The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-06-04

StltutiOuS tndt create railroad OF
corporation commission. There may
be one or two others. but in practi-
cally an the other states the power
is simply given to the legislature to
create such commission, and the
commission is created by the legis-
laturr. ln Texas the railroad commits
sion is created by the legislature ana
the !, legislature of Texas has the power
absolutely TO repeal the act creating
the state railroad commission ana
destroy that commission, ana
In Texas they don't have tne
Initiative and referendum. Rail
road attorneys and the representa-
tiyes of the great corporations urg-
ed before the committees in the con
stitutional convention in public hear
ings that such provisions as are
contained in sections Is to 36 re-
lating To public service corporations
legislative and should have no part
in the constitution, but should
left to the Legislature. But here In
this great state Is 1t to be said that
the people can't be trusted to elect
"A legislature just as they We're trusted
to elect delegates To the cOnstitu-
tioRal convention, when at the same
time we have within our constitution
the initiative and referendum by
which. if the legislature were to seek
70 amend these provisions in man
ner that would be unsatisfactory 20
;he people. then by the referendum
feature such act of the legislature
.uud be suspended and could never
become effective until ratified by a
majority vote of the people. The
history of the past shows that ire
yuhaple ordinances, and laws or or
diuance and laws that are difficult
10 cnange are the ones that cOrpor-
ations oft.times hide behind, after
having had such ordinances or laws
construed so as TO suit their greedy
corporate purposes. when the rate
bill was before congress. such SEN
ators as Foraker, Aldrich, Knox,
Spoonor and others that are fire.
quently denomnated as railroad SEN
ators. urged that the rate bin pro-
visions were unconstitutional, and
/ these provisions that are difficult 10
change when construed by courts
that are hostile to the people, and
when construed in such n way as to
cmasculate them, as have said,
when they are difficult to amend,
under such circumstances reforms
are frequently indefinitely postpon-
ed. when If amendment was made
easy. with the proper safeguards, as
we have with the initiative and ref
erendum the rights of the people are
preserved and corporate greed is
at the same time shackled and re-
strained.
The constitution is before the peo'
pie. It is proper subject fol criti'
cism. As one of the humble membe RI
that helped frame 1t. never did
believe. nor do | believe now, that
we were capable OF making an in
strument that was perfect However
| appreciate criticism that comes
from Democrats in a friendly way
and not at time when that criti'
cism might be used to further the
selfish ambition of some man. | note
William J. Bryan has commented on
this constitution and approved the
same without any criticism. note fur
ther, that the New York American
paper owned and controlled by
William II. Hearst, whose life WORK
has been friendly to that of union
labor and the struggling masses
has commented on this constitution
and declared It good.
My conscience and judgment tells
me It Is not proper to have even tE'
two joint discussions at Durant anc
T'shomingo, but as stated, | was
willing TO give you the opportunitl
: OF making any charges you had e
make but | wanted you to make
them among the people who know
us both best.
dislike to get into public prin
, with reference to a judicial position
but as you saw proper to give you
letter to the press Just after It wa:
written and before II reached me,
shall take the same liberty. and giv'
. a copy of this reply to the press
p beg to remain,
Yours very truly
. r. L. WILLIAMS.