The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-17
GOVERNOR HASKELL MAKES
 A VEHEMENT ADDRESS
Proclamation Making Oklahoma State Is Signed By the President at the White House With
 No Ceremony.

 mission of Oklahoma to statehood today was marked by jubilation throughout the two territories, by the installation of Gov ernor Haskell and by parade and bar beeue in Guthrie.
 Governor Haskel's address was yehe- ment. . He denounced the combina- tions that have fattened by unrestricted robbery of our people," declared in favor of prison sentences for offending corpora ton officers and announced that the liquor prohibition law would be rigidly enforced.
 The governors first official act was to order the county attorney at Bartletts- vile to take steps to prevent the Standard oil company from completing q natural gas pipe line across the border to kau- sas, it being the policy of Oklahoma to prevent the exportation of gas.
 There being a legal question to the hour when prohibition took effect, whether at noon or midnight, Governor Haskell ordered that saloons be permitted to re- main open until midnight.
 Retiring officers of Oklahoma territory took no part in today's ceremony.
 Proclamation Read.
 Following prayer b, q clergyman, the proclamation of President Roosevelt. ad- hitting Oklahoma and Indian Territory into the union was read by Charles F'il- son secretary Of eilxlahoma territory. Tho text of the order, which was tele- graphed from Washington q short time before the inauguration was brief and closed as follows:
 T. Theodore Roosevelt. Pres the United States of America iu anee with the enabling act of and by authority thereof. annol result of the election to be as and do hereby deelare and procla the terms and conditions preser Gongreas to entitle the state of ma admission into the union on d footing with the original 13 states are accomplished"
 A band of Cherokee Indian boys then played "The Star spangled Banner" Governor Haskell walked forward to the center of the platform where he was met by MT. Niblack and took the formal oath with uplfted hand. Turning to the crowd that closed in from every dl- rection. Governor Haskell delivered the inaugural address. He said:
 HaskeIls Address.
 Tn it's course through the f-- .t~ sun will have lighted the pa' million and a half people eme the disorder and the dsconteu' cratic government. restricted of helplessness and neglected of oppression, into a state self government. We are no here to worship the official ns our rights, particularly when we re- fleet that long ago. from every standpoint of population. wealth and intelligence. this territory was entitled to all the bless ings and privileges of statehood; and now to thank the public officers in ever gracious terms who have finally per formed long and unjustly deferred duty would be in the nature Of hugging the feet of a dilatpry debtor who finally pays his Just indebtedness.
 Governor Haskell discussed the differ enees between state and national govern ment, and continued:
 Tt is with regt that we notice 2 disposition on the part of some high au- thority to look upon the constitution or the United States itself as even a little thing, to be used when it meets the wish of it's executor and to be construed and pended when at variance. There is no more dangerous p1actice to be tolerated in any public officer, l care not whether he had it for a good purpose or for a bad purpose, than to assume the right to construe the constitution from time tos time to meet his own desires.
 Centralized Power.
 Those anxious to eentralize power in the federal government must blush when they review the conditions under which we have lived for years. Our freight rates are double those of the adjoining states. The lumber trust. the coal trust and other like combinations have fat tened by unrestricted robbery of our people.
 If federal control is such good thing in a state why has 1t proven so utterly inefficient in territory"
 Governor Haskell dwelt at length upon what lie termed the oppression Of the country by the trusts and then discussed the financial situation, saying:
 You can look for immediate relief wherever you please. When you tire of looking everywhere 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 Il dominates and turn 1t into the channels Of legitimate commerce.
 Let the eastern banks pay our Okla homa banks what they owe them and should pay in currency on demand, and we can market our produce now ready for the buyer and vastly increase our own wealth"
 Governor Haskell promised fair treat ment of tue railroads.
 But" heIadded. "I hope that the rail roads wiIl assume that official conduct In Oklahoma is like unto court of equity where justice Is to be meted out to all and these railroads expecting justice In that court of equity should CT ths.