The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-16
HIS PEN SCRATCHED.
Details of the Signing of the Oklahoma
Statehood Proclamation


Washington, Nov. 16.-There was alb
solutely no ceremony connected with
the signing of the proclamation making
Oklahoma a state. The act was done
in the cabinet room to which had been
admitted Senators Carter and Dixon
of Montana, and Warner of Missouri,
besides number of residents of Okla
homa, most of whom are connected
with government departments in Wash
ington and newspaper representatives.
It was exactly 1915 o'clock when
Secretary Loeb threw open the double
doors leading from the presidents pri-
vate house. He had the proclamation
which he laid on enlarge square blot
ter at the presidents position at the
head of the cabinet table. The preSi-
dent entered and took his seat at once,
was handed the long eagle quill pen by
the secretary, and himself, lifting the
lid from the inkstand, dipped the pen
and wrote his name in large letters,
the pen making an audible scratch
with each movement. When he had
finished his signature the president
picked up a small blotter with which
he blotted his name and then looking
up, exclaimed:
oklahoma is a state"
At this instant Albert Hammer, Of
Enid, Okla, clerk in the land office,
STEPPED forward and asked:
Mr. President, may have that blot
The president picked up the small
blotter and handed it to him with the
remark:
There were more requests for me to
use particular pens than there are let
tiers in my name"
The blotter contained distinct I'M
preston of the presidents signature,
reversed. The signing ana all the lncl-
dents connected Herewith occupied but
one minute and at their conclusion the
president bowed himself back to his
private office with the remark: GOOD
morning, gentlemen"
The slight delay from the original
plan of having the proclamation signed
at exactly 10 o'clock is explained simply
by the statement that the president
was occupied with his nail up to the
time he actually signed the document
No significance is attached to the six
teen minute delay.
The Proclamation.
Following is the text of the proclama-
nation:
By the President of the United States
of America: A proclamation:
Whereas the congress of the United
States did by an act approve June 16,
1906, provide that the inhabitants Of
the territory of Oklahoma and of the
Indian Territory might under and upon
the conditions prescribed in said act.
adopt a constitution and become the
state of Oklahoma;
And, whereas, by the said act provis-
ion was duly made for the election of a
constitution and state government for
the said proposed state;
And. whereas, it appears from the in |
formation laid before me that such
convention was duly elected and such
constitution and state government were
thereby duly formed;
And. whereas, by the said act the
said convention was further authorized |
and empowered to provide by ordinance
for submitting the said constitution to
the people of the said state for ratif1ca- |
ton or rejection, and likewise for the |
ratification or rejection of any provis- |
ions thereof to be by the said conven- |
ton separately submitted;
And whereas, it has been certified to |
me as required by the said act by the |
government 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 an |
election duly provided for by ordinance, |
as required by said act, have been cast |
for the adoption of said constitution; |
And whereas a copy of the said con- |
stitution has been certified to me, as |
required by said act. together with the |
articles, propositions and ordinances |
pertaining thereto, including a separate |
proposition for statewide prohibition |
which has been certified to me as hav- |
ing been adopted by majority of the |
electors at the election aforesaid;
And whereas, it appears from the in |
formation laid before me that the con-
vention aforesaid after its organization |
and before the formation of the said |
constitution duly declared on behalf of |
the people of the said proposed state |
that they adopt the constitution of the |
United States;
And, whereas. it appears that the said |
constitution and government of the pro- |
posed state of Oklahoma are republican |