The Mena weekly star., 1907-11-21
NY STAR ADD[D ID FLAG
President Roosevelt Signed Procla- nation Admitting New State to
 Union Saturday Morning.

All Incidents Connected With Act,
 Which Took Place in Cabinet Room
 at White House Required Only One
 Minute of Time-Text of Proclama-
 tion.
 Washington, Nov. 17.-A new star kas added to the American flag Sat urday by the admission formally into the Union of the state of Oklahoma. President Roosevelt, at 10:16 o'clock Saturday morning signed the procla- nation admitting the territories of Oklahoma and Indian territory jointly as one of the American states. Little formality attended the ceremony which meant so much to the people of the two territories. In appending his sig nature to the proclamation, the presi- dent used pen formed of a quill plncked from the wing of an American eagle. The pen will be deposited with the Oklahoma Historical society.
 There was absolutely no ceremony connected with the signing of the pro- clamation. The act was done in the cabinet room, to which had been ad- mitted Senators Carter and Dixon of Montana, and Warner, of Missouri be- sides a number of residents of Okla homa, most of whom are connected with government departments in Washington, and newspaper represen- tatives. It was exactly 10:16 o'clock when Secretary Loeb threw open the double doors leading from the presi- dents private office. He had the pro clamation in his hand which he laid on the large square blotter at the presi- dents position at the head of the cabi- net table. The president entered and took his seat at once, was handed the long eagle quill pen by the secretary and himself lifting the lid from the Ink stand. dipped the pen and wrote in large letters, the pen making an audi ble scratch with each movement When he had finished his signature the presi- dent picked up a small blotter with which he plotted his name, and then looking up exclaimed: Oklahoma is a state.'
 At this instant Albert Hammer, of Enid, Ok, clerk in the land office, stepped forward and asked:
 "Mr. President; may I have that blotter?
 The president picked up the small blotter and handed 1t to him with the remark: ''There were more requests for me to use particular pens than there are letters in my name."
 The blotter contained a distinct i'm pression of the presidents signature reversed. The signing and all the in cidents connected herewith occupied but one minute and at their conclu- sion the president bowed himself back to his private office with the remark: Good morning, gentlemen"
 Following is the text of the procla- nation:
 Whereas the congress of the United States did by an act approved June 16, 1906, provide that the inhabitants of the territory of Oklahoma and of In- dian territory might. under and upon the conditions prescribed in said act, adopt constitution and become the state of Oklahoma;
 And, whereas, by the said act pro vision was duly made for the election of constitutional convention to form a constitution and state government for the said proposed state; and where as. it appears from the information laid before me that such convention was duly elected and such convention and state government were thereby duly formel:
 And, whereas, by the said act the said convention was further authorized and empowered to provide by ordi- nance for submitting the said consti- tuition to the people of the said state for ratification or rejection of any pro visions thereof to be by the said con vention separately submitted;
 And, whereas, it has been certified to me, as required by the said act, by the governor of the territory of Okla homa and by the judge senior in ser vice of the United States court of ap- peals for the Indian territory, that a majority of the legal votes cast at the election duly provided for by or dinance, as required by said act. have been cast for the adoption of said con stitution; and whereas a copy of the said constitution has been certified to me, as required by said act, together with the articles, propositions and or dinances pertaining thereto, including separate proposition for state wide prohibition which has been certified to for ratification or rejection, was that the said constitution was ratified, to- gether with provisions for state wide prohibition, separately submitted at the said election and the state of Oklaho- ma is to be admitted by congress into the Union under and by virtue of the said act on an equal footing with the original states.
 In testimony whereof, I have here. unto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this 18th day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred