The Mena weekly star., 1906-12-06
RESENT FEDERAL CONTROL
Democratic Delegates in Oklahoma Convention Make Stand for
 State's Rights
AT OUTS WITH TERRITORIAL SECRETARY
Radicals Insist Upon Saying How and for What Purpose Federal Appropriation Shall be Expend- ed-A Mock Convention by News paper Writers.

Guthrie, Ok, Nov. 30.-Belieying that the constitutional convention is a greater body than congress itself in it's relation to the people of the new state, the democrats in the con stitutional convention, especially those having the ante-bellum preiu dices of the south, resent with con siderable clamor any suggestion as to expenditures that may be made by the federal disbursing officer This officer is the territorial secretary. Charles Filson, for years an office holder and political foe of the democrats
 The radical democrats insist upon saying how and for what the federal appropriation shall be expended. Filson dare not make blunder in the allowance of bill, as It might be rejected by the treasury department. and he would be held personally re. sponsible. Numerous questions have arisen that make uncertain what course he should pursue The result Is that democrats. who have no lik. ing for the "big stick" which Filson Is supposed to represent, are ready at all times to attack him.
 The committee of the whole in con sidering the rules to govern the con vention, was enlivened Wednesday with this kind of controversy. One of the rules provided for the publica ton of 1000 copies of the convention Journal, of which each member was to receive copies free of cost. Tn a number of districts candidates had promised that the proceedings of the convention should be printed in detail so that constituents might know the record of their representatives.
 Henry Asp, one of the few republi cans in the convention, has chosen to stand between Filson and the radical democrats. MT. Asp moved that ac ton on the rule be delayed for a week, to enable the disbursing off cer to find out the probable cost of the convention and prevent a deficit A number of democrats grew excited over the interference of Filson through Asp in the affairs of the con, vention, but conservative delegates advised caution and action on the rule was postponed.
 A man familiar with the cost o' the election and the convention said that if expenses piled up at the pres ant rate. by the time the state cleo ton was held there would be a def cit of $100.000 This sum was appro priated by congress. The expendi lures may be increased. For in stance. the five election officers in the 10000 voting precints In the state worked from o'clock until g c'clock.,A legal day for federal em- ployees is eight hours. A number of these election employees are demand ing pay for two days, which would in- crease the cost from $16,000 to $32, 900 However much the radical democrats wish to be independent of the fed. eral disbursing officers advice. they dislike the prospect of returning home with big deficit.
 Chairman Williams appointed the subcommittees on the committee on railroads. with instructions to hasten the reports as rapidly as possible. MT. Williams believes that the com mittee should be able to report in three weeks. A committee was ap- pointed to get pictures of distin- guished citizens of the five civilized nations and the Osage nation, to be hung on the walls of the convention hall
 The convention delegates were en. tertained Wednesday night at mock convention giv sn by newspaper writ CTS reporting the convention. The affair was an imitation of the per formances of the Gridiron club in Washington. A number of the dele gates were mercilessly caricatured. Many Of the delegates went home 10 spend Thanksgiving. The convention will meet again Friday.