The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-09-26
PROHIBITION PEOPLE TO WAGE
ACTIVE FIGHT FOR OKLAHOMA.
NON PARTISAN ISSUE
temperance Workers Of the United
States TO Join IN movemen. for
the Adoption Of the consti.
tuition.


or idle would be a failure on the pat.
OF the temperance workers to proper.
ly protect the interests Of the prohi
bition clause. +. C. Dinwiddie. super
intendent OF the anti-saloon league
has issue a circular asking the TEN.
peranCe workers of the United States
TO join in movement to prevail on
President Roosevelt to accept the
constitution and proclaim Oklahoma
a state. Mr.. Dinwidde's statement
follows:
Now that the constitution has
been adopted by the people and pro
hibition carried what will be the atti
tude Of the prohibition forces toward
the fight which is being made to pre-
yeat the acceptance Of the constitu.
tion by the PRESIDENT" was asked o;
Superintendent l.. C. Dinwiddie. who
managed the statewide prohibition
campaign in Oklahoma
up to this dag we have absolutely
KEEP aloof from the partisan issues
in the past campaign" he replied
We had great many good friends
Of prohibition. republicans as we'll as
democrats. who urged us as soon as
the constitution and election ordin.
ance were framed, to fight for the
aA af
weighty argument was advanced In
support of this policy. They conten-
ded that the prohibition provision
would fail If the constitution was de.
feated.
AT that time the issue was parti
san and we refused, on the ground
that the constitution was sure TO be
adopted. so great was the desire for
statehood, and even II II failed anC
prohibition should carry, we would
get a statewide. instead of only an
indian Territory and reservation pro
vision in the next enabling act.
THE Tulsa republican convention
came on and they failed to make the
rejection of the constitution a party
question. Under these circumstances
we were not called upon to make a
titude. as every informed man in the
two territories knew that the consti
tuition was certain of adoption. Even
some republican candidates on the
state ticket stated that they would
not oppose its adoption themselves,
but urged the people to do so.
THE saloon men throughout Okla.
homa opposed the constitution as
means of preventing prohibition. and
have information which makes me
morally certain that the brewers and
liquor element have now Joined fore
es with these elements in the repub.
lican party which have pecuniary or
other personal reasons for opposing
statehood.
II am now thoroughly convinced
that 10 remain longer Indifferent or
idle on this proposition would be con.
strued as a failure on our part TO
protect the interests OF the prohibi.
tion clause, which triumphed on
Tuesday by 10000 majority.
Besides this, It is no longer a par.
ty quesuon-p1actically tIll of the
democrats and almost half OF the re.
publicans supported the constitution
at the polls. 1t is a question of state.
hood. OF simple justice to a million
and half of people who want, and
by all the tokens deserve the boon OF
self.government.
The liquor men who have been de.
feated In a fair fight by the people
at the polls are now resortlng 10 this
method OF staying off or even defeat.
ing the prohibition by an appeal to
the president to refuse to accept the
constitution and proclaim statehood
They may not get out in the open,
but the cloyen hoof is none the less
apparent, | believe the rights OF the
people OF Oklahoma, backed by the
best citizens OF the state. and by the
moral and Christian forces as they
VIII be. will. weigh more with the
president that the disgruntled llauor
forces and selfish politician schemers
who are fightin gagainst the peoples
rule.
1T Is not question of men. The
issue OF an honest election and the
question as to who iselected TO the
various offices In greater Oklahoma
can be settled in the courts. II Is
above all question as to whether
the people of this state shall be Ion.
ger prevented from exercising the
rights Of self-government, to which