Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-11-20
When a newccm.

Is calmy reminded OF senator hoar
famous remark that after the Pilgrim
fathers landed they fell upon their
knees and then fell upon the Indians.
which their descendants have been
doing up to the present time. They
argue that II all restrictions upon the
sale of property Excepting home
steads and minors) are removed the
territory will hll up with the best
classes Of citizens, So that In the next
few years the Indians will have much
better protection from public opinion
than they will have IL immigration Is
kept away and business in the terri
tory Is made Improbable except 10
speculators, adventurers and the graft
ers who are robbing the Indians. IN
other words, 1t Is argued that as long
as the Indians are prohibited from
making lawful sales they will con
time to be robbed. one way or an
other. and the lands OF the territory
will pass into the control OF speculat'
ors: whereas, II owners are allowed TO
sell without restriction. the buyers
will be genuine homeseekers and set
tiers. who will build up the country
aud protect the Indian.
While the people of Indian Terri
tory have adopted a constitution and
had arranged for naming their state
Seouoyah. the election of Tuesday, il
appears, mas put an effective damper
on the single statehood plan. Ac.
cording to the latest dispatches. bus
little interest was manifested In si1
gle statehood and the vote on the Sc
quoyah constitution will not reach %.
900 out OF possible 100000. In fact,
not 90 per cent Of the Indian Territory
voters indorsed the Seduoyah consti'
tuition. On the other hand the dis
patches indicate that there has been
an overwhelming Endorsement OF Joint
statehood with Oklahoma. In many OF
the towns the polls were not opened
at ALL No election was held. 1t ap'
pears. at Ardmore, Purcell, Chickasha
Coalgate, NARROW and other large
places. In the towns where vote
was taken the balloting showed a vote
for joint statehood far in excess OF the
vote for the Sequoyah state cOnstitu'
ton.
The result OF this vote probably will
nullify the arrangement already made
for committee from Indian Territory
to come to Washington in December
and ask the sanction of Congress to
complete their state organization.
1t is understood that the president
favors joint statehood for purely politi-
cal reasons, as many of the Repnbli'
can members OF both houses do. They
think tnat Indian Territory is sure to
he Democratic and that Oklahoma is
very close. There has never been a
test vote in Indian Territory, but In
Oklahoma the margin between the
two parties is very narrow. The Re
publican candidate for delegate re
ceiyed only about 300 majority in 1902
and only about 400 in 1901. Hence the
Republicans are going on the theory
that two Democratic senators are bet
ter than four. and will therefore make
Joint statehood r party measure. re-
gardless of the wishes of the people
interested.
A considerable minority in okla
homa is opposed to joint statehood
under any circumstances. They do not
want to be linked with Indian Terri
tory for several reasons, and would
prefer to remain outside the Union un
to recognize their claims. But the
claims and the opinions of the people
OF Oklahoma will have no weight with
the Republican leaders. The latter
will be governed entirely by political
reasons in whatever action they de
that single statehood will benefit the
Republican party they will vote fol
It; otherwise the people of the terri.
tory will have to accept what Ia given
them.
No territory ever came to Congress-
for admission to the Union with bet
ter claims TO statehood than Okla
homa. 1t not only has the population
but the wealth, the commerce, the in
dustry aud every other feature OF civ.
ilization that is essential for admis
sion. Taken as whole 1t Is as far
advanced as Kansas. Nebraska. Iowa
or Massachusetts. The ratio of hit.
eracy is less than It is in New Eng.
land; the average wealth per capita
is larger; Oklahoma would make an
ideal state II admitted alone. Indian
Territory also has sufficient popula
ton, wealth and Industries; but the
standard OF civilization is not so high
and can not he for many years.
The people Of Oklahoma will come
TO Congress with an appeal for single
statehood. II they can not obtain it
they will accept joint statehood very
reluctantly.
From Thursdays Daily,