Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-17
REPRESENTATIVES,
OKLAHOMA rs A STATE
PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BILL
YESTERDAY.

One new state-Oklahoma-came into the
Union with some eclat yesterday afternoon
and a prospective state was put In a fair
way to joining the ssterhood of common
wealths.
President Roosevelt signed the statehood
bill shortly after 3 O'Clock In the presence
of several statesmen and delegation of
Oklahoma boomers who had been permitted
to accompany Delegate Magui.e OF Okla
homa. Those present included Senator Bev-
eridge. who had charge of the statehood
bill in the Senate: Representative Hamiiton,
chairman Of the House committee ON terri
tories; Delegate Mcguire Of Oklahoma Del
egate Andrews of New Mexico. Baron Won
Sternburg. the German ambassador, who
happened to be visiting the President: Sec
retary Loeb, Stenographer Latta and Tie
Oklahoma citizens who had gone to the
White House with Delegate Mcguire. 1t
was cheerful. tubilant lot of men. III
spite of the fact that he had sreceive1 some
bumps in the Senate on the statehood propo-
sition. Senator Beyeridge was delighted
with the final outcome. and Representative
Hamilton was in equally good hnmor.
Speech Of the President.
Two pens had been sent to the President
for the signing of the bill, and he used
both of them. One of the pens was solid
gold affair from the citizens OF Arizona,
while the other. made OF ths quill o. an
eagle. came from Oklahoma. With .hs gold
pen the President signed Theodore" ard
halted long enough to pick up rlic eagle
quill pen. With that he appended "Eoose-
velt," and the bill became law. sThe ire
pressible Oklahomans could not stand the
strain any longer, and they burst into 8
great cheer for the President and every
body concerned. No effort was made to
CT on foil IN ,d <.arfr, Saf
felfcitations and handshakes which put
everybody into good hunor.
President Roosevelt made a short speech,
in which he said the bill was a satisfactory
one He expressed the hope that Arizona
and New Mexico would Join in accepting
statehood under the provisions of the bill
and said he believed this would be done.
He congratulated Senator Beveridge and
Representative Hamilton on the good work
they had accomplished in the Senate and
the House, and said the bill would live long
as model of good work, even IL direct pro-
vision was not made for the new state OF
Arizona to come In at once Senator Bey-
eridge spoke few words of thanks for the
kind words of the President, and Represen-
tative Hamilton likewise acknowledged
with appreciation what the President had
said.
Thinks It Victory.
It Is the opinion of Senator Beverage tnar
a great victory was obtained In the windup
for those who had advocated joint state
hood for Oklahoma and Indian Territory
and Arizona and New Mexico. The In
diana senator expressed his conviction that
the new state of Arizona will enter the
Union by the first of the next year under
the provisions of the BILL He says that the
bin provides for an election at the time of
the regular election in November for a con-
people as to whether they desire to be
people as to whether the desire to be
united. If the vote is favorable to union
the constitutional convention will be quick
ly held and the new state will come into
the Union automatically without further
provision OF Congress.
Both the President and Senator Beveridge
hoped that the two territories would vote
for statehood. The President In his talk
pointed out that the opportunity was one
that might not come to the people of The
territories again In many years. He said he
felt personal interest in both territories,
as many of the men OF his Rough Rider
regiment came from there.