The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-02-20

Size - The Population Is over
rheimingly American.
The new state Of Oklahoma will be
royal domain, and it will more than
measure up with many states when
they originally were admitted, even If
one accepts the doctrine that the per
centage of population of new states
must increase In harmony with the in
crease In population in the whole coun-
try, says the Pittsburg Dispatch.
Taken together, oklahoma and In
dian Territory will make state sub
stantially the size of Kansas. This Is
smaller than most of the states west of
the Missouri, but the new common
wealth will come into the Union with
much larger population relatively and
with much more definite resources than
almost any other state has had within
the last two or three generations.
According to the federal census of
1000, Oklahoma had a population of
3oS,331 and Indian Territory 392,O ,O60,
making total census population for
The new state of approximately S0O,-
600 There Is no doubt at all that the
population Of the new state at the pres
cnt time Is over million. Even on the
basis of the last census the new state
will have four representatives in con-
gress, which fully meets the measure
of population anticipated by the found
ers of the republic.
The best feature from a population
standpoint of the new state Is that 1t Is
not only largely and, In fact, over
whelmingly American, but that 1t Is
distinctly growing community and can
be depended upon to increase rapidly as
the years go by.
When this country was established
the last work done by the old centen-
nlal congress, as embodied in the ia
nous ordinance OF 1887, was provi-
sion for the government of the north
western territory. 1t provided for the
future division of that territory into
not less than three nor more than five
states, the boundaries OF the territories
Of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio being fix
ed by the ordinance itself. That mas
terful document also provided that
whenever any one of the embryo states
reached a population of 10000 free In
habitants 1t should thereupon become
member of the Union. 1t was Daniel
Webster who called attention to the
fact that whereas the necessities of fed
Grafton among the sovereign colonies
rendered 1t necessary to take into the
Union and admit to equal representa-
ton In the senate such petty common
wealths rs Rhode Island and Delaware,
the fathers of the republic at the out
set wisely provided for states of large
area and with considerable initial pop
ulation.
Most statesmen since then have In
sisted that the 10000 minimum estab-
lished by the ordinance of 1887 was
merely the beginning of a sliding scale
and that the requisite for admission
into the Union must necessarily be In
creased to correspond to the growth in
population of the whole country. When
the old basis was established the popu-
lation was only about 100000, so that
this rule would require a population as
a basis for statehood now of /, $4,000.
Most people admit that this is too large
to think of, but there has been gen
state shall or should be admitted unless
its total population should at least
equal that which Is required for a con-
gressonal district.
Even under q strict application of the
sliding scale the new state of Okla
homa would have about the population
agreed upon by the fathers of the re-
public. Five years ago 1t had enough
for four representatives In congress
under the new apportionment, and 1t
has probably gained enough to Justify
still another member at the present
time, although, of course Its repre-
sentation In the house, like that of all
states, must be based upon the census
figures and not upon existing figures.
Indian Territory itself has entirely
changed Its character until today in the
new state less than per cent of the
whole population will be found to be
of Indian birth.
One of the first things which became
evident to members of congress who
studied the situation was that Okla
homa and Indian Territory as they are
today are essentially one community.
As the tide of western Immigration
flowed over and around the lands re
served for the Indians one piece after
another was cut Off by treaty or other
wise until finally there was formed the
territory of Oklahoma.
Further investigation showed that
Gside from all questions of geography
neither territory was itself fitted for
statehood, because each possessed quail
ifications which the other lacked. Ok
lahoma is agricultural and destined to
supply great commerce from the wealth
OF it's splendid farm land. 1t has. how
ever, neither coal, minerals, building
stone nor timber In any considerable
quantity, and yet Indian Territory has
all of these.
For long time union Of sentiment
practically destroyed geographical
L. A., hna a,-.Jx,