Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1906 — OKLAHOMA AS A STATE. [ARTICLE]

OKLAHOMA AS A STATE.

Joined with Indian Territory, It Will He Admitted to T’nlon. The conference report on the statehood bill passed the lower house Thursday afternoon without a dissenting vote and at 6 o'clock the same evening the bill received the signature of President Roosevelt, thus becoming law. A scene of hearty enthusiasm_ took place when the conference report passed the House. The statehood question baa. been pending in Congress so iong that even those who were dissatisfied with the provisions of the bill were glad that the vexed issue had been settled at last. ' The bill admits ffitiahoina and Indian Territory as one State unconditionally and admits Arizona and New Mexico ns one State on condition that at the general election this fall the people of both Territories, voting separately, rate ify the union. A most dramatic scene occurred when Speaker Cannon left the chair, took his otd "pltide on tiie floor and vehemently denied the insinuation ’ made by Delegate Smith of Arizona that undue influence had been used in postponing an agreement. The greatest disturbance that will occur in oliieial life iu Indian Territory following the passage of the statehood bill will he in the Federal courts. Indian Territory-finally wIH comprise one Federal district, and there will be only quo set of Federal officers where there are now four. There are in each of the four Federal districts two judges, each