The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1905-03-12

Al the meeting OF the ArdmCTe Den
ocratic club held last Wednesday nigh.
W. \. Ledhetteg was detained by a
business engagement and entered the
room just as the vote was taken on
the question of drawing party lines.
He was Immediately called upon AM
made the following response.
u am glad you have decided to nom
mate a Democratic ticket. The Lin.
oolu club started To challenge us but
backed down before We nal an oppo..
tuuity TO accept.
The Democratic party IN the Indian
Territory has been asleep tor mauy
years. But the prospect tor Statehood
has awakened interest to a consider.
able extent. The importance OF your
action tonight i'm drawing party lines
is not confined to Ardmore. In view
of the certainty that statehood is not
far distant. It is the duty OF every Dem
To put forth mis- best efforts 10
make the party. its policies and its
principles an aggressive force in IT.
new tate. Our ancient enemy has
been active. and the Lincoln club it,
Ardmore has seduced many young
into its membership by promises
of special favors: by providing jury
service for them. and procuring them
small Offices on the pay roll OF the
Federal government These young
men had a right to join the Republican
party. but it is hard to believe they
have changed their principles and
and thai they are irrevocably lost to
rh" Democratic party As Democrats
f. is our duty TO appeal TO them O.
ousider we'll what afhliation with tse
Republican party means to young men
after statehood. When statehood
comes the Republican party. with g.
c-alper-bag rule. will have no me:
ppp.-ruuiti. TO QDuf=r fayors an
benefits in Ardmore or In the Chicle-
saw Nation. or the Indian Territorg
or th. state OF Oklahoma. An th-
Young men who join the Republics
party now and in the next few yea
must realize that that party VIII q
ways be- in the minority.
The Republican party Will not uuiy
Doc the minority party, but it VII.
bee dominated by black Republicans.
the negro politicians. There WI Tcv.
ar be a day when the Republicans can
larry an election in Ardllorc "i,hout
The negro vote. no matter how lady
h. Democrats may be split ~. NoI
~ill the Republican party e"-r b. able
10 carry an election in Ia c1,.l.y oi
which Ardmore will IA: "a a ra,t N:,h.
out the negro vote. Every yDung mau
who Joins the Republican party must
join r. knowing that his party Will .e
in the minority, and that its policiy
and its candidates will. to a consider.
Bile extent. be dictated by the uesI,
politicians. What Is true OF Ardmor,
is true in a broader and more iIlpor
tant sense of the Republican parry ol
the Chickasaw Nation and in the
state OF Oklahoma. Mark the pr.'.r
ton, that no man in this audience VII
live 10 see IN" day when IA ChiC.a
saw Nation will 90 Republican. In 81
time 10 come every voting preclLct il
the Chickaksaw NatioE VIZ ,ast IN,
majority of its votes IN favor q .Gt
Democratic nominees wheh party
lines are drawn. There will never %.
a time when the Republican part,
can carry an election in the state O
Oklahoma without the negro vote. Tn,
big negro yote in Guthrie and Logan
county. in Oklahoma Territory. anC
in Muskogge and the Creek Nation
the black triba Of the Indian Territor,
will always exercise the coltrollin.
influence in the councils and in IN,
policies of the Republican party, an,
TO a large cXtent dictate its candi
dates.
The young man who Is now consld
ering which party he will affiliate
with ought to take these matters into
confederation II he Joins the Repub
lican party he cannot assist in nomin
ating a ticket OF adopting a platform
now or al any time in the tn
mra without comforting with Col
onel Virgins, the president OF the
Bruce Republican club, or his politica.
associates. Of those who succeed them
in the control of the black wing Of IN,
rarry Nor a his party in the future
state of Oklahoma settle It's policies
adopt itS platforms or nominate is
tickets with due conference with the
uegro politicians in the Creek Nation