The Grit Advocate

OKLAHOMA STATE NEW STAR ADDED TO UNCLE SAM'S FLAG.

PRESIDENT SIGNS THE BILL

Law Also Provides for Admission of Arizona and New Mexico as the State of Arizona Upon the Approval of the People of Both Territories.

Washington.

Another star was added to the Union Saturday when President Roosevelt signed the bill admitting Oklahoma and the Indian Territory as one state. The measure also provides that Arizona and New Mexico may be admitted to statehood as the state of Arizona provided the people of the territories vote in favor of admission on the terms submitted by Congress.

The signing of the measure was made the occasion of an interesting ceremony. Senator Beveridge and Representative Hamilton, chairmen of the Senate and House committees on territories, who have worked hard and long for the measure, were present, as were also Delegate McGuire of Oklahoma and a number of residents of Oklahoma; Delegate Andrews of New Mexico, Secretary Loeb and others.

Just before the President signed the bill Ambassador Speck Von Sternberg of Germany was ushered into the office and he, too, witnessed the ceremony.

The president used two pens in signing the measure, writing the first name, "Theodore," with a solid gold pen presented by the people of Arizona, his family name, "Roosevelt," with an eagle's quill, taken from an American eagle in Oklahoma.

After signing the bill President Roosevelt congratulated Senator Beveridge and Representative Hamilton on the completion of their labors in connection with the measure. He also expressed the hope that the people of Arizona and New Mexico would avail themselves of the opportunity to come into the Union as a state.

From every viewpoint he said he regarded this as the wise thing for them to do, as the opportunity might not come again in a score of years. The President said that he has a personal interest in the admission of Arizona and New Mexico, as many of the members of his regiment, the Rough Riders, resided in those territories.