The National tribune., 1907-04-04
THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION.

THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION.
There is a rapid fire from all quarters
upon the Oklahoma Constitutional Con-
vention and its work. In this Is sharp
criticism of the character of the dele
sent to represent them "chin whiSkers
for honesty windy little lawyers for
there to direct manipulation These
went to the convention with the inten-
it, in which they were disappointed. as
they met there some very intelligent
East and had also paid much atten-
ton 10 politics of the higher grade.
material representing the whites, and
from first to last dominated the con-
President. and everywhere the Indians
were in control. AS to the Constitution
which was formulated after months of
fiatulent nratory. the Guthrie State Cap
itaI denounces the foolhardy ultraism.
the logged sectionalism, the beastly par
tSanism'' that characterizeS it. Other
papers in the State denounce it less
scathingly. but believe that the desire
for Statehood is so great that the peo-
pie will overlook its manifest imper-
fections The Constitution will come
before the people for adoption Aug. s,
and as it is estimated there are about
100 Democrats to every Il Republicans,
its chances for adoption are believed by
many to be quite good.
The main provisions of the Constitu-
ton are thus summarized:
THE initiative and referendum; di-
rect nomination of all officers by the
people: prohibition of succession in
State Offices; prohibition of the sale or
Introduction of liquor into the State:
2-cent railroad fare; partial woman
suffrage: prohibition of ownership in
any productive agency of natural
commodity by railroad; prohibiting
corporations from owning more land
than is absolutely necessary in the Op-
Grafton of their business; prohibiting
corporations from dealing in real estate
outside of incorporated cities: prOhib-
iting the issuance of watered stock,
and requiring the books of all corpora
tons TO be open for inspection at all
times; provision for the State owner
ship of the segregated mineral lands in
Indian Territory; a compulsory and
separate school system; commissions to
deal with charities, labor and arbitra-
ton. insurance. railroads. agriculture,
gas, coal. oil, and mines; defining the
term negro: prohibiting the marriage
of negros with whites; and finally, pro-
viding that the Constitution may be
amended by majority vote"
This brief resume does not present
anything that strikes the average read
er as particularly repugnant. The
initiative and referendum has to be
tried somewhere before people will be
satisfied, and Oklahoma is as good a
State as any TO try it on.
The direct nomination of all officers
is an experiment that can only be de-
termined by its practical workings,
which, however. we are sure will bring
about AS many objections as the present
method.
Prohibition of the sale or introduce
ton of liquor is another experiment for
practical trial.
The two-cent railroad fare would
seem decidedly early for a community
which is in the market to have railroads
built and should give them all encour-
agement.
The prohibitions upon railroads and
other corporations are not prima facie
wholly Objectionable, and the require
ment that the books of all corporations
should be open for inspection is in line
with the thought of today.
Ownership by the State of mineral
lands is another experiment which may
as well be tried.
The final clause providing for the
amendment Of the Constitution at any
time by majority vote seems quite
comicai. What is the use of framing
Constitution which has no permanent
binding force, but can be amended at
any election? Why not turn everything
over to the Legislature at once? This
facility of change reconciles us to the
incongruities and empiricisms in the
document. In other States 1t has been
a matter of great difficulty to amend
the Constitution, even where the pro-
visions have proved to be ill-judged
and onerous. but no great harm can
come if the Constitution is made much
more responsive to the wishes of the
people even than the Legislature. and
at any election an Objectionable provi-
sion may be annuIled and another one
substituted.
We therefore look upon the adoption
of the Constitution and the admission of
Oklahoma as a State with much COM
placency.
RECRUIT THE &. A. II.
Everyone should make II his business
to bring at least one recruit into the