The Mena weekly star., 1906-12-27
THE GUTHRIE CONVENTION
Arbitrary Methods Used to Force Adoption of Small Coun-
 ties Report.
THE DELEGATES PROTESTED IN VAIN
President Murray Ruled That All Present and Not Voting Would he Counted in the Negative--Some of the Delegates Fear to Return Home For Holidays.

Guthrie, Ok, Dec. 23.--Afraid to let the delegates to the constitutional convention go home for the Christmas holidays, without the report of the county boundary committee being fin ally adopted, the democratic organiz- ation whipped the report through Sat urday, President Murray again resort ing to many arbitrary rulings.
 The floor leaders knew that if the delegates went home and heard fom the people, the committee report mak- ing 75 small counties in the new state would likely be defeated after the holidays, and it was necessary to do business promptly. There was no enrolled report to pass upon. The rough copy used in committee of the whole with numerous interlineations and corrections. was read by Delegate Haskell, of Muskogee. the floor lead CT, for the reason that no other man in the house knew what was con tained within the report.
 Even Haskell did not have a full re- port, but simply that portion of the copy which the enrolling and en- crossing committee had finished Haskell had read the description of but four counties when Delegate Johnson of Perry, secured recognition and moved that the report be placed on it's final passage. This motion was U thrr,,oh ole fhrx ftnal vote on roll call was taken
 The report received 90 votes, 12 against, nine absent and one, Harri- son of Calvin, present and not vot- ing. Four republicans, Hopkins of Muskogee, Houston of Agra, Cloud of Wellston and Cobb of Sapulpa, voted for the report; excepting Hayes and Mcclure, absent, all other republicans voted against it, with four democrats, Billsy of Ava, Berry of Pawnee, Hum phrey of Nowata and Tuecker of Fletcher, and Stowe of Wynnewood, independent.
 The delegates protested against the improper measures resorted to in or der to get the report adopted, but the minutes were corrected so as to show all proceedings legal. Harsison of stating he could not conscientiously stand for for such work Then Pres ident Murray stated that all present and not voting would be recorded as nd hot this ruling would be followed during the entire convention. Harrison tried twice to protest against the president thus arbitrarily recording his vote, but President Murray ruled him down for using personalities" because Harrison dared challenge Murray's right to make such a rniine. It was necessary, too, for floor lead CTS to appeal from Murray in order that Delegate Hunt of Oklahoma City, might get his vote recorded. Some of the delegates actually are at loss as to what county they be- long in. When asked that question, Delegate Harring of Elk City, said . q do not know where I live until draw the lines and find out" Dele 1 gate Hogg of Grand, asked for an ex- planation why Day county was wiped off the map entirely. so that he could explain to his people, but he received no explanation.
 Delegate Tucker of Fletcher, | A.4 .c adopted he would be hanged in effigy by his constituents. He voted against the report Saturday. A number of the delegates, especially those who were whipped into line against the an ticounty division platform on which they were elected, are afraid to go home Saturday night for the Christ mas holidays, not having the rc.:',.'c to face their constituents.