The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-07-11

al Vxmye 1t3*s and thew arc 60 eager - 10
the forty state that, dur
Ing the recent celebration of Flag day, they flew
an American banner In whose field of blue they
had sewed another star as indicative of their
ambition
VIII 1t be Alaska? The 1895 pioneers" who
went there recently may be the vanguard of
migration which will populate that territory so
rapidly that 1t will also have statehood ambI-
lions and the vast empire which was once
known as Stewards Folly" may honor the man
who bought 1t from Russia by joining the sister,
hood OF states under his name
VIII 1t be Porto Rico. which already has a pom
uaton more than three times that of Hawaii
and Alaska combined?
Or, instead of promoting one Of his territories
to the dignity of statehood, will Uncle Sam
play reafor' and "open up Il new subdivisonn7
In that case. will the new commonwealth be
lliana composed of Cook county, ILL.,. and
Lake county, Ind?
Or will 1t be "Absaroka" made by pecing
together parts Of southwestern Montana north
eastern Wyoming and southwestern South Da-
kota?
Then again. 1t might be sTexlahoma,n COM
posed of the Texas Panhandle and western
Oklahoma, including that strip OF territory, 30
miles wide and 80 miles long. which was once
known as No Mans Land. Or Ii might be CHM
aIron, another name which has been proposed
for cattle state Gown int the Southwest.
As mater of fact several such ideas for
forming new states have been advanced during
the past few months even though they have not
Jared very well thus far. The Indiana legsla-
ture promptly squeched the suggestion that Lake
county seeede from Hoosierdom and Join with
Cook county to form "Illianas with Chicago as
Its capital
No doubt either Rapid City, the thriving little
municipality which put itself on the map in the
days Of President Calvin Coolidge or historic
old DeadWood would be glad to be the capital
OF "Absaroka' the forty-ninth state which would
bear the tribal name of the Crow Indians But
Sheridan, Wyo., which Is In the land of the
sparrow Hawk People (Ahsarokas) might dis
pute the claims of the Black Hills Cities even Ii
Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota would
agree to hand over slices of their territory for
new sate-which is doubtful
The latest suggestion for the creation of a
new state-that of 'Texlahoma' came about
when an enterprising Oklahoma Citlan petitioned
the state legislature for such action giving as
his reason the rank discrimination by parent
states against the counties within the described
territories by those In official authority" Com
menting on this proposal Texas newspaper
AiNpatNH W Inc 4NeW lDTk LINES SAD.
In the past such proposals have originated
fugitively In Texas which Is SO large and diver
sifed that some sections occasionally feel dis.
crlmnated against politically While this pro-
posal Is more clearly defined than It's predeces-
sors 1t Is extremely doubtful If its fate VIII
prove happier. What sentiment might have ex-
isted years ago for the division of Texas has
long since been dissinated and with regard TO
the rank discrimination against the Panhandle
&C IL only necessary to say that not only does
Governor Alfred come from one of the counties
that would secede,' but the four high men In
the race for governor of Texas last summer
were all from the region covered by the pro-
posed state
Moreover. both economic and patriotic forces
resist division today. Modern means of rapd
and communication are reducing
even this vast frontier to a neiglborhood The
approach OF the Texas centennial is serving to
crystalline this unity. and 1t is significant that
some OF the most enthusiastic manifestations
OF pre-cenennial patriotism are coming from
the Panhandle, far removed from the shrnes Of
Texas historical period"
One Of the proposals to which he refers came
about some five years ago when Vice President
Garner, then member of the house of repre-
sentatiyes, made speech In congress adyocat-
go
means Of giving the Lone Star state the repre-
sentation In congress- especially In the senate,
which she feels she should have
AS for the names OF these five states 1t IA sug-
sested that there should be but one Texas. and
hat the central portion of the state which ia
now designated as Central Texas should bear 1t
This state should not embrace San Antonio as
veil as Austin and for that reason San Antonio
you'd have 10 be thrown Into South Texas for
which the name Alamo or Davy Crockett is sug-
gested
Other state names suggested are Jefferson for