Las Vegas daily optic., 1907-02-16

Tie tollowing Interesting review
o. the preseas situation In Oklahoma
10 from the PEA Of Charles Il Has
geF and appears tn the Abilene Ca
astte:
The constitutional conVentioa
shieh has been In session for sev.
eEai weeks at Guthrie. preparing the
constitution 10 he submitted 90 vot
sTs a the new state of Oklahoma
10 nearing the end % tts labors. The
formulation of organic Law for The
oommonwealth-tobe. even i'm the
light % all the nations history oi
experiment has been no Iigh, task.
The convection In peculiar In that
II ID Overwhelmingly democratic. On
ly twelve republicans to 100 demo
Gratis sitting as delegtes. Several
Indians are members The youth.
eTn democratic domination has been
absolute In the management of the
proceedings. Il is even planned to
call one Of the counties of the state
Tilifnan, which is a very good indi.
cation 0f the sympatbies Of a ma
torsty Of the delegates.
However. there are many strong
fnen among them and they will en
deaYor 10 make the new state a vel,
governed one 1t Is likely that thu
large negro population win be KEEP
thoroughly In hand as 20 politics
while the Indian 10 not seriously con
sidered as a political factor Some
Of the early proceedings bear evi
denoed of a state rights senttmen
that may easily be carried too far
A determined effort Is being mad
to write prohibition In the constitu
'ion and It's advocates have stronI
ally In the enabling act which pro
hlbits llquorselIing In the IndIaI
Territory for twenty-one years. |
would be a strange anomaly 10 hav
a state half prohibition and halS Il
cense. The expenses OF the conver
tion are running far In excess Of tn
appropriate and congress will In"
n provide for the deficiency.
1t Is predicted by many tn; th
constitution win be rejected by H.
voters when submitted. bat tbs
unlikely. 1kiAhcna h too aLxi,G
for statehood Its growing impor
ance In agriculture certainly entitle
1t 10 the position. Estimates fror
the agricultural department plac
the value OF Its farm products
1906 at s75.oo0,0 ,0OOo II raised l25
0o0.00 bushels OF corn. 100000 bale
of cotton and 27.0O0.0oo bushels {
wheat. The population Is estimate
at close to 100000. including bot
ends OF the new state. enough I
make a very respectable common
wealth of much greater age tha
seventeen years from the sod.
Oklahoma Is going to be a We
come and most creditable mambe
~ AA ~tu - Gfa Vi
have faith that Its constitution wi
include much of the best wisdoi
gained by other commonwealths.
win certainly be a serious error
those trusted with framing the in
portant document fai! to grasp tn
great opportunity given them for eI
tabiishing the state Upon basil
approaching the ideal of modern pt
litical economy. While congress |
the enabling act has provided tina
there shall be no distinction In civ
or political rights ON account {
race or color and that the constit,
ton shall provide that suffrage sha
never be abridged for such reason
the influence Of the pronounce
southern feeling will lead to a clos
construction.
The president has, however. tn
right OF review before issuing hi
proclamation and the leaders of tn
convention will scarcely imperil th'
chances of adoption and approval b!