The Mena weekly star., 1906-06-21

brate the Event
 Washington, June 16.-Oklahoma was formally invited to come into the Union of states Thursday afternoon An invitation was also extended to Arizona, but the conditions imposed were such that the offer will be de- clined.
 The 2000000 people living in what is now Oklahoma territory and Indian territory have it altogether within their own power to form the state of | Oklahoma. After such bitter fight the door to statehood was opened with almost ridiculous ease. Not one vote l in 3S6 was cast against the proposi- l tion and no roll call was required. It took exactly 20 minutes for the speeches to be made which were per- mitted and the motion to be carried which formed the proposed state of ] Oklahoma and the proposed state of l Arizona
 l The steps which will have to be taken in the two states before two new stars can be added to the flag are i entirely different. New Mexico and Arizona must first indicate by vote 1 that they want to be united before even the preliminary of q constitution al convention can be disposed of. I Oklahoma and Indian territory will have a constitutional convention and later vote upon state officers, five rep resentatives in the lower house of congress and the adoption of the con stitution at a special election which probably will be either in January or February next year
 4 The territorial election. which would have been this fall, probably will be wiped out by resolution introduced in the house Thursday by Delegate Mcclure of Oklahoma.
 Important Provisions ofthe Bill.
 The call for the election of dele gates to the constitutional conven- ton will be the first step in the forma- tion of the state government. There will be 112 delegates. 55 each from Ok ilahoma and Indian territory and two from the Osage Indian reservation. All men more than q years old, who are citizens of the United States, or members of any Indian tribe in the 1.-two territories. who have lived with in the state boundaries for at least six months prior to this election, shall be permitted to vote for delegates and may serve as delegates. This election must be held within six months after the approval of the statehood act.
 The state officers shall be voted for
 he same day the constitution is rati-
 led or rejected.
 For the necessary expenses in or ranizing the state, congress appropri- tied sl00,000.
 The capital will remain at Guthrie intfl 1913, after which 1t shall be per nanently located by the electors
 TWO territories, who have lived
 The state is divided into five con ;ressional districts.
 The sale or manufacture of intoxi- ,ating liquors in Indian territory. the osage Indian reservation or any other Indian reservations in existence Jan nary 1, 1906, is prohibited for 2l years. except that the legislature may au- thorize. under certain conditions the sale of liquor in public dispensaries for medicinal and scientific purposes
 The establishment of separate pub lie schools is permitted. The sum .of s5.0000 900 is appropriated by congress for public schools. in lieu of school lands in Indian territory. School or other lands owned by the state val uable for minerals, may be leased for mining purposes and must not be sola prior to January 1, 1915. There IS 70 mandatory provision for the sale Of the school lands.
 The state is divided into two feder- al districts, Indian territory being the eastern and Oklahoma the western district. For the time being, the seat of these courts shall be. respectiVeN' at MuslSogee and Guthrie.
 The state shall never CT act any law restricting or abridging the right o' suffrage on account of race color or previo.s s condition of servltude.
 Roosevelt to Sign It.
 Nobody doubts that the president VIII sign the StatenOOu piii, ioi his message to the present congress he urged the admission of the ion territories as two states. Oklahoina and the Indian territory will be h fact a state only after proclamato" by the president announcing the ra,l. fcation of the state constitution. is impossible to tell just how fnu.u time will be consumed in making th0 necessary steps which are required pe fore new state is born Those Wno have given the subject the elose,s thought believe that the preslden. proclamation will be cOinciden' Wi'" the adjournment of congress Maien 3, 1907. It will require the .un time allowed under the law TOT ." constitutional convention to De er