestige Of the
democratic party in the national congress.
1t has come to pass in these latter days
that one can hardly find man in either
OF the great parties who aspires TO leader
ship even in a ward caucus who will ad-
init that he was ever in favor Of anything
but single statehood. This great change
OF sentiment has been brought about by
changed conditions both in Oklahoma,
and in the Indian Territory
When the territory of Oklahoma first
began to aspire to the dignity of state
hood it was thought that the Indian ques-
ton would not be settled for years and
many of the people in Oklahoma though
that if they consented to single statehood
Oklahoma would have to wait perhaps
for a quarter of century for the Indian
territory to get ready to be admitted into
the union along with Oklahoma vas a
sovereign state.
1t is different now The Indians have
consented 20 the allotment of their lands
and now it can be seen that the Indian
Territory is about ready for statehood
The people here have always been ready
tor immediate statehood and they have
opposed to anything that was liable to de-
lay it. Then again there have been
changes in the conditions in oklahoma
This great country which only a few years
ago was one immense cattle range and a
little later represented at statehood con-
ventions by politicians from numerous
small villages aand farmers who did not
farm, but who were holding down a claim
to sell to some prospective settler has
given place to an empire that has with
IN its borders all that goes to make
modern civilization.
The Oklahoma of today is a broad ex-
panse OF finely improved farms with com
modious farm houses, churches. schools
villages cities and great commercial cen
ters in which are collected fabulous
wealth. Railroads form a net work all
over the country and big trains drawn by
double headers cause the earth to trem-
bic as they proceed to the markets of this
continent with INN of|
the products Of Oklahoma or make for
the seaports 10 pour their cargoes of /
golden grain itno the channels of the I.
worlds trade
The farmers of Oklahoma are at this
time factor to be considered in the mat !
teI of statehood. in politics and every /
thing that is to be done for the veal or
woe of the people Formerly politics may
have had something to do in shaping
events. but while there is sometimes bust
ness i'm politics. business VIII not tolerate
politics in her council chamber. Business
interests are today having more to do
with the shaping of the destinies of Ok
lahoma than is politics and in the mean
tie the farmers of oklahoma have an
idea that they know thing or two about
business.
The oklahoma farmer thinks that his
business demands single statehood and
the politician who come round 10 argue
anything else viii have great difficulty
in securing a hearing. The farmers of
this territory think the RAILROADS are
holding them up and they are bidding
their time. When the Oklahoma farmer
raises a crop Of wheat and fires M the
engine. with coal 10 thresh il. he knows
that the railroads have charged him about
the same price for bringing that coal over
from the Indian territory that they would
have charged to bring if from the mines
of Colorado ana then when he goes to
send his wheat TO the port Of Galveston
fnot very far from here) he thinks that
he has to pay the railroads freight on
his wheat to Kansas City and then back
20 Galveston or the equal of that
The oklahoma farmer grits his teeth
when he throws shovel fun Of coal into
the furnace Of his thresher engine and :
he grits them again when he ships his
wheat He has figured out tina. If he gets
ringle statehood that coal shipped from
the mines Of South NIcAlister 70 his
nearest station will not come under tn,
head on interstate commerce and that his
representative in the state Legislature will
nave something to say about the freights
on coal and he further reasons that he ,
and his brother farmer down in the state !
OF Texas viii make some more equitable {
railroad rates on grain 70 the Mullins cen r
tiers Of the Lone Star state and to Calves ,
ton
The Oklahoma farmer IS for single state {
hood and who viii wonder at it. He Is y
not fool by a considerable and the pou- .
ticians have fallen in line with him.