The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-03-09
IS IT A STATEHOOD BOMDl
Senator SpOoner Opposed
to New Mexico Arizona
Jointure.

tor spooner exploded a bomb in the
camp of the advocates OF the Hamil.
ton statehood bill Thursday afternoon
by an earnest speech in which he de-
clared himself absolutely opposed to
the iointure Of New Mexico and Ari-
zona and announcing his intention OF
supporting the proposition to divide
the bill SO as to permit of a separate
vote being taken on the Oklahoma aad
Indian Territory sections.
AS a compromise. he said he would
support the Foraker amendment sub
mitting the statehood question to
vote of the people of each Of the ter
ritOries. hut even this plan was OBJ
iectionable to him Both Oklahoma and
Indian Territory, judged by any stand
ard one might choose, wore prepared
for statehood, he said. and neither
New Mexico nor Arizona was pre-
lpared. Senator Foraker interrupted
Mr. Spooner to say that he had amend
ment to divide the bill, but whether II
would be submitted before his referen-
dunn proposition or after it he did not
know. Senator Spooner's attitude
came as surprise to Senator Bever-
idge and Senator Nelson. He had
been counted among those who would
ntand out against the Foraker amend
ment. Such progress has been made
By the opponents of the omnibus bill
that they now feel confident they will
have enough votes to divide it and
force admission of Oklahoma ana In
dian Territory and kill the New Mex.
leo and Arizoua sections.
A Deadlock Probable.
II is apparent there will be a tenn
porary deadlock between the two
houses if either of the Foraker amend.
ments is inserted The combination
OF Democrats and Republicans who
oppose the union Of New Mexico and
Arizona has tentatively agreed upon
it's programme in the event Of the
Speaker attempting to smother state.
hood legislation by reference to com.
mittee where it is to remain. The
Speaker is fully as determined as the
Senate. If, as now seems probable.
the Foraker amendments are adopted
ana the Speaker should not give the
House an opportunity 10 vote, but re-
fer the bin to the territories commit
tee. intending it to die there. the Re. /
publican and Democratic Senate COM
bination will wait a reasonable tin,
'aLd then add the Oklahoma and In.
cdan Territory sections to one of the
appropriation bills This will be in
order because ii viii not be new legis-
lation, but measure already passed I
by the Senate.
A Question of Rules.
An interesting question will be rails.
ed regarding the House rules. If the
Hamilton bill should pass the Senate
with the amendments of appropria.
tions recommended by the Senate com
mittee it would necessitate reference
of the bill when it reaches the House
to the committee on territories. But
If the appropriations in the House bills
are not changed by the Senate. it is
that the reference to the
will aot be the other but
the question will come directly on the
or nonconcurrence of the
House. If this proposition can ever be
brought before the House, there is no
question of the result. The situation
from now on will be a question solely
ot parliamentary maneuvers. For this
reason the opponents of the admission
of New Mexico and Arizona will OPP
pose each Of the Senate amendments
changing appropriations in the bill.
Wisconsin Senators Agree.
1t is an interesting detail Of the
statehood controversy that tie two
Wisconsin senators who have oppos.
ID each other in political ana legisla-
i've policies for years are agreed on
hs main provisions of the statehood
Ah, Senator LaFollette is opposed to
he consideration Of Oklahoma and
indian Territory In the same measure
gith the other territories and is even
more emphatic in his language Of dis
than was Senator spooner
oday :
Senator Foraker IN discussing the
prospects for statehood legislation to-
lay said that there would be twelve
majority for his referendum amend
nent A careful poll of the Senate,
ne said, showed fifteen votes for his
and thirty-eight against It.
In a conyergatiaa with members Of
he Oklahoma delegation he said the
'ill would be in such shape that Okla.
iona and Indian Territory could not
'e denied statehood. Senator Bailey
aid that the friends Of Oklahoma and
indian Territory would not permit the
'nl to die in committee.
II it is defeated by a vote Of the
louise he said, that win end it. but