The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-11-19
OKLAHOMA SEVEN YEARS OLD.

UkLh1UMh OEfLN IEhhO ULD.
Seven years ago Monday there was
wild excitement and great rejoicing
throughout Oklahoma. In many cities
monster demonstrations were in pro-
Iress, stte nded by the booming of can
mons, ringing of bells, blowing of whis-
ties and general celebration. Oklaho-
ma, as a state, was born and the forty
sixth star had been added to the flag.
1t was at l0:l6 o'clock on the morn
ing Of November 10, 1907, that Presi-
dent Theodore Roosevelt, using n quill
pen, made from feather taken from
the wing OF an American eagle, signed
the proclamation, sealing the union
Of the two territories and admitting
Oklahoma to the sisterhood OF states
A few minutes later the news of the
signing of the document was flashed
over the wires to Gutherle, then the
state capital, and this was followed by
the administration of the oath OF Office
to Charles n. Haskell, Oklahoma's first
chief executive, and other officials OF
the tiis administration. An order
was issued by President Wm. II. Muir
ray ad journing finally the constitu
tiraal convention. The governmental
machinery of statehood was then in op-
Grafton
Weeks before it was known that Ok
lahoma would be admitted to the
union, and everything was in readi
ness for the last formality, which con-
sisted solely of the signing of the pro-
clamation by the president, consti-
tuition, agreeable to almost every citi.
zen at the time had been framed and
adopted by an overwhelming vote of
the people, A complete ret of state
officials had been elected and was
ready to assume the guidance OF the
ship OF state.
The new officials were in readiness
to assume the duties of their offices at
the minute the proclamation was sign
ee, and there was net the slightest
hitch in the transfer from territorial
to state government.
Many celebrations were held
throughout the state, chief interest,
however, centering at Guthrie, where
the inaugural ceremonies were held,
The granIing OF statehood was the re,
sization of the hopes and 1reaws Of
the pioneer oklshomans. who we're in
terested in the development and up
building Of the country. No event in
the history of Oklahoma, as a state or
as territory, meant quite as much as
admission to the union, and the occa-
sion was celebrated accordingly.
Agitation for statehood was started
10y the settlers almost as soon as they
came to Oklahoma Many conventions
and meetings were held throughout
the territory to discuss the question OF
statehood The main question iuvolv-
ed was whether the two territories,
Indian territory and oklahoma. should |
unite into one state, or there should
be two states. Finally the advocates
OF single statehood won.
The "Omnibus Bill" so-called be-
cause it united Oklahoma and Indian
territories as one state, and New Mex
leo aud Arizona as another state, was
signed by President Roosevelt on June
IA. 1906 Delegates were then chosen
To the constitutional convention. which
met at Guthrie on November 10, 1906,
and framed the constitution. which
was adopted by majority OF i07 pa
votes in the election held on Septem-
ber Il, 1907, At which time full set of
state officers We're also elected.
Although the youngest state in the
union, Oklahoma holds an unchalleng-
ID position OF leadership in wealth.
natural resources and progressive leg
islation. Her constitution has been
declared by students OF government to
be the greatest OF any state in the
union. It's praises have been sung even
In China, where certain portions OF 4,
have been adopted by the new Chinese
republic Many states Of the union,
New York, have amended
IheiF constitutions 90 as to include
some Of its features. s.-0klahoman.