Oklahoma Journeys
Week of November 11, 2007
Admission Day in Oklahoma
“Oklahoma Becomes A State…Carpetbag Rule Ends, Finally!” Those were some of the banner headlines across the brand new state on November 17th, announcing with pride and pleasure that President Roosevelt signed the statehood proclamation and that we were now the 46th state…there was no bigger news in the third week of November 1907, one hundred years ago this week, and that’s the story on Oklahoma Journeys: Celebrating Our Centennial from the Oklahoma Historical Society.
From the Oklahoma Historical Society, this is Oklahoma Journeys: Celebrating Our Centennial. I’m Michael Dean.
Since the end of October 1907, Oklahomans had known that President Theodore Roosevelt was planning to sign the proclamation of statehood on November 16th. Thus, this final week of territorial rule was filled with announcements about the new government that would take office on the morning of the 16th at the state capitol in Guthrie.
All week the Santa Fe railroad announced a special train would carry people from Oklahoma City to Guthrie on Saturday the 16th to witness the events taking place on what was called “Admission Day.” The round trip fare was $1.30. More than a thousand citizens boarded that special train the morning of the 16th to watch history in the making.
On Friday November 15th newspaper accounts reported that everything was in readiness for the inauguration of the first state officers of the new state. Guthrie officials reported thousands were arriving, that hotels were crowded, and private homes were thrown open to accommodate the visitors.
Also being reported was that Territorial Governor Frank Frantz would not take part in the ceremonies as the result of bitterness engendered during the campaign for governor in which he was defeated by Charles N. Haskell. The strained situation was all the more noticeable because it was unprecedented.
Also on Friday November 15th, it was reported that two elected officials would miss the ceremony. Secretary of State William H. Cross fell ill Thursday evening, stricken by “an attack of auto-intoxication of the heart” (today we call that a heart attack) while he and his wife were staying at the Saratoga Hotel in Oklahoma City. J.J. McAlester, founder of the town named for him, was one of the three Corporation Commissioners scheduled to take office. He also was too ill to attend.
The morning of the 16th, across the new state whistles shrilled, bells rang, and people celebrated Statehood for Oklahoma. Newspapers reported that “Carpetbag Rule Was Over”, and that now the people controlled the destiny of the new 46th state.
That evening the inaugural ball was the big event. The scene was described this way by a reporter there: “The city hall of Guthrie was the scene this evening of a brilliant and auspicious event, the first inaugural ball for the State of Oklahoma. The perfumed air was radiant with happiness. Every face was expressive of joy, and softened laughter filled the big ballroom. Brilliantly lighted by myriads of electric globes, half hidden in the encircling vines, and filled with gaily gowned women and conventionally garbed men, the ball scene was one of movement and beauty.”
Well that was the scene one hundred years ago this week. You are invited to relive the ceremonies on Friday November 16th in Guthrie as we recreate all that happened one hundred years ago this week.
Oklahoma Journeys: Celebrating Our Centennial is a production of the Oklahoma Historical Society, dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing our state’s past. I’m Michael Dean.