Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-12-22
KEEPS LIQUOR OUT.
Strict Prohibition Clause In Oklaho-
ma Statehood Bill.
WOMAN SUFFRACISTS GAIN A POINT
Lands for Public Schools Must BE
Sold In IGO-Acre Tracts-COn-
stitutionaI Conventions to
he Held.

Washington, Dec. 16.-The senate
committee on territories, by vote OF
6 to 4, authorized favorable report
on the statehood bill providing Tor
the admission into the union OF OK
lahoma and Indian territory, TO pe-
come the state of Oklahoma, and OF
Arizona and New Mexico, to become
the state of Arizona. The Dill Is the
one originating in the house IN the
second session of the Fifty-eighth con-
eress. but has been amended mate
rally by the senate committee. Inc
closeness of the vote practically makes
II certain that there will be minor
ity report Senator Beyeridge, chair
man of the committee having the Dill
in charge, submitted the majority re,
port. The opponents of the Dill Will
contest its passage on the moor OF the
senate. The statehood Dill Will DC
the unfinished business of the senate
after a vote is taken on the Philippine
bill.
The most important changes made In
the house bill are the insertion OF
clause prohibiting traffic in liquor LOT
period of ten years in that part Oh
the proposed state of Oklahoma now
known as Indian territory and the
elimination from the house Dill OF all
provisions with reference to Suffrage
except the following: THAT said state
shall never enact any law restricting
or abridging the right of suffrage on
account of race, color or previous con-
dition of servitude." AS passed by
the house the bill contained excep-
tons. but also specifically permitted
the proposed states, if they so de-
sired, to abridge suffrage on account
of sex. The provision as to sex caused
so many protests from women SUI
fraejsts that the committee struck out
the provision on this subject, thus
leaving no reference whatsoever In the
bill that might indicate an opinion OF
any sort on the question OF female
suffrage.
The prohibition provision relative to
Oklahoma is as follows: THAT the
sale, barter or giving away, except for
mechanical, medicinal or scientlnc
purposes, of intoxicating liquors with
In that part of the state heretofore
known as the Indian territory or other
Indian reservations within said state,
be prohibited for a period Of ten years
from the date of admission OF said
state and thereafter until the legisla-
ture of said state shall otherwise pro-
vide.
| Among other amendments made to
the house bill are the following: Re-
ducing the number Of delegates from.
the territory of Oklahoma to the con-
stitutional convention from 60 to b
and increasing the number from In
dian territory from so to 81, reducing
the number from New Mexico from 10
to 66 and increasing the number from
Arizona from 40 to A.
Inclusion of the university prepare
tory school and the colored agricul-
tural normal school in the educational
institutions to be benefited by land
reservations in Oklahoma.
Recurring that any lands sold for
the support of the public schools in
the state of Oklahoma be sold at pub
lie sale in 16O-acre tracts or less. The
provision giving preference to the les
see at the time of sale is stricken out.