The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-12
THE NEW STATE.

So much has been said and printed about the new State of Oklahoma that something more may not be without in : terest. We have before referred to what we consider the incongruous and unduly voiuminous constitution, but that is now up to the people to endorse at the polls, and may possibly be up to Congress to accept or reject
 One of the peculiarities in connec- tion with the Constitutional convention. and one which distinguishes it from all other like bodies that ever assem- bled in the United States, is the fact that the body was dominated by the Indian element of the population and their descendants. That Is, they had a majority of. the delegates and could control the acts of the convention. A number of these Indians were young men who had attended the best, col leges of the United States, and were not only well educated but were high ly intelligent and well informed The white politicians in the convention, who, at the beginning of the delibera- tions, thought they could easily hood wink and lead their Indian colleagues were not long in finding themselves badly mistaken. In fact, it was pretty much the other way about The bright red men were too sharp for the pale faces. No doubt many of the faults of the new constitution are due to the fact that these young Indian delegates, though educated and intelligent. were almost totally without experience in legislation and failed to understand just what Is required in a constitu- tion.
 know there is much misapprehension of various kinds existing in regard to it. By some the whole of what will be the State of Oklahoma is looked on as savages and desperadoes, but nothing could be more erroneous As long ago as 1900 there were shown to be some thing over sixty thousand families oc- cupying homes of their own entirely free from mortgage or other incum- branee, and a competent authority de clares that flor homes free of mort gage Oklahoma leads the percentage list of the United States" which Is certainly a fine showing. We conclude this article by copying from recent editorial in The Boston Globe as fol- lows;
 Oklahoma has now more than 5000 miles of railroad in operation, anu there Is great rivalry among the roaus, The railroads have been extended Tn all directions into virgin territory pe- cause of the belief of the managers that inrushing immigrants will contin- ue to take up the land and that thrlV- ing cities and towns are certaln Sraver eo follow the lines or the roaos "nei9N0A constructed. ..
 About 65 percent of the population IS actually engaged In agriculture, ana Io to 20 percent of the remaining 50 per cent is employed in handling the har- vested crops between the farm and the markets of the world. It is predicted that while the farming population or Oklahoma will quadruple in the years to come, her great gain Tn lnnapItan.e will be along industrial lines-manu facturing and mining. At present there are approximately million peo- nIe dependent upon their support rom the products of the soil.
 Tn these days of debt-ridden states if Is cheering to learn that Oklahoma has no bonded indebtedness, Her banks have a total of $40,000,O0O on deposits: She Is rich in mineral wealth, so that between agriculture, mining and manu- featuring she should soon take hlgh rank among the states.