The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-10
INDIANS MOVE
FOR STATEHOOD
ISSUE CALL FOR CON
vENTION FOR FIVE
TRIBES
TO MEET AT MySKOGEE
Delegates are TO Draft a
Constitution.
TO MEET AT MySKOGEE

Musko5ee. !. r., July 10.--1he most
startling political sensation that has
been sprung N lndian Territ trv for
some time came today in the sy Of
the publication Of cali for constt
tutional convention to be held in Indian
Territory next August for the purpose
Of forming a constitution for a new
state to be created out Of the five civ
ilized tribes, the constitution to be
adopted by the people and presented
to congress for action at the coming
session.
This call is an Indian movement. It
IS signed by w. c. Rogers, chief e
the Cherokee nation; Green McCur-
tain, chief of the Choctaw nation. end
w. A. Duncan. a prominent Cherokee
politician. It calls for an election of
delegates from each recording district
in lndan Territory on the 7th Of Au-
gust. There are to be seven delegates
to this constitutional convention from
each Of the twenty-six recording dis
tricts These delegates are to meet
in Muskogee on the 21st day of Au-
gust. for the purpose Of drafting a
constitut on for the new state, desig
mating a name and capital This
constitution is to be submitted TO a
vote of the people Of the territory
thirty days after Il has been drafted
by the convention.
This announcement Of a constitu
tional convention to be called coming
as II does right on the eve Of the big
ngle state convention which is to
be held at Oklahoma City July II,
has caused no little excitement in
political circles Just as 1t 3
thought the mourners were retl
from. the funeral OF the separate sb
idea. here bobs up a full fiedged ~aif
for constitutional convention that
means but one thing--a separate state
for indian Territory alone The fact
thai there rs to be constitution draft
ed Ut this convention, capital to be
named and other important matters as
set forth in the call. makes Il meet
ing Of such Importance that II guaran-
tees a full list OF delegates from every
recording district, and they will all be
at the convention which will likely last
two or three weeks.
While this new move may OF may
-. ..t..- ~ oo.r - non orraea vet
there are things involved which even
single staters can not fall to observe.
are important and the convention will
be pregnant with intense interest.
There was movement of this kind on
foot among the Indians two years ago
AT that time Chief Porter OF the Creeks.
and the chiefs OF the Chickasaw and
Seminole nations were also in favor OF
snch q move but il never mrterialized.
While these chiefs have not joined
with the others in the present call It
is understood that they are thoroughly
in sympathy with the move and will
lend II oil their assistance. This call
comes as a complete surprise and =
comes from the two nations where the
separate state sentiment is strongest.
Single state advocates say that Il is
move on the part CT the Indians who
are politicians to retard statehood Of
any kird by starting an argument OF
whether 1t shall be one state or two OF
the two territories.
Whatever may be the result or
whatever the motive for the call Il Is
certain that it has stirred up the big
gest political sensation that has been
created in Indian Territory for some
time