The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-05-02

10 equally democratic on a vote. Up
on two propositions the republicans
we're divided-prohipitlon and the In
itiatiye and referendum. One fac.
tion OF the republican party insisted
On writing prohibition into the con-
stitntion, and another faction insist
ed upon submitting IL TO popular
vote. The democrats were a unit In
demanding that the question be sub
mitted to popular vote. Upon the
initiative and referendum the repub-
licans we're also divided-a small por-
tion favoring IL and majority OF
them hooking upon II as "fad''
not worthy OF serious attention. The
democrats we're solid In favor OF the
plan. AS result the farmers union
strength was thrown largely to the
democratic ticket, for the farmers
are strongly In favor of the initia-
tive and referendum. But Oklahoma
Is democratic state. The knowledge
OF this fact has kept Oklahoma out
Of the union for ten years. 1t was
knowledge OF this fact that forced
joint statehood, for the political
powers that rule at Washington, feel.
Ing that they could no longer keep
Oklahoma out without danger to
themselves. insisted upon Joint state
hood with the Indian territory 10 the
vain hope that the federal ofiicehold-
ers and the political managers could
control enough votes In the Indian
territory to give them control OF the
new state. And 1t was vain hope,
for 10 the election OF convention del.
egates the Indian vote was almost
unanimous for the democratic ticket.
The Indians OF the territory are far
and away ahead OF their brethren
elsewhere In point Of wealth, educa-
ton and fitness for citizenship.
They have had all the experience
they want with men OF the class whit
have been sent to the territory to
look after them--caTpetbaggers whose
interests were not the interests of
their wards.
Sentiment Is somewhat divided
upon the question of the desirability
Of joint statehood, but IL Is evident
that majority are well satisfied
with 1t. While the Indian territory
section Is not nearly so well fitted
for statehood as the Oklahoma Sec
tion, the Indian section abounds In
natural resources that will be OF i'm
mense value to the new state as a
whole-mineral lands and Oil lands
that become the property Of the new
state, and which safeguarded as they
will be under the new consultation,
will become the mainstay OF educa-
tion and the basis of system that
will make the burden of taxation
comparatively light. There will be
no stealing Of the states resources,
no gambling away OF the peoples
rights, no giving into the hands OF a
favored few the resources which are
and OF right ought to be the property
Of all the people.
There are few objections made to
the new constitution, and even these
few are not well founded. The chief
opposition comes from members OF
the party that had but little to dc
with It's making aud Is founded on
partisan bitterness. A few who may
be classed among the fanatics op-
pose it because In fixing the qualifi-
cations for suffrage ''ex-confederate
soldieas" are named before "ex.fed.
eral soldiers" The rest OF the oppo,
sition comes from the carpetbae
regime that realizes the near ap.
proach of Its dissolution, end whose
only hope is the defeat Of the docu
ment. The combined opposition
harp loud and long on the length Of
the constitution and the length Of
time and the expense OF the conven
tion. The constitution is long, but
there is ample reason for 1t. In tn,
first place Ii had more problems II
solve and more things Of importane,
to deal with than any other constitu
tional convention In the history o
the republic. The bill OF rights i
the best ever promulgated. Its pro
visions for the regulation OF railroad
and other corporations are the mos
explicit and the best from the PEG
pies standpoint ever drawn. Tn
safeguards thrown around the peopl
are the most rigid, the most explicit
and the fairest ever promulgated b.
constitutional convention. Their
are upwards of $1,000 words In thi
new constitutiop-which Is about 30,
600 more than the average. But th
excess Is easily explained The pro
vision submitting the question Q
prohibition is a long one. The por
tion fixing the new county bouDdarie
is almost one-third Of the document
and the provisions, full and explicit
providing for the Initiative and refer
endum-tbe first ever fully write
into a state coustitution-take up
large share OF the space. This wi
explain the length OF the INSTRUMENT
Inst and rfobteous things whic