The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-06-22

sion They have been sometimes in.
cnned to believe that all the world
knew that they wanted statehood and
wanted It very much. The following
letter win serve % disclose the need
for a continued campaign on the sub
iect
Onice OF Orange Judd Company
Chicago. III, June 10. 1906.
Esditor Leader. Guthrie. Okla. Dear
SIX. ] understand that the Oklahoma
people no longer want statehood and
union with Indian .srritory, but are
demanding three conditions-Eirst.
that Indian lands. except homesteads.
are 10 become Immediately taxable;
second that an appropriation Of at
least 10000. 600 be made in lieu Of the
school funds for Indian territory;
third. that representation in the con-
stitutional convention Of the new
state shall be based upon the actual
population of the two territories
Is this view Of the question correct?
wish you would send me little note.
stating how the people IN your com
munity feel toward the statehood
proposition.
Truly yours,
Clarence A. shamel,
Associate Editor
The answer Of course IS that Okla.
hcma does want statehood. that it
wants statehood and union with Indian
territory IN one state, and wants it
now. and that there are no conditions
precedent, at least none which it Is
at all likely that congress will seek
TO impose.
For twelve years Oklahoma has
been calling for statehood, leaving
the conditions to the good judgment
Of congress. Two great national con
ventions Of both parties have promis
ed it; every governor and legislature
OF the territory have resolved in
favor Of it and ninety-nine per cent
Of the people are urgent in their de
mand for IT,
SO far as the immediate taxation OF
Indian lands except the homestead Is
concerned, it would be only just II
they s5re their own part Of the ex
pense OF the state, but It has never
been considered OF sufficient import
ance to be made a condition precedent
and so il has not been the subject OF
strong representations to congress.
Ten million dollars is what should
DE appropriated in lieu Of school lands
In Indian territory It is small
enough. The lands themselves, i
thew could be obtained, would be
worth s25. 600 600. The provision IL
the old bill was cut down to s5.OOO.OO
b.e this was not just u Oklahcmt
which has lands worth four times thai
amount. HIowever. this has never
been made condition precedent t'
statehood, but only the subject =
strong representations to the COM
mittee.
No demand for a representation il
tho convention based on actual popu
llation. which would necessitate a cen
sus. has ever been made, the provis
ions Of the bill in congress hayini
always been considered satisfactory.
Several other propositions were dis
cussed as amendments, but none o
them ever attained to anything lik'
the rank Of conditioas precedent Il
statehood Statehood first, last an,
all the time, then such reasonabl,
proyisioh= IS the grace and wisdom o
congress viii permit. oklahoma's on
loud call must be for immediate state
hood, accompanied by a showing Q
qualifications, but not accompanied b,
conditions precedent, as they tend I,
confuse the public mind, as is showI
in the above letter.
That letter Illustrated the harm
done by rooters for SPECIFIC provision
and special interests and the need 70
the one single cry for immediate STATE
hood.
/ @----------- -
A CHANGE SUGGESTED.