Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-08
WANT STATEHOOD
Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory People United.
RECENT CONVENTION
COMPRISED A THOUSAND ENTHU-
sIASTIC WORKERS.
All Willing to Join in Getting a Bill
Granting One State-Present
Conditions
RECENT VENTION

OKLAHOMA CITY, August l. 1903.
The people of Oklahoma and Indian Ter
rtory are determined that no act of theirs
shall be to blame for any difficulty In franz
ing and passing a statehood bill for the
two territories at the coming session of
Congress.
The idea prevails here and in all parts
of both territories that practically the only
real objection urged to the granting of
statehood at last session was the fact that
a considerable element in each of the two
territories was In favor of separate state
hood and Numerically opposed to a union
of the two into one state. A great deal of
consideration has been given this question
by the single statehood people. and the Or
ganization, with headquarters here in Ok
lahoma City. has been in constant activity,
with the result that at the next session a
solid front for single statehood will be
presented, andthere will be no dissension in
the ranks. The last trace Of opposition to
single statehood has been removed and an
agreement to unite upon a plan has been
reached. The understanding is that the
proposition to Congress shall suggest that
the enabling act and the constitution shall
carry provision that the people of the
state may hereafter divide into two states
II they by vote SO determine.
Recent Statehood Convention.
The recent statehood convention held IN
this city was an assembly Of over thou
sand enthusiastic statehood workers from
all parts of both territories.
By far the greater number came from In
dian Territory, and they were men terribly
in earnest. They characterized the condi-
tons existing in Indian Territory as fright
full, and openly stated that they were will
Ing to concede anything and everything to
attain the one object, government. The
name Indian Territory conveys the idea
that 1t Is an organized territory with a
government like the other territories, but
this is not the case. There is no govern
ment except the Indian tribal authority
over its members, and this expires in 1906.
In addition to this the federal court has
jurisdiction for the punishment Of crimes,
but there are no local officers local
courts Under these circumstances 1t is
not strange that the lawless element is
large and that crime goes unpublished. 1t is
notorious fact that petty offenses are
totally ignored by the officers, SO over
crowded are the federal jails and the court
dockets In fact, man so disposed can
conduct a systematic business of petty lar
ceny and never be troubled in his opera
lions.
In the cities recently organized a partial
municipal government exists, but 1t is Who'll
ly inadequate in the line of public improve
ments, taxation and schools. In the country
no schools whatever are provided for, and
at least a quarter of a million children are
coming up in ignorance among vicious
surroundings.
The Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad
was built through the territory from north
to south many years ago. and until the
Dawes commission began its work 1t was
the only railway in the territory, and had
dead haul from the Texas border to
the kansas line with the exception of
shipments of cattle and the few goods nee
essary to supply the Indian traders stores
at the lonely sidings upon the fertile prairies
lying wholly unimproved and unproductive.
A few years have wholly changed this condf-
ton. Today you will find all along this
railway and along the numerous other rail-
ways recently built In the territory, at dis
tances of five to ten miles, populous towns.
Of which two or three are cities of 10000 to
1900 people. These towns and cities have
been built by energetic men from the states;
who were willing to bear nconven-
fences and to undergo hardships in order
that they might prosper in a new and fer
tile country. These towns have been built
far ahead of the surrounding country, be-
cause titles TO lots could be obtained while
titles to farming land could not.
Present Conditions and Prospects.
Within the next year title to a large pro-
portion of the farming land will be obtain
able from Indians and with this change will
come large immigration of farmers, who
will build up the country to level with the
towns. These towns are now under munlc-
ipal governments which are responsible TO
no one and furnish no adequate means for
public improvements. The result is cities
without streets, sewers, water and other
necessities.
The country is devoid of schools, roads
and bridges. and wholly without organizl-
ton of any kind With the influx of a new
population that will surely be attracted by
the cheap, fertile land greater disorder and
increased crime will necessarily result.
In marked contrast to this deplorable con-
dition is well-organiZed Oklahoma. In the
country you find good roads through farms
well titled as those of the most pros
porous farming communities of the east.
The country schools, attended by thou
sands of children, are the pride of the ter
ritory, and the cities far better built
and equipped with modern improvements
than are those of the same age or size In
eastern states.
Oklahoma City is only sixteen years old
and yet it has a population of $4,000 and is
growing daily. It's buildings are of the most
modern style, six and seven stories high
equipped with elevators. 1t has miles of
asphalt streets, a first-class street railway
system and all other modern improvements.
The other towns of the territory are as well
built in proportion to their population, and
nowhere is to be seen any sign of boom
growth" everything is substantial and
built to stay"
1t seems strange to find this substantial
prosperous, energetic. well-governed, intel
ligent community denied state government,
and equally strange to find at its very door
in the midst of these United States COM
munity of equal population, without law
without order and without government.
In recent speech at Oklahoma City Gov.
La Toilette of Wisconsin expressed the SEN
timent that all feel when first realizing the
enormity of the situation. He said: 1T
seems to me that l have been in a dream
since crossed the border of your territory.
l scarcely realize that such growth,
such prosperity. is possible 1t seems I'M
possible that you are not a state. 1t is not
only wrong. but it is crime to deny you
state government"
Bernhard and the Cross.