New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-02
STATESMANSHIP IN OKLAHOMA.

The Oklahoma Legislature. judging from It's
recent proceedings, contains an uncommony
choice lot Of statesmen They easily take prece-
dence over the lawmakers of Kansas, Colorado
and Nebraska who have hitherto held the lead
in fertility of invention. originality in ideas, COM
prehensive grasp of public affairs and readiness
to leglslate for the whole country. dispatch
to THE St Louis Globe-D, lnocrat" reports the
proceedings of last Friday which is said to have
been 1.-THE lveliest day OF the present session."
the debate being "redhot and long continued"
and both houses continuing in session until late
in the evening. For one thing, they passed
bill prohibiting gold contracts in the Territory,
after voting down an amendment declaring that
in future all acts Of Congress should be sub
mitted to Oklahoma for approval. There Is just
a shade Of suspicion that the amendment was
not offered in good faith: but. really. we don't
know why there should be. If Oklahoma Is at
liberty to repudata the Constitution and annul
the acts OF Congress- we see no reason why she
should not explicitly say that all acts Of Con-
gress must be submitted for her approval. other
wise they will not be considered as operative
or binding. In rejecting the amendment the
Oklahoma statesmen dropped stitch and laid
themselves open to the charge Of timid and
time.servng conservatism. They are sill In the
lead Notwithstanding and there will, no doubt.
no Opnortunities to correct this mistake in the
future.
A radical railway bill was discussed, and will
probably he passed. the provisions Of which are
not given. but It Is said that its effect Will he 10
stop all railway development In the Territory.
The wisdom of this is plain. The States which
have contributed most to the population Of Okla
homa. and from which it naturally derives its
craftsmanship. are all complaining bitterly OF
the blighting effect of railroads upon their pros
perity Kansas Nebraska and Colorado, for in
stance are in open revolt against the tyranny
of these corporations. which. after being per-
mtted to Law their rails through the States. have
the insufferable audacity to charge citizens for
hauling them and their products over their lines
The Legislatures Of these States are applying
themselves seriously TO the consideration OF the
railroad problem. and ii is an open question
whether they will order the rails taken up or
confiscae the roads and have them operated
by the several States upon the plan OF carrying
freight and transporting passengers for moth
ing The Oklahoma plan avoids the problem
If they have no railroads they will have no prob
lem Everybody can walk and carry his prod
nets to market on his back. The exercise would
promote health And. perhaps. thought More
over the introduction Of railroads would be
likely TO have an evil effect upon craftsmanship.
They would bring in thinking people who would
dilute it.
Then they took up bill to abolish the Terri
toria militia and recommended 1t for passage
with only six votes against 1t. In the course
of the debate member after member denounced
the militia and all kinds Of military organiZa-
tons. declaring the militia in all the States TO
be only the tool of corporate monopolies and
the means of perpetuating the power OF the
authorities at WashingtOn--a power used only
to suppress and harass the people They wanted
the militia abolished and the arms and equip
ments and everything else that represents the
power of Capitalization removed from the Terri
tory These are noble sentlments-quite in line
with the doctrines enunciated in the chicago
platform OF which Mr.. William Jennings Bryan
is the prophet and apostle. All our military or
CARNATIONS are the tools Of tyranny, used to
perpetuate the power of the authorities at Wash
ingtOn and Cypress the people. Consequently
abolish them. At any rate, they will have none
of them in oklahoma In that Arcadian para
disc they have no use for them. Or, for that
matter for any other instrument for the en-
forcement of law. When anybody offends
against the law or public opinion, or Is sus-
pected Of y, in that delightful region, the citi-
Gems Just come together and string him up.
That ends 1t. They have no use for militia or
even police. Simple in their tastes and primi-
tive in their habits. they are not only law unto
themselves, but willing to be a law to the rest
of the country.
Truly, civilization is making wonderful adj
yances 1t is only few years since the Terri.
tory of Oklahoma was occupied and governed
by Indians mere abOrigines. Now look at 1t!
1t has a Legislature Of white men!