The National tribune., 1907-10-24
OKLlHOaAIANS
e e IN WASHINGTON.
The Ofgaaization of the State Will Dis.
place. a Namber Of Officials, Many Of
Whom Want Something Just as Good.
II i {

One of the greatest place-hunting ex-
peditidhs that ever bore down upon
Washington IS scheduled for this week.
1t halas fram the new State of Okla
homa, Where only President Roosevelt's
formal announcement of the vote at
the recent State election is needed to
increase the sisterhood of the Union
to 46.
Gov. Frank Frantz, Rough Rider and
late Republican candidate for Guber-
material honors, will head the expedi-
ton. Two Choctaw Indians-James
Sexton. and Ben Colbert, the latter a
Rough Rider and for some years
United States Marshal in the Indian
Tercitory-will be of the office-hunting
band. John Abernathy, wolf hunter,
who caught 'em alive for the delecta-
ton Of the President on the occasion of
the drive in the big pasture some years
ago, is likewise coming. For his PROV
ess in wolf catching the President di-
rected that Abernathy be made a Unit
ed States Deputy Marshal in Oklahoma.
Jim Porter, who is said to be cousin
of Mrs. Roosevelt, will be another of
the Territorial visitors.
Gov. Frantz, of course, ceases to hold
his Office the moment the new State is
proclaimed. Naturally he does not like
that prospect. He and those with him
will probably try to persuade the Presi-
dent to postpone the date of announcing
the vote. That would give Gov. FrantZ
and his Republican Federal officehold-
ers little longer lease of power, and
would also defer the date when 1900
elective officers-all Democrats-get on
to the pay rolls in the new State. to
say nothing of many appointive offices
which the Oklahoma Democrats are
hankering after. The President, of ne
cessity, must give some notice before
he completes the State-making formal
tiles. The Federal Judges have ap-
pealed to him to give them notice, so
that the courts and the juries can COM
plete the trials of persons under in
dictment. Otherwise. according to those
who have consulted the statutes many
criminals might go free on technicali-
ties, as most of the judicial power
passes from the Federal Territorial
Courts to the State Courts.
The heads of Is Territorial Judges
fall when the new State is ushered in,
as well as a great number of Attorneys,
Marshals Clerks. Commissioners, Con-
stables and Deputies. These and others
of the same iIk furthered the great hue
iniquities Of the new Constitution. But
there will be several good Federal
places left for the President to bestow. |
including two Federal Judgeships. as,
many Marshalships and as many United |
States Attorneyships There was to have
been a Collector of Internal Revenue
at a nice salary. but the prohibitory
adopted by popular vote,
will reduce the internal revenue, it is |
estimated, to about one-tenth of the
present figures. Under. the eircum
stances the district will be abolished
and the new State of oklahoma added
to another district, just asszis likely to,
be foae with Georgia, where; the pro
lawgoes into effect soon, The
Collectert Off the Arkansas District was
to lraXef Olsjahoma. within lhis jurisdic- |
ton. hut Ss1atorsCurt of Kansas, who
has bHan aitSarge beneficiary of Okla |
homa 1aii 1aiia Mdhn Territory patronage,
came hot-footed to- Washington when
he heard of that, and had Oklahoma
added to an internal-revenue district in
Kansas. ~ 's4&', 3 49,
The President .is expected to take
care of Gov. FfaBtz and few other
friends with the. Federal Offices that
remain at his tttsDqsal.r-' 1t is not be-
.ieved for moment. that Wolfcatcher
Abernathy or Rough; Rider Ben Dam
iel will be left oiitsfn the cold long. |
The new State will probably come
into the Union some time in November.
Contrary to the popular impression, the
President in reality has no authority
to approve or disapprove the new Con-
stitution, except indirectly. The en-
abling act simply directs that he shall
proclaim the result of the canvass OF
the vote on the adoption of the. Consti-
tuition, If he is satisfied that the Consti-
tuition guarantees a"republicaS. form of
Government That instant Oklahoma
becomes State the new Democratic |
Governor goes before Magistrate TO
take the oath. and the places of Fed |
eral and Territorial officials who have
affairs in Oklahoma and |