The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-03-01
LEDBETTER ON jim CROW
A LOGICAL ARGUMENT

the Civil Rights cases that great
tribunal decided that congress had
no Jurisdiction over matters of the
kind. The entire subject is beyond
the reach and control of congress
and the president. by what authority
could the president on discovering
in our constitution n provision for
separation of the races withhold the
proclamation necessary to admit the
state? Every suggestion that he
would do so involves the charge that
he would violate his oath of office
and usurp a power that belongs en-.
tirely to the states.
l cannot believe that he would do
such thing
/ know it is true that fifteen or
twenty democratic senators of the
United States and perhaps as many
Neurological Record.
members Of congress have advised
members Of this convention that 1t
would be unsafe to incorporate the
provision in the constitution, and
our friends In Washington, all their
communications and advice will not
deter me for voting for provision
which, under the constitution of the
United States and the decision of the
United States supreme court, we
have the right to put into our state
constitution.
1t Is important that the policy of
the state ON this subject be settled
for all time, and 1t is equally i'm
portant that we, In making the con
stitution for this great common
wealth, shall assert for the citizens
of the state the same rights which
other states may exercise. There can
be no such thing as an unequal state
In the federal union. They are all
necessarily equal, and whatever
mississippi Georgia or Texas may
do on the subject the state of Okla
homa may do also.
| may be more sensitive on the
subject of party pledges than other
members of the convention, but when
told the people of my district that
would vote for separate coaches
and waiting rooms | assumed an OBJ
legation which | am unwilling to dis
regard. would vote as | have to-
day If every member of the conyen.
tion. out of what | believe to be an
unnecessary fright, should vote
against the proposition. A party
pledge is binding on me. The people
have the right to expect the men
they elect to office to keep their par
ty pledges, and 1t will always be a
consolation to me to know that on ev.
cry proposition that has come be-
fore the convention have redeem
ed the promises | made to democrats
who elected me.
That our wives and daughters
should be compelled to occupy the
same railroad coaches and waiting
rooms with negroes is insufferable.
The safety for society requires the
complete separation of the races. We
owe no higher duty to the people of
the state. The question is a vital one.
The business and prosperity of the
state depend upon II. You may call
1t prejudice. or racial instinct, or
what you will, no white man will ev-
er he willing to associate on terms
of quality with IA negro.
/ repeat have no criticism Tor
the delegates who have voted to pass
this question up to the legislature
They believe they have voted on the
side of safety. They have been con
WINGED that the president will turn
down our constitution If 1t provides
for separate coaches and waiting
rooms, but | cannot agree with them
II know from my daily association
with them that they have acted con
sciontiously, but believe il would
have been infinitely better for the
democratic party and for the state
of Oklahoma If the delegates had re
flected the will of the people and
settled for all time the policy OF
/ the state on this subject by insert.
ing that provision In the constitu
tion rather than leave it to the leg
tslature. OF cours eour legislatpre
will have the power 10 make ample
provision on this subject. and | have
no doubt that in the approaching
state election the issue will be made
and that the people will elect n leg
islaiure which will meet their de,
sires on this question. But prom
ised my people that would vote tc
! put into the constitution this pro
vision, and that promise | shall faith
fully keep.