The Washington herald., 1906-12-05
RACE ISSUE POSSIBLE
0klahOma'S State COnstitu-
tiOn May Bring 1t Up.
INCLUDE jim CROW FEATURES
COntended by Some Authorities that
If These Provisions Are Objection
able to President, He May Refuse
to Issue Proclamation, and Con-
greSs May Institute Inquiry.

Oklahoma's admission as a State, un-
der the Constitution, which now seems
assured, WILL in the opinion of some mem
bers Of Congress who have kept them
selves informed, preeipitate the race
question as an issue in American poll
tics.
It is certain that the Oklahoma Con-
stitutiOn VIII incorporate as part Of
the organic law of the Commonwealth
much legislation that the Southern
States have accomplished through the en-
actments Of their legislatures The
Democrats swept everything before thera
in the election for delegates to tire State
constitutional convention, and in both
Oklahoma and Indian Territory the Dem
ocratic candidates announced their inten-
ticn Of supporting such articles in the
constitution of the new State as guar
anteed separate schools for the TWO races.
separate waiting-rooms at railroad sta
uCEs. and separate coaches for railroad
trains. In general, the Democratic cam
paign was for a white mans State, and
on this issue thousands of Republicans
supported the Democratic candidates.
The enabling act for Oklahoma makes
it the duty Of the President, within
twenty days after the certificate Of the
result of the election for the purpose Of
ratifying the constitution is received. to
announce the result by proclamation
and thereupon," the act says, "the pro-
posed State Of Oklahoma shall be deemed
admitted by Congress into the Union
under and by virtue OF the act on an
equal footing with other States"
This language of the enabling act. IN
the opinion Of some members Of Con-
gress, would compel the President to
issue his proclamation. Others contend
that If the constitution of the proposed
State violated the amendments to the
Federal Constitution intended 10 estab-
hsh equality of the races before the law
II would be in the province Of the EX-
ecutive TO refuse 10 issue his procIoma-
ton, or of Congress 10 make inquiry.
Missouri was kept out of the Union for
fifteen months. said Representative
Champ Clark, Of that state. yesterday,
because its constitution was not accept
able TO Congress. The State officers had
been elected and two United States Sen
ators had been chosen for more than a
year before the State was finally admit
ted.
The constitution adopted prohibited
free negroes and muiattOeS from settling in
the State. The election was held in Au-
gust, 1870 When the constitution was re-
ported TO Congress the aboiitionists broke
forth and the slave question was once
more dominant in the discussion Of the
admission of the State. Finally. Henry
Clay perpetrated the most farc!cal legisla-
tive proposition ever discussed in the
American Congress in an effort 20 solve
the muddle II was a joint resolution
recognizing the new State and its officers.
provided the legislature should. by sol
emn ordinance. declare il would not en-
force the provisions OF its constitution in
regard to the admission Of free negroes.
Democrats say that if the race question
IS made an issue their party will profit
by it. Republicans, as a rule, do not
wish to see the matter brought up. That
is the reason why such measures as the
bills Of Representatives Keifer. Crum-
packer, and others. providing for the re-
duction of the representatives In Congress
Of those States which have dIsfranchised
the negro have been kept in the back
ground by the leaders.