The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-09-15
GREATER OKLAHOMA
Extracts From Speech Of Hon. Albert J. Beyeridge Of
Indiana, Closing the Debate on the
Statehood Bill.

'rhe Senate having under consideration
The bin "a r. ii7ie) 20 enable the people
Of oka'ioma and Of the Indian TERRITORY
70 form constitution and state GOV.
eminent and be admitted into the Union
on an equal footing with IN. original
states; and to enable The people Of New
Mexico and Of Arizona to form IA con-
stiuution and state government and be
admitted into the Union on an equal
footing with the original states--
MIR. Bevcridse said:
Mr.. President IN discussing the bin
itself ! wish first 90 call attention to tho
fact that the bin in both of us pr3vis-
ions illustrates the growth Of an idoa
and in uli the world there Is nothing so
impressive or Irresistible as the growth
of an idea in the minds Of men. This
IS Illustrated. ] say. by both provisions
Of this bill: by the Brst. which makes one
state out Of the Territory cf Oklahoma
and Indian Territory. and by the sec
ond part Of tho bill. which nakcs one
state out of New Mexico and Arizona.
Greater Oklahoma.
Two Years ago the majority Of the
c@nmitoc sn territories brought into
the senate us substitute for the then
pending measure bill uniting Indian
Territory and Oklahoma. At the time
that tholfht was presented IL found chill
reception IN this body. u was resisted
by most OF the politicians both In the
Indian Territory and in Oklahoma, and
the country received it win indiffer-
ence. Two years have pissed. Nothin,
has been done IN its bsaalf No propa-
ganda has been conducted to further tha.
idea. II has depended only upon its owr
vitality. But the idea was lodged in the
minds OF the people OF the two ter1.i-
tories, and It has grown until it has
formed an irresistible power. so tnat
the people OF these territories themselves
,cday are u unit upon this question, and
/ the politicians there, in obedience to the
universal public demend. have also
agreed upon it.
Not only that. but the idea OF single
statehood eaptured the country. and l
hold here in my hand editorials from pa
pcy all over this nation advocating this
com 4e, regardless Of party. In ad-
dition, the idea has grown mtn in this
body itself St receives almost The over
whelming approval Of senators And now
we are to have a single magnificent state
made bv the reunion Of thcse two terri.
tories, a commonwealth l,ssurnassed -r
the Republic in generous resources, de
nghtful climate. and q spisnC citizen.
ship--for such Is the greater OSlahomi
for which this bill provides ana the only
Oklahoma that Is possible to be made 4
siat,
Mr. President. what is true in reserenc,
to Oklahoma ana Indian Territory 81
true also with reference to New Mexic'
and Arizona
Arizona and New Mexico not Hostile
All Americans.
1t has been said that their population
are anlike. their institutions allen, thei
people hostile In feeling deny it. Tha
is a doctrine abhorrent TO the theory o
republican government Within the ma
tion there can not be antagonistlc com
mumities There can not be institution
in one state alien 10 institutions IN an
other state. There can not be unlilS
ambitions The ambition OF one stat
OF the American nation is the anabitio
or every other state. We are not mdi
anLlns, New YorHers. Calfonians. o
New Ahrxcans We are an Americans
with the same Institutions from oeeal
TO ocean: with tie same destiny reachin
. a thousand years into the future: wit
common intesests 50 nextricahly inter
woven that the pr,sre'iyv Of any Sc