Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-27
That Oklahoma Constitution.

very sharp raps from all sides, though
it is to be admitted that very few OF
its critics. or defenders either, for that
matter. have read it. A leading
ground for criticism however Is one
that does not depend upon a reading
of the document The fact that the
document fills 70 closely printed
quarto pages, making it dozen times
as long as the constitution OF the
| United States and twenty times as
long as the constitution of some OF the
states, is enough in itself to condemn
/ IL without reading. 1t does not seem
to be a constitution in the usuai SENSE
| of the term. but a code of laws on all
conceivable subjects loosely strung
together. and making, it certain that
anv state trying to do business under
II would promptly and continuously be
in very hot water. AS a majority of
| the members of the convention winch
framed il were Democrats-or, at
least wild-eyed and long-haired
cranks calling themselves by that
| party pame-the Democratic press OF
| the country has felt obliged to rush the
| defense of the document which Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Attorney General
'Ronap arte and others high in admins
tration circles have criticized as an
absurdity and an impossibility. The
Oklahoma convention will be as
sembled again and it's members will
struggle with the task of shaping the
constitution anew in accord with 16
specific objections embodied in a letter
recently addressed by Attorney
General Bonaparte to the leaders of
the new assembly. The list of objec-
tions. drawn with legal crispness. lays
bare the parts that might be con-
sidered to be in conflict with the
shorter and less pretentious federal
constitution, which. Oklahoma patriots
avow. it beats:
First-To article II. section TO-.
IIldl lIlC WIZ IA AAstoNe~'
corpus shall never be suspended.
Second-To article II, section %. re-
quiring conviction by Il jury before
punishment for contempt of court, and
also requiring the legislature to define
contempts and regulate all procedure
in relation thereto.
Third-To article II, section 81.
allowing the state ito engage in any
occupation or business under the
limitations therein set forth.
Fourth-To article III. section 2. al
lowing The legislature to make addi-
tional limitations on the right of suf-
frage" and to add additional disabili
ties thereto"
F'ifth-TO article III, section 3. cX-
,cluding from the suffrage any "Officer,
soldier. or marine of the regular army
or navy of the United States"
Sixth-To article v. sections 1 to 8.
inclusive, insofar as these sections
provide in matters of constitutional
amendment and general and local
legislation for the procedure known as
the initiative and referendum"
Seventh-TO article V, sections II to
Is. inclusive, insofar as the same pro-
vide for an apportionment of senator's
and representatives, alleged to involve
great and arbitrary inequality of
representation in the legislature and
consequently the like inequality of
political rights among voters.
Eighth-To article VI, section 5, pro-
viding that the speaker of the house Of
representatives shall open and pub
fish" the returns of every election for
all elective officers. This provision is
described as substantially the Geobel
election law
Ninth-To article TX, generally. in
that it is alleged. in substance, to con-
stitute class legislation and to deny
certain categories of citizens of the
United States the equal protection OF
the laws.
Tenth-To article TX, section Al. cx-
pressly allowing discrimination by the
legislature against foreign corpora
lions.
Eleventh-To article TX. section As,
Furnishing a foreign corporation for re-
moving suit brought by or against 1t
to federal court.
Twelfth-TO article X, section 3,
providing that the levy for the sup
port of the common schools shall not
exceed 6 mills on the dollar annually,
unless by a three-fifths vote at
popular election further levy of not
more than mills shall be authorized
in any school district.
Thirteenth-To article X, section %.
permitting the classification Of
property for purposes of taxation"
and the employment of different
methods of valuation for different
classes.
Fourteenth-To article XIII. section
3, requiring the legislature to provide
separate schools for white and colOrcd
children without regard to the number
of the latter or any other material
circumstances.
Fifteenth-To article XVII, section s,
dividing the proposed state into coun-
ties, the configuration of certain
among the latter being alleged to be
arbitrary and irregular. with some of
the same effects complained Of regard
ing article ". sections II to Is. inclu-
sive. A further objection is made to
this division as beyond the powers of