The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-09-05

Roosevelt would reject the constitu-
tion or not-although he is Roosevelt's
candidate for president. How could
he tell what congress will do, when
one branch is presided over by Fair
banks and the other by Joe Cannon,
both OF whom are fighting Taft for the
presidency.
Taft told you, you ought to reject
the constitution because .iO needed
amendment, and Mr. Bryan wondered
If Taft did not know that the Federal
Constitution had needed many amend
ments, and needed them so bad that
ten OF them were made the first year
after its adoption. BE called atten-
tion to the fact that our forefathers
then said that while their proposed
constitution was not perfect that
they would adopt it, obtain self-goVer-
ment, and then make such amend
ments as were needed. That they
could afford to risk the chances of
amending document that requires
first two-thirds Of both houses to pre-
pose, and three-fourths majority of
all the states to adopt; surely you can
take chances for amendment when
fifteen per cent Of the voters can pre-
pose and bare majority can adopt
at any time. Surely the republicans
ought to flatter themselves that they
have as much as fifteen per cent of
the voters Of the New State. He then
asked what state In the union had
shown such willingness to trust its
affairs in the hands of the people.
Mentioning Taft's opposition to the
initiative and referendum, he said
he was anxiously waiting to see what
kind Of rebuke Taft would admins
ter to the republicans of South Dakota,
Montana and Oregon, where they
have put it in force. He further said
uiiat In Taft's own Ohio legislature
the Senate has already passed it and
the House was pledged and he won
dered why, when the Secretary didn't
have influence enough to stop it in
his own state why he would think he
had enough to stop it In Oklahoma
In regard to the gerrymander Mr..
Bryan wondered that Taft did not go |
TO Rhode Island and Connecticut |
where they district according TO area
and a country district frequently has
as much Voice as one containing city
of FIVE thousand. In the eliniunction |
clause, he said you only ask that an
honest working man be given the
same chance, guaranteed to the
lowest-down thief in the land, the
right of trial by jury
AS to Taft's objection that you did
not permit railroads to consolidate,
he said if you ever want to amend
that he would guarantee you would |
have the help Of all the railroads, -
the most potent factor in American |
politics. In conclusion he predicted |
that Secretary Taft would find out
that the question foremost in the
minds of the people in regard to the
constitution, was not whether it suit
ed Taft, but whether it suited them.
Believing as he did that in writing it
we had done more to protect the peo
pie from predatory wealth than had
ever been done before. Mr.. Bryan
hoped we would not only adopt it, but
that we would follow Taft's Colum-
bus advice on the tariff and elect Has
kelI $50 that it might be amended by
its friends and not by its enemies.
At the conclusion of his speech Mr..
Bryan left for Tulsa, where he will
speak this afternoon and tonight.
He will fill an appointment at Okla
homa City tomorrow.