The Washington times., 1906-06-17
Signature of President
Puts Her Star on
" Old Glory"
HE WROTE WITH TWOPENS
One of Arizona Gold, the
Other From Eagles
Plumage.

The manufacture of history was in
progress at the White House yesterday,
and al both ends of the avenue the
output of that ever-interesting by-pro-
duct. the historic pen. was the largest
on record.
For the President signed the bill ad-
uniting Oklahoma 10 the Union He had
10 use two pens, one from Arizona and
one from Oklahoma. The presiding
officers who signed the bill in the two
houses also made relics of the pens with
which they did it. Senator Kean of
New Jersey. who performed this func-
1ion at the Senate end of the Capitol,
got in by chance in the distribution Of
glory
So far as can be stated regarding re-
turns at the hour of going to press.
there are about a gross of historic pens
mixed up in this affair. with a few
bacNwoods committee rooms and the
like yet 10 be heard from.
The Big Ceremony.
The big ceremony was at the White
House. where an interested group of
patriotic Oklahomans gathered to see
the President perform the last duty that
completed the legislation. Senator Bev-
Hamilton Of Michigan, chairmen, respec-
lively, of the Committee on Territories
OF Senate and House, were there to see
that the finishing touch was properly put
on the work in which they have so long
led the way.
Senator Foraker. the ''enfant terrible"
Of this happy legislative household. was
not present 1t is even reported that he
was not invited. but it was further
stated that this was not on account OF
illness.
Delegate Mcguire of Oklahoma and
Delegate Andrews of New Mexico. a
group of Oklahoma boomers. Baron
SDeck Won Sternburg the German am
bassador. who happened to be calling on
the President at the time; Secretary
Loeb. and Stenographer NJ. c. Latta
were present when the bill was signed.
The Pens That Wrote.
To accommodate the demand for
famous pens. the President signed the
bill in sections. Arizona had sent a fine
pen Of native gold. and Oklahoma. more
patriotic If less ornate in its symbolism.
had sent a quill cut from the tail
feathers Of real live freedom screecher
that was last seen soaring through the
circumambieDt in the neighborhood of
Guthrie, his course a bit wobbly be-
cause Of the injury that his steering
gear had suffered by the amputation of
the feather But it's poor eagle that
wouldn't upholster a pillow or two with
his feathers in so good a cause as add
ing 4 new star 10 Old Glory.
Anyhow, the President wrote '-Theo-
dore' with the Arizona gold pen. and
Roosevelt with the plumage of the
Oklahoma eagle Now there is an ir-
-cwarF
homa opinion that the surname is the
important one. and the Arizona theory
that. in imperial fashion, Theodore Is
the regal title. These Arizona folk
make good case. too. One of them put
II thus last night. while buying mint
Juleps for congratulating friends;
Does anybody here know King Ed
wards full name? Well. II he was to
go out Of the king business and be
stripped Of all his royal dIgnities. he'd
take week TO find out his name. When
he discovered it he would get his cards
engraved to read: Mr.. Albert Edward
Victim
The Ways of Kings.
Victims his last name. but nobody
knows IT. He goes by his first name
All emperors and kings and such like
DO Now, If King Ed writes il Ed
ward, r. l. which bein' internreted
means Edward. rex. imperator' vbv
shouldn't the President write his name
theodore. r. r., b, w. T. Etc which
would mean, bein' translated, Theodore
Rough Rider, Boss, Whole Thing. Eft
CeteryE Seems to me our case is good.
an we win the honors?"
The Arizona gold pen and the Okla
homa eagle feather will be sent TO his
Jorical societies in the respective home
communities
Senator Kean, Acting President pro
tempore of the Senate. was in the
chair when the Statehood bill came up
Tor the signature of the Presiding OF
flcer, and signed il. Yesterday he sent
the pen with which he did il to Senator
BeVei1dge. 1t was the ordinary steel
pen OF commerce, with one of its legs
a little, longer than l. really ought to
be- and the familiar resultant tendency
70 splutter over the paper. But it's a
historic pen now, and the Senator
prizes 1t highly
Cannon Was Careless.
The pen with which Speaker Cannon
signed the measure in the House was
an ancient stub The Speaker didn't
realize the significance of the history
business in which he was engaged. and
IL is not quite certain whether the pen
that is TO be presented to Chairman
Hamilton is the real one that did the
great work. But after being presented
it win be historic pen. anyhow. and
nobody VIII ever know the difference
The IN was signed at 5 o'clock yes
terday afternoon. Afterward there was
q general shaking of hands and the
graduating Senator Beveridge Mr.
Hamilton. and the people from the Ter
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