The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-07-01

of Oklahoma and Of the Indian Ter
ritory TO form constitution and a
state government and to be admitted
into the Union on an equal footing
with the original states, as the state
Of Oklahoma, has passed the house Of
representatives, and there is degree
Of probability that the same will be-
come a law and
Whereas said bill does not require
the constitution of such new state to
contain any provision upon the pro-
hibition Of intoxicating liquors in
said state, leaving that part Of such
state formerly known as Indian Ter
ritory to an almost certainty Of saloon
domination and that part Of such
state now known as Oklahoma to an
almost absolute assurance Of The con-
tinuation Of the reign Of liquor tratic;
and
Whereas, for over seventy years the
introduction, sale, exchange, barter or
disposition Of any spirituous liquors
or wine to any Indian under the
charge Of any Indian superintendent
or agent, or the introduction Of any
spirituous liquor or wine into the In
dian country has been crime under
the laws Of the United States; and
Whereas, the federal government
has continuously for 50 many years
dealt with the Indians as its wards,
and protected them by legislation
which has changed into yet more
stringent laws against Intoxicating
1 liquors which have such fatal allure
ment and deadly and destructive
power over them, making it crime
against these people helpless alike
against the power Of this foe 50
peculiarly deadly to them and the ap-
proaches OF governmental changes
brought about BY changing and ad-
yancing civilization, to permit the
open saloon to be planted In his midst;
and making il duty Of congress as
well as Of all friendly and well dis
i posed persons to use every effort to
avert this great calamity from him
and protest him against so sad a fate:
and
Whereas, this great evil not only
Affects the indian but the multiplied
thousands of other citizens Of this
country, many Of whom, more espec-
ially those residing in Indian Terri
tory, who have pot been accustomed
for 50 long 20 the presence of saloons
and many Of whom would be ruined
by the same. making il much more
difficult in such part Of the new state
to eradicate the same after period
of liberation during which they would
fasten themselves upon the life and
habits Of the people making certain
the accomplishment Of the ruin Of
many, body and soul, aud Of such aw-
/ ful peril to the youth Of our bright,
fortunately situated country:
Therefore, in view Of the foregoing,
and being moved by the contempla-
tion Of ''the poverty, misery, ruin and
/ wretchedness which intoxication en-
! taiis upon its unhappy victims; and
the unspeakable woes which must be
endured by helpless aud innocent be-
ings dependent upon them; aud also
the frequent crimes and disorders pro-
dUced by the same cause, and "the
necessity OF 4 legislative remedy. and
I believing that every consideration
connected with the public welfare Ina
paratively demands ii. We, the dele
gates Of the Third ANNUAL Convention
Of Indian Territory Sunday School As
ISOLATION, do earnestly petition and
memorable the congress Of the United
States that before the passage OF said
bill, that the same be so amended as
to require the constitution Of the new
state to contain q self-executing pro-.
vision, as a prerequisite to admission
OF such new state prohibiting the
manufacture, intreductloD sale, gift,
barter. exchange or d,sr sition by any
means or BIZ any yincus, malt, fer
mented. or Intoxicating LIQUOR or bev-
lerage Of any name or description, and
providing penalties for the violation
Of such provision and providing for
the enforcement of the same by the
courts Of the state, so that the defni-
tionand Punishment Of ofenses against
such constitutional prohibitory provis-
lon shall be fully covered and embrac-
ed by said constitution and shall not
s. any particular be left to await any
act OF the state legislature Of such
state.