The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-07-30


! bOilerAfOom was demolished.
for the state of Oklahoma a prosper
ity which will know no bounds.
Indian Territory and Oklahoma are
now one. Statehood means far more
to you Of the Indian Territory than it
has ever meant to us Of Oklahoma.
We have had territorial government,
witha measure of rights and inde-
pendence, while you have had no
government of your own. You have
been compelled to wait In the patient
silence Of submission. Paternal
Tyranny for you Is fast drawing to a
close and l congratulate you that the
/ day is not far distant when you will
have a voice in your own affairs.
Seven hundred and fifty thousand
free american citizens, proud and pa
trotic, many Of whom, original pion-
eers, are descended from race Of
kings yet withal 20 privileges bf*free
citixenshipl No representative gov
ernnient, yet most law-abidingl No
general system Of public schools, yet
broadly intelligent and highly cultur-
ed History records no parallel.
The resources Of the new state are
already the marvel and pride Of the
nation Her coal fields, in extent and
quality equal to, If not surprising,
the rich beds Of Pennsylvania. Her
oil apd gas field, though but in the in
fancy Of Its Development, promises to
be the &eatest Ii the world. Her
forests as yet almost untouched, her
beds Of clay, cement and asphaltum,
all of the finest quality, her mineral
treasures locked in the vaults Of God,
waiting for the hand Of man, her end
less fields Of waving corn and wheat
and cotton, together with her running
streams make up a material inventory
Of resources which will place Okla
homa forever beyond the reach of
want.
Though rich in these material re-
sources, Oklahoma is richer far in the
character Of her citizenship. Coming
the best from all the states, pioneers
all, homebuilders in peace ane home
defenders in war; our happiness is Sc
cure and our place in the front rank
Of states is assured. We must not
forget that the greater our good fort
une the greater our responsibility.
Let ns remember in the reality and
promise Of our high condition that we
dare not grow vain, glorious or care
less in the exercise Of our citizenship.
"I'll fares the land to Fastening lis a
pray
Where wealth accumlates and men
decay"
We are now entering the open door
of opportunity The Constitutional
Convention will soon be called. Upon
the character Of the men sent to that
convention VIII depend the character
Of the constitution. Upon the char
acter Of the constitution will depeEn
largely the character OF the new stats. Z
This, my fellow citizens, is strictly a
matter Let Us not forget
that we must live under that constitu-
tiop. The safety or a building de-
pends first Of al upon the character
Of the foundation upon which it rests
So in the building of the new state
let us lay the foundation we'll. In
this happily we are assured Of success.
For tile demand is widespread through
out tie state for men of unimpeach-
abie character and good sense. Strong
men. hard working men, who stand 4
square on both feet and have not an
itching palm, men who know the
needs and rights Of the common peo- I
pie and will dare to stand upon that
without fear Of coercion,
OF otherwise. The people
must not forget, you here must not
'orget. that they may have exactly
what they want. The power is In
heir hands. Choose none but the
1est men. Dare to brush aside the
professional politician. If
he voters Of this great state viii rise
ip and do this in the spirit of their
majesty and power, the constitution
Il Oklahoma viii 60 forth through
he nation and down 70 history as the {
.seatest Of al the states in the Amer
can Union. THIS is a goal worth
triVlng for and the great people Of ]