Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1906-06-21

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was formally invited to come into tie
Union of states Thursday afternoon.
An invitation was also extended ID
Arizona, but the conditions imposed
were such that the offer will be de-
clined.
The 100000 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
in 1856 was cast against the PROPOSE
ton and no roll call was required.
1t 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
Arizona
The steps which will have to be
taken in the two states before two
new stars can be added to the flag are
entirely different New Mexico and
Arizona must first indicate by vote
that they want to be united before
even the preliminary of constitution
al convention can be disposed Of.
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 d special election which
probably will be either in January or
February next year.
The territorial election. which would
have been this fall probably will be
wiped out by a resolution introduced
in the house Thursday by Delegate
Mcclure of Oklahoma.
Important Provisions of the Bill.
The call for the election of dele
gates to the constitutional conven-
ton will be the first step in the forma-
ticn of the state government There
will be 112 delegates. 50 each from Ok
lahoma and Indian territory and two
from the Usage Indian reservation.
The capital will remain at Guthrie
until 1913, after which it shall be per-
manently located by the electors.
two territories, who have lived
The state is divided into five con-
gressional districts.
The sale or manufacture of intoxi-
eating liquors in Indian territory, the
Usage Indian reservation or any other
Indian reservations in existence Jan
uary l. 1906, is prohibited for 81 years.
except that the legislature may au-
| thoriZe. under certain conditions, the
sale of liquor in public disDensaries
for medicinal and scientific purposes.
The establishment of separate pub
| lie schools is permitted. The sum Of
s5,OO0,000 is appropriated by congress
| for public schools, in lien of school
lands in Indian territorv. School or
other lands owned by the state. val
| liable for minerals, may be leased for
mining purposes and must not be sold
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. respectively,
at Muskogee and Guthrie.
The state shall never enact any law
restricting or abridging the right of
suffrage on account of race color or
previo. IS condition of servitude.
All men more than 81 years old
who are citizens of the United States
or members of any Indian tribe in the
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
the same day the constitution is rati-
fed or rejected.
For the necessary expenses in or
ganizing the state, congress appropri-
ated 100000.
Roosevelt to Sign 1t.
Nobody doubts that the president
will sign the statehood bill, for in
his message to the present congress
he urged the admission of the -four
territories rs two states. Oklahoma
and the Indian territory will be in
fact state only after a proclamation
by the president announcing the rati-
fication of the state constitution. II
is impossible to tell just how much
time will be consumed in making the
necessary steps which are required be.
fore a new state is born. Those who
have given the subject the closest
thought believe that the presidents
proclamation will be coincident with
the adjournment of congress March
3. 1907 1t will require the full
time allowed under the law for the