The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-30
THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION.

Inc OkIanOma constitution tinker
ers are climbing down rapidly from the
perch upon which they placed them
selves. By virtue of the assistance of
the Prohibitionists the Democrats were
given control in the Constitutional
Convention which was not at all war
ranted by their numerical strength in
the prospective State. and they tried to
make this ascendency iron-clad and
perpetual by the extraordinary step of
ENGRAVING into the Constitution the
most outrageous gerrymander known
to American politics. They simply
overreached themselves and that fla
GRAVITY. as fortunately bad, designing
men are constantly likely to do. The
Constitution and its gerrymander were
so unfair and repugnant that the peo-
pie of the State would not stand for
them. and something radical and
speedy had to be done. The law pro-
vided that after engrossment the Con-
stitution should be sent to the Terrific
rial Secretary of State for record and
the Governor of the Territory should
then issue a proclamation for an cleo
ton. The Territorial Secretary of
State has not found it convenient to
record the Constitution and in the
meanwhile there has been a flood of
injunctions and other measures to de-
feat the adoption of the Constitution.
The situation has become so threaten
ing that the Democratic leaders have
held q conference and decided to come
on to Washington for a conference with
the President. They have planned to
admit that the Constitution is objec-
tionable in many respects, but that if
he will indicate those features to which
he is opposed the Convention will be
called together again and the Consti-
tuition amended in those particulars
They fear, and very rightly, that if the
adoption of the Constitution Is delayed
beyond the time of the meeting of Con-
gress that that body will take the mat.
ter in hand. refuse Statehood and pass
another law. which will compel another
constitutional Convention to be elected
which the Democrats will not control as
absolutely as they did the previous one
1t is a grave question whether the
present Constitution ought not to be
thrown overheard entirely and a new
beginning made. 1t will be a useful les
son Ia the country to do SO. Oklahoma
will not suffer materially by being kept
out Of Statehood for a year or so, while
the gain to public morality will be great
If The National Tribune were Presi
dent it would insist upon the Constitu.
ton of Oklahoma being blue pencile6
down to the last limit. Probably tho
less Constitution that a State has the
better. since experience seems to indi
cate it to be preferable that the people
and the Legislature be allowed the
largest liberty in dealing with question.
as they come up from time to time
Under our form Of Government a Leg
| stature is in the highest degree respon
sive tc the wishes of the people ant
this responsibility checks and sober
men. Constitutional limitations fire.
quently do more harm than good. II
4 Great Britain, which Is an admira bl.
iinstanct. of a successful Government o
the highest order, there is no writer
Constitution. The British Constitution
I is wholly in the ideas of men as {,
wha. the Government should be at an,
given time, and every time Parliamen
lpasses and act it amends the Constitu
4 ton. If Oklahoma should be above,
TO come in with the merest skeleton o
LA Constitution the Legislature could b
trusted TO do what was right and prop
Ier for the State. If 1t made mistake
one year the people could insist upol
these being corrected at the next ses
sion and the State would get along a
well as under the most carefully writ
ten Constitution with all its check
and guards. 1t is far from unpleasant
to sec the reckoning which has so swift
lily overtaken men who have planned L
lunscrupulously and arrOgantly lock VI
laIl the power of the State in the han
tof little partisan clique representing
but snail portion of the people.