Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-07-20
SEEKING STATEHOOD
Oklahoma City Convention DeveI-
Opss Great Enthusiasm.
EVERY DISTRICT WAS REPRESENTED.
Demand That Congress Consider
Their Claim to Admission
Independent Of other
Territories.

Oklahoma City, Ok, July 1S.-one
thousands delegates from the Indian
territory and Oklahoma met In con-
yention here Wednesday to take some
definite action looking to immediate
statehood.
Delegates and visitors began arriv-
ing Tuesday, and when the gather
ing was called to order the greatest
enthusiasm prevailed. The conven-
ton was Of great import to both ter
ritories, and indeed was considered
one of the most important eyer held
in the Indian country. In the early
hours delegations paraded the streets
headed by bands with banners flying,
and cheering for immediate statehood.
Many regular and special trains dur
ing the night and early hours brought
in thousands Of visitors from every
direction.
Seemingly the utmost harmony pre-
vailed among the delegates, their only
object being to forward the move
ment for early admission to the union.
While there were contesting delega-
lions, especially from the Indian Ter
rltory, where 1t was alleged the In
adians had not been given fair repre-
sentation, the disagreements had been
settled largely before the convention
was called to order. An effort to agree
upon temporary officers in caucus failed
and it was left to the convention.
When G. G. Jones of Oklahoma City,
called the convention to order in a
brief speech he was accorded tre-
mendous ovation, the delegates cheer
ing until almost exhausted. Every
county In Oklahoma and every record
ing district of Indian Territory was
represented by a full delegation, while
hundreds of statehood enthusiasts
crowded all the remaining space in the
building.
The report of the credentials COM
mittee was adopted without division
and the committee on permanent or
ganization named John Embry, Of
Chandler, for permanent chairman, and
Charles e Hunter for Secretary,
An executive committee consisting
of 54 members was selected from which
will be chosen sub committee to pre-
sent the resolutions to the president
and congress.
After the evening recess the commit |
tee on resolutions announced that its
report was ready, signed by every |
member Of the committee. Reading |
of the report was frequently inter-
rupted by applause particularly the
reference in the preamble to the desire
that Oklahoma and Indian Territory |
be disconnected from any congressional
action relating to New Mexico and
which was demonstration Of
disapproval of this feature of the
bill in the last congress known as the
Hamilton bill
part of the resolutions follow:
1--WE, the one thousand delegates
representing the million and half
citizens who reside in Oklahoma and
Indian territories. do hereby declare
In convention assembled that said ter
ritories are entitled to and of right
ought to be Immediately admitted into
The American union as one free and
important state, on terms Of equality |
IS between themselves, and on an
equal footing with the other states.
We have but one petition and one re-
quest to present to the American con-
yress, and that is that immediate joint
be granted to Oklahoma and
indian territories, on their own merits,
md without reference to any right or
lain Of other territories seeking ad-