Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-26
A MESSAGE FROM
THE. PRESIDENT.
To the Trainers of OkIahoma's
Constitution. y
IF THEY DON'T TAKE OUT
A Clause Preventing Railroads From
Protecting Themselves
HE WILL SECURE REJECTION
OF That Instrument or Do His Best
to Effect That
End.
10
A Clause Preventing Railroads From
Protecting Themselves
he WILL SECURE REJECTION.

President Roosevelt has sent message to
the people of Oklahoma which Is sure to
create a profound sensation all over the
country. 1t was that If the constitutional.
convention, now in session framing con-
stitution for the new state, adopts a re-
port of the committee on railroads that Is
hostile to the railroads to an unusual de-
gree he will f1at-footedly refuge his APP
proval Of the constitution, which would de-
lay the admission of the state until another
convention had been held and another con-
stitution to the liking of the President put
through.
The Presidents ultmatum has been de-
hvered to Delegate Mcguire Of Oklahoma,
with request that he inform the papers
of the territory. and was repeated today
to a number of Oklahoma people who were
presented to the chief executive by Rep
resentative Watson of Indiana.
What the President Said.
According to the statement of the visitors
this is what the President said: 81 have
never posed as particular friend of the
railroads, but I want you to convey a mes
sage to the trainers of your constitution.
Tell them that if they do not take out that
clause which prevents the railroads within
the borders of the state from protecting
themselves I will do my best to secure
the rejection of the instrument. You may
take tnat nome with you as a personal and
official message"
According to the information at hand
the committee on railroads of the Okla
hOma constitutional convention, now in
session, has framed provision for the
bill of rights which, in effect, prevents
railroads from employing men to defend
their property In case of strikes. At least
this is the 5interpletatio1 placed upon the
provision by Delegate Mcguire and other
republicans who talked with the President
about it The convention has not yet taken
mp the committees report. - - =
Under the terms of the statehood bill the
matter of approving the constitution is left
to the President and is not to be ratified
by Congress, as Is customary; The Presi-
dent. when his approval Is given to the
constitution, sets in motion the machinery
of the new state without the assistance of
legislative agency.
Is It Measuring Statement
According to New York reports the Presi-
dent has been asked a number Of times re-
Gently to make a statement that would re-
assure the railroads and trusts Of the coun-
try that his anti-corporation activities were
directed against the bad corporations only
and that he felt no animosities to the
good" ones A report in New York few
days ago was to the effect that such state
ment would be made. While the Oklahoma
message Is not exactly what timid New
York capital was expecting, its significance
message will be received in Oklahoma is
another matter. The constitutional conven-
tion is largely composed Of democrats, who
have a large majority. That party won a
signal victory in the elections last Novem-
Der for delegates to the convention, the In
dams of the Indian Territory portion show
ing decided preference for the candidates
of the democrats.