The daily sentinel., 1907-11-19
FOR THE GOOD
OF THE WEST
GREAT CONVENTION
Opened Today at Mpskogee-Many Govern
ors and Cengressnen Ihere-The Issues
to Be Discussed.
Especial to Tn. DAILY sentinel3

especial to The Daily SentineI)
MUSkOGEE, OKLA, NOV. 10.-I
REPRESENTATIVE FROM EVERY |
SECTION OF THE GREAT EN-
PllsE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
INCLUDING GOVERNORS, CON-
GRESSMEN AND OTHER OFFIC-
IALS OF STATE AND NATIONAL.
REPUTATION, ARE THE GUESTS
OF MUSKOGEE, COMING HERE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE EIGH-
TEENTH ANNUAL TRANS-MISSIS-
SIPPI COMMERCIAL CONGRESS-,
OPENING TODAY. OKLAHOMA'S |
ENTRANCE INTO THE UNION WAS |
THE KEYNOTE OF THE OPENING |
SESSION, THE PRINCIPAL SPEAK, |
Err BEING GOVERNOR c. N. HAS |
kELL, WHO ON LAST SATURDAY |
WAS SWORN IN AS THE FIRST |
EXECUTIVE OF THE FORTY-SIX-
TIL STATE.
All of the sessions of the congress, |
which will extend through the week
will be held in the great new con-
vention hall built for the purpose by
the people of Muskogee at a cost
of 100000. The Muskogee Com
mercial club, the Hundred Thousand
club and the citizens of the city
generally have Joined in extending
ands of visitors, and the entertain
forward for several months, are on
a more elaborate scale than ever be-
fore attempted in Oklahoma.
One of the most important sub
jects before the congress is that of
bringing about closer commercial re-
lations between the -Mississip-
pi states and the Latin republics of
Central and South America. This
work was commenced at the last
congress at Kansas City, when Sec
retary Root was the principal speak
er, and plans will be made to con-
tinue 1t on great scale. Among
the speakers on this topic will be
the Honorable John Barrett, director
OF the bureau of American republics.
The question is one of great impor-
tance to the western and gulf states
because of their contiguity and the
conditions which make the parts of
the Latin republics the natural ave-
nue. of Mississippi, gulf and Pacific
coast trade.
The subject OF the improvement of
western waterways will also come
an for much attention, the principal
speaker on the program being II. +.
Newell. OF Washington, member of
the inland waterways committee.
An important issue affecting near
ly all the states west of the Missis-
sippi is that of the withdrawal of
public lands from settlement under
the law creating government forest
reserves. In this discussion the
policy of the administration will be
defended by the Hon. Clifford Pinchot
chief of the bureau OF forestry at
Washington.
The mining industry. a very i'm
portant one In the West. will be con-
sidered at length, and a demand Will
be made that a government depart
ment of mines and mining be estab-
lished, coordinate with the depart
ment of agriculture, and with Its
head a member OF the Presidents
cabinet.
The live stock industry will not
be neglected, one of the speakers on
this topic being s. H. MCGOWAN of
Fort Worth, attorney for the Amer
lean National Live Stock association.
Several Indian chiefs, represent
ing the five civilized tribes. will
speak for the aboriginal Americans
now inhabiting the western states
and territories. Robert l.. Owen of
this city, who will be one of Okla
homa's first United States senators,
and who has Indian blood flowing
through his veins, will discuss "The
Removal of Restrictions from Indian
Lands"
The project for. the formation Of
a new state, to be know as Lincoln,
from portions of the states of Wash
ing. Idaho and Oregon, Will be
brought before the congress by N.
w. Durham, editor of the Spokane,
Wash, Spokesman-Review.
Statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico will be favored by the cit
izens of those territories, who will
attempt to secure the official indorse-
ment of the congress.
Other subjects announced for con-
sideration include drainage of sub
merged lands, irrigation of the arid
districts, good roads. the Panama
canal, parcels post, Improvement OF
the Missouri and Arkansas rivers,
railroad regulation, national finance,
development OF the Pacific north
west, American supremacy upon the
Pacific ocean and western life In
suraLce.