The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1905-11-05
PREACHER ON seoUoYAH.
vinita Pastor Points Out Futility Of
Proposition.

V1nita, l. T.. Nov. 3-Reverend T.
II. Groom. in an interview on the sub
iect of making a state OF the Indian
Territory and calling 1t Sequoyah,
says:
considerable interest centers just
now i'm the movement for double state
hood. | feel safe in saying that no
thinking person in the territory eX-
poets the proposed state of Sequoyah
to become a reality II is not urdina-
rily taken seriously and is regarded
by most people as a shrewd and deep
ly laid plot on the part of certain men
who profit by the present state of
affairs, to perpetuate the present car
pet bag system of government. Ger
tainly it can do nothing more than
make statehood difficult during the
coming winter and for this reason
the progressive citizens of the Indian
Territory ought to- assist 1t to die
natural death.
"A few honest but misguided del.
egates to the Muskogee convention
were hoodwinked by the leader aud
led to believe that this would eatly
hclp the cause of statehood by SHOW
ing congress that the Indian Coull
make constitution. and that there.
fore he is ready 70" sclf.govCrnmen-.
But careful reading .: the cons ,itu-
tiOn shows that the cause OF stateh JOd
will be hinderc fa.hCr than heipe1,
for the constitution shows to1 plain
ly the hand of he S2nSmer. Often the
careful reader Oi fgdI the consti-
tuition has been stretched TO serve
private rather ;hdE public interests.
fys H.. go al fEFt
voice of Jacob"
How then will the Sequoyah move.
ment hurt statehood prospects?
"First-By posing as the real friend
to the Indian. The promoters of ina
scheme We're sharp enough to pick up
a number of Indians from differen-
parts of the territory and let them
constitute the majority of the conven-
ton. although most of them were
tools in the hands of leaders and com
mittees. The whole affair then is p:as-
querading in Indian costume. Tnis
winter a desperate effort will be made
to convince congress that The thing
has simmered down to the Indian on
one side and the white CRATER on the
ether The carpet baggers have all
along found it greatly to their interest
to magnify the situation in this coun-
try, claiming that Poor Lo is being
cheated ont Of his eyes and tGat they
are doiL. all they can to keep the
white man from running him. As re-
suit the authorities at Washington
being led to believe that this is the
land of the thug and thief-that the
only mission of the white man down
here is to rob the Indian. This con
stitution. therefore, may have mucl
weight at Washington in pu"porting
TO represent the sentiment of the In
dian as opposed to that of the white
man.
"Second-lt will njure the pros
poets for statehood by cleverlv Ca,Cr-
ing to the Churcn people and moral
element by a strong prohibition plank.
A letter lies on my desk now, ad
dressed 10 me as a minister. In which
letter | am urged TO support the Sc
Quoyah constitution in the interest of
purer homes In response to this let.
ter, ! suppose that a great many of
the preachers, old maids and cranks
will fall right into the band wagon
and wnoOp up the double statehood
scheme, since it promises prohibition.
But let us be a little careful, my fell
low ministers-It's only plan to lend
more influence to the Muskogee con
vention and help defeat statehood.
There's a bug under the chip | be-
lieve in temperance first, last and
all the time. expect to fight for it as
long as | live, and it Is because | love
the cause that | want to stcer clear
of the Sequoyah affair, for it will be
a blow to prohibition to mix up with
double statehood. If didn't love the
cause, would want prohibition in the
Indian Territory, but | want the kild
the people will give us by fair ballot
II we have to resort to clandestipe
methods in order to secure prohibit
tiou | don't want it,
Remember who the real friends Of
temper ice are, and take your stand
accord yly."