The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-07-11
AND THE FACT is RE
ALLIED BY REPUB-
LICANS
G. 0. P. PLANNING NOW
To Control Legislature and
Railroad Commission.
Special to Daily Leader.

Special 10 Daily Leader.
Oklahoma city. OKLA July 1l.-Mr T..
J. Giddfngs. who returned from Paw
nee yesterday morning where he spoke
ON the Fourth. IN conversation with a
reporter yesterday evening. said:
II had quite an extended conversa-
tion with the Hon. Thomas Doyle Of
Perry. who stands the best show OF
getting the Democratic nomination for
governor and also with Judge Sam
Harris OF Perry. who VIII undoubtedly
be one Of the supreme court judges OF
Oklahoma unless the Republicans are
sufficiently rtronR to control the con-
stitutional convention. Both OF these
gentlemen have great concern about
the constitutional convention and seem
to think that the Democrats must arm
themselves with the best equipment
possible. in order to circumvent the de-
signs Of the Republicans. We came to
this conclusion: That the Republicans
are not going to make a great effort
to control the state offices, for the
very natent reason that they know the
state on "a straight party vote is over
whelmlngly Democratic but they figure
that they can contrti the legislature.
the supreme court and the railroad
commission by gerrymander tactics.
For instance In stead of electing the
supreme court judges at least as they
are generally elected In other states.
they are going have the supreme
court elected from districts. thinking
that they can elect three out Of five
members Of the supreme court by pro-
viding in the constitution for the cleo
tion Of supreme court judges by dis
tricts rather than by the state at
large; thinking too, that the three
members of the railroad commission
should be elected according TO railroad
commission districts rather than by the
state at large. and that by a gerry
mander they can control, ~ least two
Of the hese railroad commiss!on dis
trictsi thlnkirg. too that by gerrymand-
ering the legislative districts. they can
get control Of the legislature and there
by elect two United States senators.
Concentrating an their efforts upon
the'e three propositions. they more than
likely win not make the most strenu-
Gus fight possible to control the olec-
tion OF state officers.
They VIII also see1 to control by
gerrymandcr tactics diTtricts courts
and clerks and similar public agencies,
and it looks TO me Ike the Democrats
should surely hold a convention to dis
cuss these matters ana to get in shape
TO circumvent such nefarious practices.
The narti~an machinery by which the
constitutional convention is to be se-
lectod the canvassing the returns OF
tie votes for delegates to that conveu-
tion. the gerymandering OF the con-
grossional districts and similar inlqui-
ties. a-e in themselves sufficient 20
asouse public indignation without any
other gerrmanderlng 10 defeat the viii
of the people at large II we do not
have a convention 60 look into these
matters and get things in shape steer
| ing clear OF am Questions OF local inns
| port think We viii make seriou.
I mistake. believe 1t is the opinion O
/ J1ige Hnrris ana Of the man ] hone e
see governor Thomas Doyle that thii
convention Is Democratic necessity
Let us hove a convention of this charae
ter by an means"