The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-05-23
OKLAHOMA HELD UP
Republicans Determined Not
to Admit New State.
WOULD BE INADVISABLE
For Political Reasons HoId-Up May
Be Successfully Carried Out.
Plan is to Turn Down Newly
Adopted Constitution.

A Washington special says: The
pious JUNCTION with which the republi-
can leaders are proceeding in the at
tempt to withhold statehood from
Oklahoma and the high moral
grounds on which they rest their OBJ
jections are really impressive.
In the enabling act, passed by con-
gress and approved by President
Roosevelt on June 16, 1906, 1t was
set forth that there should be FIVE
congressional districts in the terri
tory of Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory, when they were admitted to
the union as one state. This would
give Oklahoma five representatives in
congress and two senator's, thus ELI
titling her to cast seven votes in the
electoral college.
Of course the advocates of admis-
sion were reasonably sure that these
were going TO be good republican
votes. The first election, however,
completely disabused the minds OF
all.
Such an overwhelming evidence Of
the democratic tendencies OF the peo-
ple was abundant proof to republicans
that Oklahoma was undesirable
They were trying to convince Presi-
dent Roosevelt also that it would not
be wise to permit these seven DEM
ocratic electoral votes 70 untaVoraDly
complicate the situation when ref
publican president is to be elected
next year. The men who were groom
ing themselves to be republican SEN
ators and representatives are sure it
would not be wise; it might be dis.
astrous
The constitution of the new state,
framed by democrats who were duly
and regularly elected by the people
to draft their fundamental law, is be-
ing carefully and painfully scrutinized
in the search for flaws. If a tecnn1-
cality can be discovered which Will
furnish grounds for exclusion there
will be no need, to resort to the leg
islative club, which is held by the
republican majority in both houses.
Then, too, the high moral grounds
can be maintained.
In the act of congress making pro-
vision for the admission OF the new
state it was provided that the fol.
lowing features should be incorporated
in the new constitutions:
Perfect liberation Of religious SEN
timent.
prohibition of traffic in alcoholic
liquors for a period of tWenty-one
years in the parts of the state now
known as Indian Territory, the Usage
Indian reservation and in other parts
of the state which existed as Indian
reservations on January l, 1910.
prohibition of polygamous and
plural marriages.
Release of the public lands within
the state to the United States.
Payment of the debts OF the ter
ritory of Oklahoma by the state OF
Oklahoma
establishment Of public schools, al
lowing separate schools for white and
| negro children.
THE right of franchise unrestricted
on account of race, color or previous
! condition of servitude.'
There is also further ln]unctlon
| that republican form of government
must be secured,
The 10 delegates to the conven'
ton adopted a document which they
believed encompassed all the instruc-
tions given them by congress ana Ia
ter by the president on the subject
of i'm crow cars and the control OF
corporations. This done, the Demo
Gratis made such disposition OF the
legislative districts that the repuoll'
cans claim it will be Impossible lof
them ever to elect United states
! eano+nr