New-York tribune., 1907-08-26
CRAZY QUILT DOCUMENT
Constitution of Oklahoma So Inter
lined None Can Identify 1t.


the actual constitution as drawn up in the last ten
months for the proposed State of Oklahoma In
truth il is impossible 10 identify 1t, because OF us
numerous interlineations. erasures and changes IN
handwriting. all probability the document, the
original official. parchment could not be un-
raveiled in the courts by the most thorough OF
handwriting experts.
Page 80 OF this official parchment copy-which is
on file in the office the territorial Secretary.
Charles II. Fflson-is a fair sample of the entire
work 1t contains interlineations, three of
which are in different handwritings and all of the
three different from the body of the instrument,
and entire lines and several parts of lines
marked out by straight lines being drawn through
them. At least dozen other pages OF the docu-
ment present a similar appearance. Page 90 deals
with foreign corporations. clause of the constitu-
ton that covers page after page OF the document
and contains all the Texas constitution provisions
and state statutes this question.
Even the body of the constitution is not in the
same handwriting throughout but Transcribed
by four different men-Joseph e. Johnston. of
Alva. convention clerk c. c. CIothier. of Guthrie,
employed do the county division transcribing:
Miles E Lasater. OF Pauls Valley, delegate in the
convention and chairman OF the revision commit
tee. and L. S. Mosher. of Guthrie longhand
pert.
This document is becoming known as "the patch
work constitution although it is the same that
William Jennings Bryan. of Nebraska declared to
be even better than that of the United States
While all these interlineations appear
throughout the document and in different hand
writing. there accompanying certificates, as
IS required by decision Of the United States Su-
prene Court in gard TO official instruments. hold
ing that when interlineatons appear in different
handwritings in such instrument certificate
must be filed with it showing that they were made
prior TO its signature. AS such certificates ap
pear. the burden of proof rests upon the makers
Of the constitution show when the interlineations
made. and, above stated. there is no one
who can truthfully and positively identify the
instrument as It appears.
In trying TO explain these numerous changes in
the constitution Alfalfa Bill" Murray president
of the constitutional convention and avowed candi
for Eice-President of the United States
ticket with Mr.. Bryan. says that many errors were
made in transcrbng the original parchment owing
the fact that changes made in the last hours OF
the convention. just previous TO the first OF the
three recesses were not placed in the copy by Jo-
seph T.. Johnston who doing the transcrbing.
Section IA Of the schedule left entirely out
and was not discovered until the typewrit-
ten copies completed and being compared with
the sheepskin parchment copy. part of the
article foreign corporations was also left out
and many words were transposed In the LABOR
Commissioner section. the words Labor and com
missioner being reversed and the WORD or In
serted
hours OF the convention and just be-
fore the signing OF the constitution. prior to the
first recess several other changes and corrections
made. such changing the name Of Moman
County TO Creek and that OF c-wee-scoo-wee
County o Rogers. At the time perhaps ten or a
dozen interlineations were made In addition TO the
insertion OF the two sections mentioned all being
written closely between the lines and on the mar
gin and different handwTitngs
Moman County had been named for Mon1an
Pruitt. a prominent Democratic politician. Before
the constitutional convention closed. however
Pruitt had bolted the candidacy OF Charles N
Haskell Muskogee. for Governor. Haskell was
Democratic floor leader in the convention. and TO
get with Pruitt changed the oountys name
to Creek In honor Of the Creek tribe OF Indians
Coo-uee- -scoo-wee was old Cherokee Indian
name much honored in that tribe. but II
changed the last minute in order to perpetuate
the name of Delegate Rogers. Of Caremore. a
Democratic delegate In the convention. Both OF
these political changes made interneations neceH-
sary I'm body of the constitution
When the convention again met thirty-three ad-
dftiOnal changes were made. Two sections
inserted in the schedule and the other changes
were scattered throughout the entire constitution.
making necessary many interlineations and eras-
ures Thus the parchment looks like crazy
quilt proposition. with four different styles OF
penmanship and numerous interlineal and mar
ginal writings
And there may be additional changes made! The
constitutional convention has not yet adjourned
sine die but has taken a recess subject to the
call Of President Murray. Il is known that the
Kentucky Supreme Court which permits the con-
stitutional convention 10 reconyene and make such
changes as may be deemed necessary, even 10
changing the document after II is ratified and be
fore the President of the United States issues his
proclamation as done in Kentucky and up
held by the states courts Judge George r.
walker of Ardmore. a Republican leader in that
locality and United States Attorney for the South
ern District OF Indian Territory. says the delegates
can reconvene and do wha tever they please toward
making changes under the Kentucky decision
are no funds to defray the expenses Of holding
the election on September Il TO ratify the consu-
tuition settle the fate Of statewide prohibition and
choose state officials The election must be held
on credit! Il o US" will be issued to the print
ers who get out the ballots to the firms that fur
nish the election supplies and to the men who act
as Judges. clerks and inspectors on Election Day.
The printer who furnishes the ballots must take
the contract a considerably higher figure than
If the cash were In sight, in order that he may
discount the paper at the banks. The banks must
then wait until the first state egislature-in case
the constitution finally gets Observation-Disclosures
them or else must depend upon the liberality of
Congress for appropriation to cover the deficit.
In the enabling act Congress appropriated $780,
900 for the expenses of the constitutional conven-
election. but this fund became exhausted Jan
vention first met and everything since that time
has been done credit basis, deficit of
s2co0 being created altogether.