The Washington herald., 1907-05-13

A situation has developed IN oklahoma
that may result In the failure Of that
Territory qualifying for Statehood in the
Federal Union under the terms Of the
enabling act passed at the last session Of
the Fifty-ninth Congress.
The constitutional convention in Okla
homa. which has just adjourned. was
composed of 10 members. OF this num-
Der ninety-eight were Democrats and
twelve were Republicans. The constitu-
ton adopted is so Objectionable TO many
people in the Indian Territory and Okla
homa, which will comprise the new State
that the suggestion is made here that
the President may refuse 10 promulgate
II even if 1t is ratified by the people on
August 10, when an election will be held
for the purpose of enabling the electors
to pass upon the instrument
Such action by the President would rem
der it necessary on the part OF Congress
to pass another enabling act The failure
Of the President 10 approve the conven-
ton would once more put Oklahoma and
Indian Territory on the Statehood wait
ing list.
The statements made by an admins
tration official that the constitution re-
Gently adopted in Oklahoma Is open to a
long series Of objections. In the first
place, II provides for a gerrymander OF
the new State that would insure perma-
nent control of Oklahoma by the Demo-
Gratis.
Control the Legislature.
Legislative districts are so blocked out
that the Democrats would control the
legislature If the Republicans carried the
State as "a whole by 5000 majority. Lint
tations are placed upon the collection Of
taxes for school purposes. Under the
educational provisions Of the constitution.
the schools in the State could not be kept
open more than FIVE months in a yea.
The constitution provides for the initiative
and referendum, and IS particularly hard
on corporations
The plan of campaign which the Re-
publiCans Of Oklahoma shall make against
the constitution, the attitude the Presi-
dent shall take IN the matter. and the
policy Of the Republican party toward the
twin Territories. with special reference
TO the passage by Congress next winter
Of another enabling act. will be settled at
a conference to be held here tomorrow
Those who will participate in the confer
ence are: Secretary OF War Taft. James
s. Sherman. chairman of the Republican
Congressional committee: Senator Charles
Curtis, of Kansas: Tams Bixby. former
Ffstgufpua- ha
Tribes; Gov Frantz, Of Oklahoma: Dele
gate Bird McGuir, OF the Territory; D. W.
Mulvane, national committeeman from
Kansas. and numerous other Republican
leaders from the Southwest.
Question for President.
The administration recently sent sena-
tor Curtis to Oklahoma to look into the
situation and make report The ques-
tion has arisen as TO whether the Presl-
dent shall announce in advance that he
will refuse TO promulgate the convention
in its present form. or wait before saving
anything on the subject until the August
election. If the convention IS ratified.
then 1t will be up to him to act. The
President Is inclined TO take counsel on
the matter.
Secretary Taft will make the keynote
speech at the Oklahoma Republican con-
vention at Tulsa. in June The general
trend Of his speech will be mapped out at
Tuesdays conference. It will be SO
worded. in all probability, AS to give the
Democrats to understand just what will
happen 10 the constitution they have
adopted IN the event that they forward
IL TO the President in its nrpsent form