The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-16
public of this city. 1t is thought he
can live but few days at the most.
INAUGURATION CEREMONIES.
Installation of New Government Fol
lowed by Parade and Barbecue.

Installation of New Government Fol-
lowed by Parade and Barbecue.
Guthrie, Ok, Nov. 16.-With impress
sive ceremonies BETTING the birth of the
new state of Oklahoma, the oaths of Of
flee were administered to Governor
Charles N. Haskell and other state Of
f1cials few minutes before noon today.
The executive oath was administered
by Leslie G. Niblack, newspaper man.
The ceremonies took place on the steps
of the Carnegie library, there being no
state building here.
Following prayer by a clergyman, the
proclamation of President Roosevelt,
admitting Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory into the Union was read by Chas.
Filson, secretary of Oklahoma territory.
The text of the order, that was tele-
graphed from Washington, a short time
before the Inauguration was brief and
closed as follows:
Il, Theodore Roosevelt, president of
the United States of America, in ac-
cordance with the enabling act of con-
gress and by authority thereof, an
nounce the result of the election to be
as certified and do hereby declare and
proclaim that the terms and conditions
prescribed by congress to entitle the
state of Oklahoma to admission into the
Union on an equal footing with the or
iginal 13 states are now accomplished"
A band of Cherokee Indian boys then
played THE Star Spangled Banner"
Haskell Sworn In.
Governor Haskell walked forward to
the center of the platform where he was
met by Mr.. Niblack and took the for
NAL oath with uplifted hand. Turning
to the crowd that closed in from every
direction Governor Haskell delivered the
inaugural address. He said:
I'm its course through the day the
sun will have lighted the pathway of a
the disorder and discomfort of bureau
cratic government, restricted to the
point of helpleSSness and neglected to
the limit of oppression, into a condition
of liberty and self-government We are
not assembled here to worship the pub
lie officers who ultimately conceded US
our rights, particularly when we reflect
that long ago, from every standpoint of
population, wealth and intelligence, this
era was entitled to all the blessings
and privileges of statehood and now to
thank the public officers in over
gracious term who have finally per-
formed long and unjustly deferred
duty would be in the nature of hugging
the feet of dilatory debtor who finally
pays his just Indebtedness"
, Governor Haskell discussed the rela-
lions between the state and federal
governments, and continued:
1T is with regret that we notice a
disposition on the part of some
high in authority to look upon the con-
stitution of the United States itself as
even a little thing, to be used when it
meets the wish of its executor and to
be construed and Bonded when at var
lance with his will. There is no more
dangerous practice to be tolerated in
any public officer, 1 care not whether
he bend it for good purpose or for a
bad purpose, than to assume the right
to construe the constitution from time
to time to meet his own desires. Those
anxious to centraliZe power in the fed
eral government must blush when they
review the conditions under which we
N,,r- irr1,k ,A~er
are double those in the adjoining states
The lumber trust, the coal trust and
other like combinations have fattened
by unrestricted robbery of our people.
If federal control is such a good thing
in a state, why has it proven so utterly
inefficient in a territory?"
Financial Situation.
Governor Haskell dwelt at length on |
what he termed the oppression of the |
country by the trusts and then discuss |
ed the financial situation, saying:
You can look for immediate relief |
wherever you please. When you tire of |
looking elsewhere, you will agree with !
me that the quickest road to financial |
relief is to close the New York stock |
exchange and free the currency that l. |
dominates and turn it into the channels |
of legitimate commerce. Let the east |
ern banks pay our Oklahoma banks |
what they owe them and should pay in |
currency on demand and we can marke' |
our products now ready Tor the buyer /
and vastly increase our own wealth.
Governor Haskell promised fair treat
nent of the railroads.
But" he added, II hope that the
railroads will assume that official con-.
1uct in Oklahoma is like unto a court |
Of equity where justice is to be melted |
out to all and that these railroads ex-
pecting justice in that court of equity |
should enter that court with their own
hands clean, and to make them clean 1
trust they will begin by obeying the |
avs of Oklahoma"
When he had finished the governor
CONTINUED on Page Fourteen.) !