The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-10-25
sRlLLiANr SPEECH
delivered ~ c. Porter lohrson at
Lswton Las Week

I Lawton ana ;he new country was de-
livsred ia the open air on a temporary
( platform IL. front OF the land cff.ce
last week by Hon c. Porter johnson,
iOf Oklahoma. one OF the leading ora
/ tors Jf the southwest and one of the
most ihusiastic and most thorough.
Ily posted Democrats of Oklahoma.
I Despite the chilly breeze several
/ hundred people mon and women. con
sregated in the streets. and with in
tense interest listened for an hour to
The pure end unadulterated principles
of Democracy
Nr Johnson's first political speech
IN oklahoma was delivered in Lawton
two wears ago. and he said The FIRST
tine in his life that ne was arrested
vas in Lawton and by the present
chief Of police, Heck Thomas "On
beng dismissed nv the officer" he
SAID. Il was informed thet it was a
ccime in Lqwton for a Democrat to
buy a drlnl, and not invite his Demo-
cratic frierss to participate wiki. hir."
After giving a few reasons why he
was a Democrat. the speaker with all
his power ant energy plunged into
discussion OF the Hamilton statehood
bin. retnaridnG in the Introduction
that ior the first time in the history
of Oklahoma hal a delegate to con-
gross failed to pass a single hill OF in-
terest ia the whole people OF the ter
ritory "You have heard of Flynn
bin and YOU have heard of lills by
other delegates. but ra~e you ever
heard of McGuire bill T" He then
stated that the Republicans did not
intend 10 pass the statehood bill, aud
that they do not intend to pass ore
for four wars to come. There are
/ yet too many fat Jobs fci the federal
office holders in the Indian territory
for tnem to give MS statehood vet.
Recently at Atoka. in Indian territory
cuardlans were appointed for MINOR
children and dead Indians estates
valued in the aggregate az twelve mil
liens Of dollars and a mighty cor
poration world prevent statehood un-
iii mat money ha1 teon gobbled up. A
large corporation is getting coal and
oil leases in that territory These
must be arrrm ed by the Indian agent
and the interior department aud thus
the lessees have . grin end win not
turn ,ocse for four years
He was opposed to the Hamilton bill
Tor the reason that il gives us mixed
schools, and the speaker told in no ur-
mistaRable tcrms what he thought OF
mixed schools He opposed i, because
it usu~ped the authority Of forever FIX
ing the principles of state constitu.
tioa; once hAed the pcor-a would have
no voice to change it He opposed it
because of IT'S provision regarding the
sale Of he school lands this SHOULD
he loft to the sovereign state He OF.
posed it because il would locute the
capital and federal buildings. matter
the people of the state should control
Mr.. Johnson said he wcnld sote for
Mathews because Mathews is a Demo
crat and represents the great principles
of the party; beoause he is honest and
not affiliated with the federal Office
holders of the territory; because he -
pure in character and has the inter
est of the compton people at heart,
because he could at least fight for
their interests aue at least secure leg
islation affecting other than particn-
lar individuals.
lie then. with all the strength OF his
manhood and all the powers Of I'm
passiuned aratory. reviewed the good
lold day of Democratic supremacy be
fore the war told how progressive
were the arts Of peace how close the
relationship between capital and labor
and how an enjoyed the rights Of iilr
eriy as youchsafed by the constitution.
lie compared those days with he later
years OF Republican rule relating no"
the rich have oppressed the poor how
lgigandc corporations have arisen and
taken the he blood from innocent pee
.ple, how gov Vernors have been corr
peeled To call out the militia TO quel
Instructions. and how men without
a trial have heon deportod from. their
homes to other states. He appealed %
the young men 70 support the repre-
sentative OF party that would change
the maj rushing tide of AFFAIRS. put
otu the man with the horse and tho
STICK" and restore the peace and pros