The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-01-15
( FOR
PROHIBITION
e HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
RIToRIES BY MRS. ELLIS
Feels Sighted That All Mention
Women Is Excluded From the
Jtatehood Blll-Beas for Pro.
hbition Clause In Bill.

Ellis, legislative superintendent VA
tional w c r.. U., before the house
committee on territories:
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen Of the
committee, do NOT need to apologize
for being here, for large factor that
has helped to make Oklahoma and
dian Territory TT for statehood needs
to be represented I'm this room, the
women OF the Southwest and as
their representative am here before
you. That is why stayed here all day
wednesday, because | represent ;nose
women who left their homes and went
to chat Southwestern country, and
have gone through all the deprlyations
of pioneer life, and have reared their
children in difficulties such as we wo-
men of the East know nothing of; wo.
and shacks and cabins, aud as have
gone through this bill il has touched
me, you men of Oklahoma and Indian
Territory, that no word is expressed
concerning these women. They have
helped make that great country what
II IS today.
What Is II that made Oklahoma
great? Is It because of it's marvellous
growth? Is II because of its fertile
soil? Is It because of the wonderful
thrift and enterprise of that great ter.
ritory? | believe the greatest factor
has been the homes established. Some
of you gentlemen have brought Il out
as point that certain men who ia
vored prohibition were not fanatical
concerning religion Are you not glad
that woman has brought her children
to know honor. and regard the God
whom we all serve. And so 1t has
hurt me u little that i'm this bill there
Is not one word about women. II Is
race" and color" but sex is no.
where spoken of. Now, here in the In.
dian Territory. with its great popula-
tion of over 1000, as have under
stood. with $4,000 full bloods and over
10000 half breeds.
To be accurate, on the 9th day of
July, 1882, congress entered into an
agreement with the Indians OF Indian
Territory that under no pretense
whatever should liquor be sold in
that territory. That has been reiter.
ated again and again. as has been
shown here day after day and hour
after hour. II was promise, Gov
enant, an agreement ON the part of
the government with those Indians,
What is a promise? What is the value
of a promise In the commercial world?
What is the value of promise In
the domestic world? II is everything.
The government promised that these
people should he kept from the power
of strong drink and that its sale and
barter should be prohibited Now, we
claim that promise on the part of
the government should be maintain
ed as well as a promise in commercial
l!iC II is understood universally Ev'
cry man here has acknowledged II,
that strong drink with the Indian Is
his destruction The question has been
asked. DO these people want prohibi'
tion? why. in my position as legisla.
tive superintendent of the National
Woman's Christian Temperance I'm
ion. during the years that | have been
In this city of Washington attending
10 the duties and to representing
these women, there have passed
through my Office hundreds OF peti,
tions from the Indian Territory
In the archives of this grand old
capital there are stored away today
hundreds and hundreds of petitions
10 congress. both to the senate and ia
the house. asking that they should be
further protected from the curse OF