it would force the Indian leaders to join in statehood with Oklahoma Territory. The United States Congress and President Roosevelt agreed that the Oklahoma and Indian territories had to combine to enter the Union as one state, the State of Oklahoma. After congressional passage of the Enabling Act in 1906, Haskell was elected as a delegate by the largest margin in the new state, representing the seventy-sixth district, which included Muskogee. Traveling to Guthrie and the Oklahoma Constitutional convention on November 20, 1906, Haskell would meet William H. Murray from the Muskogee convention and Robert L. Williams. Due to their presence at both conventions, Haskell and Murray became lifelong friends. The delegates to the Guthrie convention included many who had served in the Sequoyah convention. Numerous elements proposed for the new constitution were based upon the Sequoyah constitution. Haskell owned the New State Tribune, and through its editorial columns advocated for the elements he wanted in the new constitution. Most were incorporated, in substance if not in form. While Murray served as the convention's president, delegates recognized Haskell's power in the body. A local newspaper during the time, the Guthrie Report, called Haskell "the power behind the throne". Haskell had a perfect attendance and voting record during the session. He advocated for provisions that affected both territories’ labor problems, and advocated for representatives of organized labor. Haskell also drafted a report drawing up county boundaries, led the crusade for state prohibition, introduced Jim Crow laws, as were prevalent among Southern states to restrict African Americans to second-class status; and successfully kept female suffrage out of the state constitution. Gubernatorial campaign At Tulsa on March 26, 1907, during the recess before the final adoption of the constitution by the convention, Haskell held a large Democratic Party banquet at the Brady Hotel, attended by between 500 and 600 of the leading Democrats of the new state. During this banquet, the first campaigns for governor were formally inaugurated. During this evening, his friends proposed Haskell for the Democratic gubernatorial candidacy. Among the other potential candidates were Thomas Doyle of Perry and Lee Cruce of Ardmore. Haskell, like other prominent Democrats at the time, had the strong support of labor and agriculture leaders. The party primaries for governor were set for June 8, and Doyle and Cruce had already been campaigning; Haskell had little time. During his campaign, Haskell made 88 speeches in 45