The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-11-30

presented to the people would bc worth
more than an ordinary nomination. Mr..
Bryan's nomina tion would come better
after fight than to be handed TO him
on a silver salver.
Oklahoma.
The president has signed the procla-
nation making Oklahoma the forty
sixth state of the Union. People seem
to find some interest in the fact that
the pen with which 1t was signed was
an eagles quill and that after having
been properly incased in golden box
IL was turned over TO Governor Frantz,
who In turn announced his purpose of
delivering It to the historical society of
the new state. There Is phrase in
literature which declares that yoi shall
not seethe the Kid in its mothers milk.
Never mind whence the quotation
comes. But It would seem that to turn
over to Governor Frantz the pen which
signed the proclamation that lcglslated
him out of office came very near 10
violating this good old Biblical law.
The Political Future of Oklahoma.
What the new state may be politi-
cally remains to be proved. Today 1t
Is absolutely Democratic. out Of II
constitutional convention OF 110 mem
bers there were 100 Democrats. 1t has
sent TO congress two Democratic sena-
tors and four Democratic representa-
tives. One Republican representative
was elected, and even now there Is a
fight being made upon him for his seat.
| was told by Il northern Republican
that the reason for this was that the
state had been settled by men coming
from south Of Mason and DiXon's line.
II this had been true. its political tenor
would be easily understood. But as n
matter Of fact II Is not true. Oklahoma
was settled by people who came
from Kansas. Nebraska, Missouri Col
orado and all that bunch of middle
states which are thoroughly American.
Probably today there is no community
of It's size which Is 80 completely and
absolutely an American community as
this new state OF the Union.
Now, this being true, 1t seems worth
while to consider what Oklahoma has
done IN the way Of fixing the laws un-
der which 1t shall he governed. 1t
adopted Il constitution of which Mr..
Roosevelt said that his opinion would
not bear publication and which Mr..
Taft denounced bitterly in speech
before the people of the state. That
constitution provided for the initiative
and referendum under certain condi-
tions. 1t declared for the absolute pub
licity OF contributions to campaign
funds. 1t limited the liquor business
by high license In the Oklahoma side
of the state and absolutely prohibited
II In the Indian Territory. 1t gave COM
plete authority to the incoming legis.a
ture to regulate and to destroy, If nee
essary, trusts and monopolles. In brief
the most thoroughly democratic con-
stitution enjoyed by any community In
the United States is possessed by Okla
homa, and the presidents signature tG
the enabling act makes II part of the
law OF the land.
Ia 1t not probable that the example
of Oklahoma may be the entering
wedge which will split the great log Of
corporate control of other states? This
state hns given the first chance to test
the issues In which millions of people
believe. II they prove successful there,
will not the masses OF the people In
the north demand, as from time to time
constitutions come to ba revised, that
they shall be put In accord with tho
Oklahoma constitution?
Tho Democracy of Tom johnson.
That Tom johnson should have tele.