Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-09
Leading Citizens of Oklahoma
and Indian Territories.
ARDENTFOR STATEHOOD
REGARD THE HAMILTON BILL AS
MOST LIKELY TO PASS.
Nearly Two Hundred Members in the
Party, Including Representative
Men of Two Territories.

I'VE want statehood but we want 1t
straight" That was the announcement of
big delegation of Oklahoma and Indian
Territory people who arrived In Washington
this morning and will stay here about
week IN the interests of the joint statehood
bill One of the members of the delegation
in talking to a Star reporter said 1--WE are
all ready for admission to the Union, and
we are agreeable on both sides to the joint
statehood proposition. But we do not want
statehood with any string tied to it. We
are ready for statehood on the same basis
as any other state that has been admitted
TO the Union. but we do not want any pro-
hibition as to the sale OF liquor in the state
Neither do we want our state capital To-
Gated by law. We are perfectly capable of
doing that ourselves, and If we are not, in
the judgment of Congress. ready for state
hood Just the same as any other state. then
We wait for 1t TIL it comes without
being tangled up with any provisos. AS to
the sale of liquor TO the Indians, of course
they are the wards of the government and
the government can do with them as II
chooses but to the rest of the people in
the state, they are able to manage their
own affairs.
Meeting at the National Hotel.
There are close to 200 members of the
party, and of these ten from each territory
are regularly elected delegates. There are
fifteen or twenty editors in the party and
the representatives of chambers of COM
MERGE and trade bodies all over the two
territories. The party held a meeting at
the National Hotel soon after arriving to
formulate plans for the day. Nothing has
yet been decided as to their program but
they intend to take in the sights of the
town, especially Congress during its sup
posedly working hours, and they are out to
work for the statehood bill as soon as it
comes up in untrammeled form.
With Banners and Music.
To the strains of martial music and with
colors flying the delegation invaded the ma
tional capital about o o clock this morning
coming in over the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road on the Statehood Special" With tri-
colored banners flying and headed by
Haley's Band the delegation marched up
the avenue to the hotel After establishing
headquarters the delegation resumed its
march.
Stopping at The Star building the dele
cation stormed the business office with smil-
ing faces and with hearty handshakes in
western fashion.
Now for three lusty cheers, boys for
The Washington Star and its fearless and
vigorous stand on the question of state
hood, sang out Col. c. c. Jones, the leader
OF the ton. The hearty whoops from
the Threats of the healthy-lookng WESTERN
ers made the skylights rattle
President Roosevelt will probably re-
Ceive the delegation in a body some time
this afternoon, while arrangements for con-
ferences with Speaker Cannon, Senators
Beveridge and Foraker and other leaders In
the statehood fight have been arranged.
The delegation left Oklahoma Wednesday
comes loaded with sheckels, as well as
badges, streamers, pamphlets and other
sorts of literature
Repre- of Organizations.
]. P. Becker, territorial member GO the
Oklahoma legislature and a practiclng at.
toruey, living at Medford, Okla, is also
member OF the party Mr. Becker said that
the sole and only object of bringing the
delegation here was to assist in all man
ner possible Mr.. Mcguire, Oklahomas
delegate to Congress, In all honorable ways
TO secure statehood for Oklahoma and In
dian Territory at the present session of
Congress. You folks in the east cannot
comprehend the swift growth and develop
ment OF the twin territories. We only
ask permission to take part in making the
United States more great and magnificent;
and while doing so we willing to carry
our part of the burden as the other states
United States
Our delegation you see here Is an aver
age delegation. chosen at mass meeting by
the different commercial clubs and organf-
cations of the two territories.
i don't think, continued Mr. Becker, "a
stronger delegation of representative men
has ever travelled $500 miles to reach this
capital city on more noble or higher pur-
pose than the delegation here before YOU.
we VIII be here for ten days or two
weeks ana while most of US have come
from different parts of the United States
ana nave a residence In the territories for
the past Few years, We all know more or
less OF the members of Congress We hone
that this 1Culafptarca will
our mission. Practically every delegate
mere represents one hundred to fifteen hun
dred OF his constituents, as we are sent by
the different organizations as l have said
There are about four possibilities amone
the bills. said Mr.. Williams of Lawfon
l. 1. ANY of them, with a little amend
ment' VIII suit US. There Is the Hamilton
hll winch l think stands the most Ukelf-
hood of passing; there are the Clark and
me other bills. but all of them want some
niue alteration. We all of us have personal
ttItloGuctohs TO good many of the mem
oers both OF the House and Senate and
some OF them are known personally to
everybody IN the party. We Just want TO
help the statehood cause along, and that is
point on which we are all united
Members of the Party.
The party includes c. A. Russell, Okla
homa City. o. T.; ]. R. Williams, Lawton.
u l.: A I. West, Leigh, o. T.; L. ]. Lee
Ardmore. l. t; John o. Mitchell. Tulsa. /.
IL EuLhuilu Mchenna, Poteau, I. T.; Chas
r. Barrett. Shawnee, l. T.; c. G. Jones.
Oklahoma City, o. r: w. II. Anderson
Lawton. o. IT, c. E. Hunter, Chickasha, |.
l.; j. II. Cline, Hobart o. T.: s. q. Victor
Afton. l. T.; A. F. Perry. Coalgate l. II:
Sad AIlard Chickasha l. T.; d. p Marum
woodward. Q. T.; G. s. Gilkerson. Chey-
enne. o. T.; Lee Cruce. Ardmore L T: +.
j. Harkins, Weatherford, o. T.: M r.
Sturtevant, Oklahoma City; A. H CIassen.
Oklahoma City; II. r. GILL; Alton. I. T.: M
L, THOMPSON. Hartshorn, l. r.; w E.
Dixon, Wewoka, l. T.; Sam MassingaIe.
Sordell. o. T.: Geo. Evans. Chickasha, I
+; Geo w. Barefoot. Chickasha, l. r. Joe
Morris. Snyder, o. T.; G. s. Bailey. SNYDER
y l.: Mrs. A. E. Perry Coalgate I r:
Mrs q. NJ. Griffin. Okmulgee. l. r.: MISS r.
y. Taylor. Oklahoma City; w E. Corton'
Pawnee. o. T.: A. l.. Hates Ctaremore r
T; @. j. Keith. Ryan. I. t.; Rev i 7
Thomson. Oklahoma City; J. L. Hamon.
Lawton. o. IT.: Robt. j. Ray. I.awton. o.
t.; w. L. Williams. Shawnee, O. r: John
D. Richards, Okeemah. l. T.; H. c. Good
loe. Sugden. 1. T.: C. L. Macarthur. Lindsey.
]. T.; r, z. Johnson. Pauls Valley. /. n:
w. T. SDrowls. Durant, I. T.: Dr. J. Hens
ley Oklahoma City. o. t.: r. II. Leayitt
Coweta. l. T.: Z. @. Phippen, Coweta. l. n.
w NJ. Stmms. Vinita, l. t.; Miss
Marie Pence, Oklahoma City. o. ~.
Willis B. Scrimshire. Evansville, /. T.: r
Al