The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-07
LONG FOR STATEHOOD.
Kansas Senator Makes Strong Plea for
Oklahoma.

Washington, March Senator
Long made a most effective speech in
behalf of the admission of Oklahoma
and Indian Territory to statehood. The
comparative statistics which he pre-
scented showing that Oklahoma would
have higher rank from the date of its
admission than eighteen states now in
the union attracted the senate's atten-
ton to him when he began to name
the states which had less population
than Oklahoma and concluded by
showing that the proposed state has a
population equal to six states com
bined, and named the states, the sena-
tors began to prick up their ears. Dis
cussing Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory right to admission Senator Long
said:
this question Three years ago q bill
passed the house Of representatives
providing for statehood for Oklahoma
with provisions for later including IN
dian Territory. but failed to pass the
/ senate on account OF provisions for two
states for New Mexico and Arizona.
! One-year go in, the last congress Dill
similar to this passed the house and
also the senate, but failed in confer
ence because Of differences between
the house and senate in relation to
! statehood for New Mexico, the house
insisting on one state for Arizona and
New Mexico and the senate insisting on
making New Mexico a state.
This bill has passed the house and
is now being considered here. Three
years ago there was little objection to
the part of the bill relating to Okla
/ hOma. One yeaH ago there was no OBJ
/ lection to the part of the bill making
state of Oklahoma and Indian Terri
! tory. This year there is no substantial
/ objection to the part Of the bill pro
viding for statehood for Oklahoma and
Indian Territory.
Crime Against Oklahoma.
! IT wish briefly to refer to the crime
I against Oklahoma and Indian Territory
/ that has denied admission to them,
] notwithstanding their repeated petit
lions for statehood. In the creation of
a new state, the elements to consider
are area, population and resources, de-
veloped and undeveloped-
"Oklahont and Indian Territory
comprise an area somewhat smaller
than either Kansas or Nebraska, but
| larger than Arkansas or Iowa and about
/ the same size as Missouri. The COVER
nor of Oklahoma in his last report esti-
mated the population of Oklahoma June
80 as not less than 500, 600. The officials
of the department of the interior on the
| same date estimated the population II
Indian Territory at not less than 100
600. The estimates Of the bureau of
census for the year 1905 give the popu-
lation of Indian Territory Is $4,000 and
/ oklahoma sos, PSI or q total for the
Droposed state OF Oklahoma Of 1,056,26l-
! Using the same estimates on otner
states, the population Of the proposed
/ state Of Oklahoma is within 100000 OF
the combined population Of the follow
/ ing states: Delaware, Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, Utah and eVrnon
ssThese states are entitled to twelve
senators in this chamber, and yet Ok
lahoma is denied the privilege Of send
ing two. The population Of the pro-
posed state is nearly equal to the COM
! bined population of Montana, New
Hampshire and Oregon. 1t is greater
than North Dakota and South Dakota
/ combined It is nearly twice the pop
uIation of the state Of Washington. It
is half again as large as Maine. It Is
1 nearly four times the population OF
Montana It is greater than that Of
any New England state except Massa-
The Vote Last year.
"Oklahoma cast for delegate to con-
press at the 1905 election a total OF
/ 7Oe145 votes This was greater than
the total vote cast in any of the fol-
/ loving states: Alabama, Delaware,
/ FLORIDA. Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi
( Montana. Nevada, New Hampshire
( North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island
] south Carolina, South Dakota, Utah,
Vermont, and wyoming eighteen IN
."rhis was more than 10000 votes in
4 excess of the total vote combined in
/ the states of Nevada. Vermont and
wyoming It was 1000 more votes
than the state of Titan cast at the last
+ election There is no reliable way or
[. estimating the vote IN that part Of the
II proposed state of Oklahoma known as
| indian Territory. yet there is prob
I ably practically as many votes in IN
dian Territory as in Oklahoma, and
this bin recognizes that situation by
II giving an equal number of delegates In
the constitutional convention to each
of the two territories
1.-The total live stock valuation OF
the proposed state of Oklahoma for
the last year was s91. 620.723. This is
greater than the live stock valuation
Of the states Of Idaho. Nevada, Utah
and Vermont com bined. It is almost
exactly that Of North Carolina and
South Carolina combined. Tt is IL
million dollars greater than South Da-