The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-10
OUR NEW SISTER.
Oklahoma Enters Statehood
A Liberal Dowry and
Bright Prospects.

The creation of the state of Ok
lahoma ends long controversy in
which. from its beginning, Texas
has taken lively interest. No 9TH
er section Of the Union has so direct
an interest in the affairs of the new
state as Texas. Public sentiment
here almost unanimously p favored
double statehood for Oklahoma and
congress to admit them as separate
states Is but another instance in
which vicious partisanship has made
an tndeltble impress upon the history
of the country. Each of these Ter
ritorfes can show more qualifications
for statehood than was possessed by
any other state at the time of its ad-
mission. and each is now far ahead
In population of many of the Eastern
states whose representatives bitterly
opposed double statehood.
Time and again the government has
made treaties with the Indians. which
guaranteed that their domain should
never be incorporated with separate
areas, but should stand alone in state
hood when admitted. All of these
treaties have been broken upon no
better preteXt than that a sovereign
power can execute no obligation
which it may not rescind at pleasure.
However, this is not the first time the
government has broken its plighted
faith, and it will probably not be the
last The supremacy of the East in
the senate was thought to be menaced
by the addition of four Western SEN
ato.s with environments as radical as
those of Kansas on the north and Tex
as on the south, and in view of prac-
teal politics treaty pledges weigh but
little against a consideration of that
nature.
The new state will be the first that
has been admitted which came into the
union with large population. With
in twelve years Oklahoma has grown
from an uninhabited waste to a pop
ulatiOn of 100000 and Indian Terri
tory has something in excess of that.
1t has a railroad mileage slightly be-
low one-half that of Texas, although
its area is only fraction greater than
one-fourth that of Texas. It's agri-
cultural products last year amounted
to over 100000 900, and its manufac-
lures exceeded $25,OO0,00O in value.
1t is larger than all New England by
5000 square miles, and If it keeps up
the pace 1t has maintained during the
last five years the census of 1910 will
show it to be the most productive state
for agricultural producvts in the
Union, in proportion to area.
All Texas will rejoice because of
the promotion of these neighbors to
the dignity of statehood. Aside from
questions of sentiment, it is to the in
terest of Texas that Oklahoma should
prosper, both industrially and politi-
caliy. While many Texans have Joined
in the inevitable rush to the new state
this movement will in the end extend
to Texas, and add heavily to its popu-
lation by drafs from the most desira-
BILE class of immigrants, drawn from
the farmers of the south and the CEN
trail west. The similarity of condi-
tions in soil, climate, production and
character of population in Texas and
Oklahoma, ties them together in a
community of interest that cannot be
broken.
The political status of the new state
will not be known until the test of an
election is made.
Both parties are hopeful of winning
it and the outlook seems to favor the