Evening star., 1905-11-10
Proposed State Of Sequoiah.

proposed State or SeQuoldn.
The people of Indian Territory have
adopted a constitution for the state OF Sc
quoiah and will come to Congress In De-
cember with q complete state organization,
for which they will ask legislative sanction
This has been done several times before ana
is considered the most rapid and satisfac-
tory way of turning territory into state
The constitution was submitted TO vote
of the people November T. 1t Is not nee
essary for this organization or for the con-
s.:tution to receive the Endorsement of the
President of the United States or the Sec
retary of the Interior. The committee IN
charge may hand the document to the
speaker or may ask any member of the
Senate or House to introduce them for ret-
erence to the committee on territories, 10
which they will be transmitted In any case
1t would be very much better however, 10
send the documents to Congress with the
sanction of the President and the Secretary
of the Interior, and to obtain their suggeS-
tons and meet their objections before
rather than after the enabling act is in
troduced.
1t Is understood that the President favors
Joint statehood, do the republican mem
bers of the Senate committee on territories.
They think that Indian Territory Is sure
to be democratic and that Okiahoma Is
very close. There has never been test
vote in Indian Territory, but in Oklahoma
the margin between the two parties Is very
narrow. The republican candidate Tor deie-
gate received only about 800 majority IN
1902 and only about 400 in 1904. Hence the
republicans are going on the theory thaI
two democratic senators are better than
four. and will therefore make joint STATE
hood a party measure, regardless OF the
wishes of the people interested
Sentiment in the Territories.
One of the leading advocates of joint
statehood admits that the people of both
territories are almost unanimously opposed
to Joint statehood, but says that although
l have felt that the opinion of the people
of the territories should have great weight.
the Constitution does not think SO. ana
gives Congress exclusive and autocratic
power over the making of new states; and
for this there were admirable reasons.
Also, the probable opinion of the future
citizens Of the new states should be con-
sidered if the opinions of the present citi-
zens are to be considered. And IN any
event, the welfare of the remainder of the
American people should be considered be-
fore and above alias indeed the ConStl-
tuition provides
1t may be asserted that every citizen OF
both territories is in favor of single state
hood if it be secured. and a large ma
jority are in favor of joint statehood If
nothing else can be secured. y consider
able minority in Oklahoma is opposed to
joint statehood under any circumstances.
They do not want to be linked with Indian
territory for several reasons, and would
prefer to remain outside the Union until
Congress IS just and wise enough to rec
ognize their claims But the claims and
the opinions of the people of Oklahoma
will have weight with the republican
leaders The latter will be governed en-
tirely by political reasons in whatever ac-
ton they decide to take. If they can be
convinced that single statehood will bene-
fit the republican party they will vote for
it; otherwise the people of the territories
will have to accept what is given them.
NO territory ever came TO Congress for
admission to the Union with better claims
to statehood than Oklahoma. 1t not only
has the population but the wealth, the
commerce, the industry and every other
feature of civilization that is essential for
admission. Taken a whole It is as far
advanced as Kansas, Nebraska. Iowa or
Massachusetts. The ratio of illiteracy is
less than it is in New England; the average
wealth per capita is larger; Oklahoma
would make ideal state if admitted
alone Indian Territory also has sufficient
population and wealth and industries, but
the standard of civilization is not so high
and cannot be for many years
The people of Oklahoma will come to
Congress with appeal for single state-
hood If they cannot obtain it. thev will
accept Joint statehood very reluctantly.