The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-03-15
THE STATEHOOD BILL.
Senate Refuses to Admit Arizona
and New Mexico. Situation Now
Complicated.

After prolonged campaign of edu
cation during which it mas been made
manifest that public sentiment gener
ally favors the admission of the fou
remaining territories as two states
the senate again has declined to con
form to the popular will. The bill
which it passed Friday permits Ok
lahoma and Indiana Territory to en-
ter the union as single state, bu
omits any provisions for the admis
sion of New Mexico and Arizona
The mining and railway interests tia
have fought the bill from the star
have prevailed The Republican
who were influenced by these inter
ests were joined by the Democrats
who oppose the measure on partisan
grounds
The action of the Senate in pass
ing the joint statehood bill, with al
reference 70 Arizona and New Mex
leo eliminated, creates highly inter
esting political situation in th'
House.
In bipartisan vote of AZ to 90 the
Senate first declared that New Mex
leo and Arizona should each vote Up
on the qustion of joint statehood
Subsequently the Senate, by vote O
81 to 35, concluded that Arizona ane
New Mexico should be left out al
together and that only Oklahoma and
Indian Territory should be offered
statehood.
The House leaders will now bt
forced to determine whether the,
shall let the entire statehood question
slmnber in c,mmittee or whether
they will consent to the admission o.
Oklahoma and Indian Territory
AS amended by the Senate the bill
provides for the creation of the State
of Oklahoma and Indian Nerritorie!
,.pon the adoption of constitution
Tie state is allowed the usual quot;
of executive, judicial and Legislative
officers, two United States senator.
and FIVE members of the Nationa
House of Representatives. A consti
tutional convention with 10 mem
bers, fifty-fve of which are to b.
chosen by each of the territorie'
comprising the State, is provided for
and all male citizens or male Indian,
21 years of age are made eligible tt
membership IL it. There IS an es
pecial provision protecting the Indi
ans in their rights and continuing thu
prerogative of the National Govern
ment to control their affairs.
The sale of Intoxicating liquors in
what is now Indian Territory is pro
hibited for twenty-one years ant
longer unless the Constitution j.
changed. Sections 16 and Sc of eacf
township of land in Oklahoma are Sc
aside for the benefit of the common
school system, as is also 5 per cen
of the proceeds of the sale of public
lands There is an appropriation o
s5,o00,0 900 from the national Treasur.
for the benefit of schools. Provision
is made for the support of highe
education and charitable institutions
Two districts for United State
Courts, one in Oklahoma and the 9th
er in Indian Territory, are provide
for.
Guthrie is made the temporary sea
of government, but the House pro
vision continuing it in that capacit,
until 1915 was eliminated.
The house leaders have threatene
to remain firm for the measure whic'
they labored SO hard to pass. If tn
senate refuses to give in, Oklahom
and Indiana Territory may be kept ou
of the uinon in spite of their plai
right to admission.
Rather than permit this injustic
the house should pass bill relatin
to these territories alone. The cour
try will look to it, However not t
take this action without first maxim
vigorous fight on behalf of the oril
inal measure The question of state
hood is not the only thing at stalk
The larger issue involved is wheths
the senate, through the subservienc
of some of its members to certai
corporate interests, is to be allowe
to hold up indefinitely legislatio
plainly demanded by the people.