Woodward Dispatch. (Woodward, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 40, Ed. 1 Friday, December 5, 1902 Page: 1 of 8
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W oodward Dispatch.
SffbitrlptlM frioa:
Cm Mhr par fur*
“ The Flat Footed Truth Teller.”
Tu Only Democratic Park in Woodward County.
1
VOL. a.
WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA. FRIDAY, WCTMIBB 5, ML
MX*
DO THE PBOPLB WANT
STATEHOOD*
The Senate Statehood committee
has come and none, and there ia no
more unanimity of opinion on state-
hood in the territory than there was
before it came. What the committee
thinks no one knows, it may report
tor Oklahoma and leave out New
Mexico and Arizona. If it does, it
will change present conditions on
statehood in congress, and any kind
of statehood may be defeated.
These are at best but matters of
npeculation; no one knows positively.
But what the territory wants, is
another matter. If all reports are
true, there are certain republican
leaders who talk statehood for publi-
cation and adverse privately. These
stand on personal political advantages.
The senate committee’s visit brought
all these to the surface and their pri-
vate opinions are now public talk.
Taking this talk for granted, Con-
gressman-elect Bird McGuire, Gov.
Ferguson, Delegate Flynn and Cash
Cade are the only ones actually for
statehood. McGuire is honestly for
it because he made his campaign on
the issue and is willing to take his
political chances in the future, what-
ever comes, before the people. He
thinks statehood will be a general
benefit to the territory and he does
not desire his personal possibilities to
interfer with the public good.
Gov. Ferguson’s position is about
the same. He considers his present
position as governor a financial loss
to him, and is willing to step down
and out at any time. He has so ex-
pressed himself on various occasions.
He is sincerely for statehood.
Dennis Flynn is for statehood be-
cause he knows that this is a good
chance for the United States Senate
as he will ever have. With all the
fear that this is not a'republican ter-
ritory, he is willing to take his
chances now, for he knows that with
him out of congress and the loss of
power that comes by the loss of pat-
ronage, the territorial organization
would reorganize with another Moses
as a leader. He has for twelve years
been the only beneficiary of the re-
publican party of the territory, has
amassed a fortune reaching into a
half million from a salary of five
thousand a year, and has transactions
standing against him, that once out
of power, would overwhelm him like
the lava of Mount Pelee did the city
of Marteniqne. There are scoresUad
hundreds of disappointed local leaden
who are ready to pounce upon him at
a moments notice. Two thirds of the
party of the territory ia out of his
control. This was shown in the Enid
convention, when his friends were
doing everything to spring his name,
yet he received but three votes at the
highest Getting statehood now,
with his fences not yet all destroyed—
this and his money, would give him
some prestige before a legislature
under statehood.
Cash Cade wants statehood be-
cause he is a business man and knows
that capital and industries wouh
come to the country under statehood
and because he made a campaign be-
fore the people for McGuire for Con-
gress, and as is his nature, believes
in sticking to his word. Whatever
political ambition he has, if any, stil
slumbers in his breast. He, as wel
as McGuire, believe that Oklahoma
will be a republican state, and with
good men in the field, joined with
national issues and President Roose-
velt, we can elect a state ticket
Secretary William Grimes is against
statehood because his present office
pays him around about $26,000 per
annum, and he does not desire to lose
it and because he has the West Side
senatorial fight to make with Gov.
Ferguson, Harry Thompson, ex-Gov.
Seay, Diok Morgan and perhaps
others. With him “a bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush.”
Ex-Gov. C. M. Barnes ia for state
hood for Oklahoma and Indian Terri-
tory because with such he would have
a greater chance for the United
States senate. For this he wrote his
famous vito of the public institution
bill in the last legislature, and all his
utterances have been in that direc-
tion. The Indian Territory is close
to Arkansas where the governor was
once United States Marshall. The
Episcopal clergy of the Indian Terri-
tory is making sentiment for Barnes
there. He has always been for the
Indian Territory and is naturally liked
better there than any other Oklaho-
ma statesman.
The seven judges of the supreme
court, from chief justice down, are
against statehood because they had
rather stay where they are than go
to that bourne from whence no trav-.
eler returns—in other words, to use
common English, they had rather
stick to their jobs they have than to
take their chances in a pot shot at
the future. There is but one chance
for all—a federal judgship. Chief
Justice Burford says he is for state-
hood, but he thinks this territory is
democratic and he had rather live in
a territory under a republican nation-
al administration than in a democratic
state.
Frank Greer is against any kind of
statehood at the present time Up
until the congressional campaign he
was secretary of the Muskogee state-
hood convention. He talked against
statehood at a recent Flynn confer-
ence on the ground that Oklahoma at
the present time was democratic.
The reason he is against statehood at
the present time ia because it will in-
terfere with his chances of printing
the free school books, for which he
wrote and talked during the con-
gressional campaign, while pretending
to talk for McGuire for congress.
If the present statehood bill should
pass, nhe coming legislature would
take no action in letting any perman-
ent contracts. It is generally conced-
ed by the public that without some sort
of legislative appropriation the State
Capitol will have a hard time winter-
ing. Storms are brewinw. The thir-
teen years unnatural and selfish activ-
ity, coining men’s friendship, the pub-
lic’s confidence and the peoples’ senti-
uent into dollars, beginning to reap
its reward. The editor of the State
Capital has sown the wind and is
about to reap the whirlwind. He
has been all things to all men and all
men will soon be nothing to him.
Henry Asp and Jim Cottingham
are against statehood because of
their railroad and public institution
interests. They desire legislation this
winter that cannot be had if we are
to become a state. Then, there are
future political contingencies. It is
not at present known what Mr. Asps
political ambition is.
Hon. Double Cross Joe McNeal is
for Joe McNeal, but he don’t know
what that is politically—financially,
he always gets his graft in. He has
double crossed every man from Gov.
Barnes to Wm. Jenkins and Bird Mc-
Guire in public life, made more money
than any other man out of politics,
and now that he can afford it, it is
reported he will go out of the banking
business to go into politics as a pro-
fession. He has -announced himself
as the first candidate for governor
under statehood, with a string for
the United States senate; but he is
afraid to say what kind of statehood
le is for, for fear it will spoil his
chances. He is against McGuire,
Ferguson, Barnes and Grimes; bat
although the band wagon has run
over him several times, he ia with
Flynn and against him.
Governor Seay ia for statehood be-
cause the west side and Flynn are for
it but he is not “hollering” very load.
He still thinks he has a chance with
the people for the United States sen-
ate; but Wm. Grimes and J. C. Robb
do not think so.
This is the political condition of
the territory on statehood. Let
Washington do what it will.
What do the people think about it?
—Oklahoma State Register, Republi-
can.
Lockwood * Morgan,
Furnishers and Contractors:
WiNimn, Kara., Dec. 3,1902.
Bonifield A Austin,
Woodward, Okie.,
Gentlement:—
Replying to your of tbs 29th alt
will say that the only stone dealers
we have here at present are H. A.
K rouse and the Winfield 8tons Co.
We doubt if you will get stone from
either firm at present, as all the quar-
ries are crowded owing to the fact
that there is so much building h»l"g
done in Winfield.
Our city has just been prospecting
for gas, and have struck one of the
finest wells in the country, estimated
at six million cubic feet flow per day
through 8 casing. What’s the mat-
ter with Winfield?
Yours truly,
W. W. LOCKWOOD.
What’s the matter with Woodward,
that she don’t get a move on her?
Part of the money has been raised to
put down a well. We are informed
that already oil has been discovered
in Day county.
The first snow of the season car-
peted the ground of Woobward this
week.
Briggs A Wybrant have begun the
construction of their new office build-
ing, just West of Alexander's office.
The building will be 20x32.
Court of Honor meets to-morrow
night, Oct 6, at the residence of
Bio. and Sister, L W. Harts.
The best evidence we have that we
are better prepared to do printing
for stockmen than any one in town is
what they tell us.
We do Job Printing. Write us.
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Kellogg, O. R. Woodward Dispatch. (Woodward, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 40, Ed. 1 Friday, December 5, 1902, newspaper, December 5, 1902; Woodward, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc848343/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.