The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-12-19
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Editor Leader. Muth criticism has
spreafed IN the papers about the
great number OF bills that have been
introduced into tEe constitutional con-
vcntiOn. but are proper subjects only
fer tho legislative branch OF govern
ment This criticism is not just for
most of sach bills or measures are
suggestive In their nature and are
aids in the final sitting process which
Is to give us the real thing. I re-
II ember that when one OF the Rocky
mountain state conventions finished
its work and promulgated the con-
stitution. there were more than three
apple barrels fun Of bills that went
into the waste baskets. which were
considered as not coming within the
scope OF constitutional convention,
but strictly belonged to the legisla-
tive branch OF government / have
never for a moment entertained a
doubt that the democratic majority
IN the convention would give the peo.
pie of Oklahoma a fundamental law
that would be a model of perfection,
or that they would fail to redeem
every promise made to the people
when they stood for election.
Theru arc some economic questions
thst viii tax the Judgment OF the
democrats majority to the fullest ex-
tent, but these win be met in a spirit
OF fearlessnoss consonant with their
pledges. There Is bat little differ
ence in psbllc sentiment upon the
question of separate schools for the
negro race, only the political negro
and the white republican politician
demanding tho mixed article
A large number Of the democratic
delegates and ESPECIALLY those from
the Indian Territory. stand pledged
to their constituents for separate
coaches and waiting rooms for ne
grces, and these pledges must and
will ba redeemed II is said that
| there are over $1,000 negro voters IN
| the two territories, and IL the ques
tion Is made constitutional provi
sion this vote win be cast solidly
/ against the constitution. II the
white republican politicians, who hope
TO retain the negro vote, go with tn
negro there win be some reason tc
arprehend Hanger TO the fate of the
i .cnstitutie-, and even II It should
safely pass the gamut there Is an
other gamut at the White House
4 keyed I'D TO sound most any note
that has queerness about Il.
Since, as / understand It, all sepa
rate questions submitted along Will
the constitution, If adopted become
q part OF The constitution, thes
pledges can be Just as fully redeeme
by Submitting IL as q separate propS
| sition without endangering the con
, stituton al either end of the lins
The same can be done with the ques
ton of prohibition. All pledges,
{ any there we're made, can thus b
redeemed and disposed OF without
] the least jeopardizing the constitl
4 ton, and besides, the free and VI
y trammeled will OF the people has a
1 wa5s been the cardinal doctrine
!. the democratic party. | have alway
b opposed prohibition and shall vol
against 1t If il IS submitted as a Sc
4 arate question to a vote of the pc
pie, but I do not believe 1t a wiz
4 thing to engraft 1t upon the consl
y tuition.
a AS to woman suffrage. without G
- expressing an opinion Tor or AGAIN.
Z. the question per sc, II should not, an
81 / believe will nOC, be seriously co
= sidered by the convention, and WI
= not? Let as see Experience hs
3 shown that whenever wcman suffral
3 has been adopted by the states,
3 very small minority OF the viii
q women avail themselves Of the elS
G tive franchise. II it be true tn
y there are now $4,000 negro voters
the two territories, the adoption
81 woman suffrage would increase tn
" vote to over 100000 in the state
y Oklahoma. Thus Il will be seen tn
Y while only small minority OF q
G white women would vote, the neg
women would rush to the polls In so
y colgmn like flock of sheep, folio
g ing the bell-weiher over the fen'
z SO you see that if these premises d
= correct, woman suffrage in the sta
" 4 of Oklahoma la not desirable lust y