New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-11-17
SIGNS PROCLAMATION.
Presidents Action Makes Oklahoma
State.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Nov 16-Oklahoma became a
state at 1916 a. m. to-day, when the President
signed the official proclamation
The ceremony was brief and simple. There
We're no crowds of cheering politicians office
holders and happy citizens: firing Of guns
and waving of flags. All that and more was
happening out at Guthrie and Oklahoma City.
and the enthusiasm there probably made up for
the simplicity Of the ceremony at the White
House. One of the men who the state
created remarked that he could almost hear
the boys cutting things loose and another sug-
| gested that they'd better have a good hurrah
while they about it out there. for It'll be
their last, with prohibition in force under the
new constitution"
A few Oklahomans in Office and a handful of
newspaper men gathered in the anteroom out
side the Presidents Office before 10 o'clock, and
the President, learning of the interest they took
in the affair invited them TO witness the official
signing. About twenty men, including Sena-
tors Warner. Carter and Dixon. who had called
other affairs. stood around the big Cabinet
table and waited for the appearance of the
President. At 1915 the President entered the
Cabinet room with Secretary Loeb. The Sec
rotary laid a copy Of the proclamation, quill
pen and a blotter upon the table in front of the
Presidents chair and the President seated him
self. After a moment in which he read the
last few lines Of the proclamation. the President
took up the quill. dipped it in the inkweu and
rapidly wrote his name. AS he hlotted 1t. with
the words Gentlemen, Oklahoma is a state"
one Of the spectators named Hammer, en-
ployed in the Land Office stepped forward and
asked for the blotter
Certainly" said the President, as he handed
the Ink stained sheet TO Hammer Then he add
ed: I've had more requests for this pen than
1 have letters in my name" Secretary Loeb
appropriated the pen for the purpose of send
ing it to the Oklahoma Historical Society
"Goodby, gentlemen; good luck" said the
President, turning to vanish once more into his
Office. The spectators replied "Goodby, Mr.
President" and left the room in single file.
w in a minute after the President had
signed the proclamation the news Of the act
was flashed over the wire to Guthrie and Okla
bona City. Edward Smithers head of the
White House telegraph room, licked off the
words over a wire that had been Iooped into
the Office building by both telegraph COM
panies.
THE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION.
Following is the text of the proclamation:
BY the President Of the United States OF America.
A Proclamation.
Whereas, The Congress Of the United States did,
by an act approved the sixteenth day Of June,
one thousand nine hundred and six provide that
the inhabitants of the Territory OF Oklahoma and
the Indian Territory might. under and upon The
conditions prescribed in said act, adopt "A const-
tuition and become the State Of oklahoma:
And whereas, BY the said act provision was duly
made for the election of constitutional convention
10 form d constitution and state government for
said the proposed state;
And whereas. II appears from the information
elected and such constitution and state government
thereby duly formed;
And whereas, BY the said act the said convention
was further authorized and empowered 70 provide
ny ordinance for submitting the said constitution
rejection. and likewise for the ratification rejec-
ton Of any provisions thereof to be by the said
convention separately submitted;
And whereas 1t has been certified TO me as re-
vice Of the United States Court of Appeals for the
cast at an election duly provided for by ordinance,
required by said act, have been cast for tho
And whereas. A copy of the said constitution has
been certified to me as required by said to-
gether with the articles, propositions and ordi-
nances pertaining thereto including separate
proposition for statewide prohibition which has
majority OF the electors the election aforesaid;
And whereas II appears from the information
its organization and before the formation Of the
people Of the said proposed state that they adopted
the Constitution of the United States;
ton and government Of the proposed State OF Okla
homa are republican IN form and that the said
Ia n3 20 the Constit,Ition of The f-i,d ~, no.
dence and that it contains all of the six provisions
expressly required by Section OF the said act to
be therein contained
And whereas. II further appears from the infor-
nation laid before me that the convention above
mentioned did by ordinance irrevocable accept the
terms and conditions of the said act. as required
by Section % thereof and that all the provisions Of
said act approved the sixteenth day of June
one thousand nine hundred and six. have been duly
complied with; now. therefore.
l. Theodore Roosevelt. President Of the United
States of America do, in accordance with the pro-
visions of the said act Of Congress of June six
teenth one thousand nine hundred and six. declare
and announce that the result Of the said election
wherein the constitution formed aforesaid was
submitted to the people of the proposed State of
Oklahoma for ratification rejection, that
the said constitution ratified. together with a
nrovlsion for statewide prohibition, separately sub
nitted at the said eection and the State of Okla
homa is to be deemed admitted by Congress into
the Union under and by virtue of the said act
an eGuaI footing with the original states.
In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal Of the United States to
be affixed. ,
Done at the city of Washington this sixteenth
dav of November. in the year OF our Lord one
thousand nine hundred and seven and OF the inde
nendence of the United States Of America the one
iioiiDteu anu '''''' THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
DELIHU ROOT, Secretary OF State