The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-05-30

The following Is the report Of the
Democratic constitutional convention
committee. of their action in Wash.
lngton ON behalf Of the constitution,
as given TO the press:
The committee appointed TO confer
with the authorities AT Washington
upon matters concerning the consti
tuition had two conferences with the
attorney general and one with the
president. The conferences were inior.
NAL and the committee was given all
the time It desired 10 discuss matters.
The first interview with the attor-
noy general was confined 10 a dis
cussion Of certain legal questions. In
the conference with the president, the
entire situation was fully discussed,
and he stated that lie was not IA
miliar with the prcccdcnts relating
io the admission Of states into the
Union. lie called attention to the fact
that this was the first time matter
of this sort had arisen during his
administration lie stated he was
anxious TO see Oklahoma admitted 20
the Union, and that he had not told
anybody that any provision In the
p-oposcd constitution was objection.
able TO him. At the conclusion OF the
conference, he requested the commit
| tee To see the attorney general again.
and discuss with him the matters
which had been discussed with the
president
During the second interview Wa.
/ the attorney general, the committee
discussed at some length the qnes-
lions involved and particularly the
NOW RS of the president under the
enabling act. The attorney general
stated that it seemed TO him that the
mowers of the president were restrict
ed to the consideration of three qneS-
lions: first, are any of the PROVISIONS
NJ the proposed constitution repus-
pont to the constitution of the United
states; second, is the government oil
the proposed state republican IN
form. and third is the proposed CON
stitution i'm keeping with the princi-
plcs Of the Declaration OF lhdepehu'
,rcc Aside from these questions ne
stated that he did not think II was
o.,bin the duty or power Of the pres
id,nt to determine whether the con-
.utution was a good one or bad one
lie also stated that some months
,., h, had advised the president no.
tn express any opinion on any Prov
sion an the proposed constitution ana
that he had recently repeated that au
vic, to him. lie further stated tha'
he had not intimatcd to anybody tha'
In his oplnion the proposed constltu
b. tiop contained any provision when
would Justify or require the presid''
TO refuse to, issue the proclamation
admitting the state.
The committee called the attorney
generals attention to the fact tha'
rcpors were being circulated through
prcss and through other sources
lpparcntIy authoritative, to the cftec'
that the president had expressed or
minated his opinion TO the erect
tnat the constitution contained mat
tors that would require him TO with
hold his proclamation. The attorney
general stated positively that no in
timatiun had ever been givoa by him
or by the president to his knowledge
of any such opinions being held either
hy the president o. by himself
Y..e committee filed with the attor
ney general a letter, addressed TO Je
president. fully setting forth the po'
sitlnn ol the committee and~the con
sututiona. convention relative to the
.| attitude OF the convention upon Its
desire To have the constitution con
form to the provisions OF the cnab
ling Act. which letter is in substance
as follows:
THE undersigned, members OF
the constitutional convention of Ok
, lahoma. have the honor To state
that they have been appointed q
commission by the president of the
said constitutional convention To
pray conference with your eN
cclleucy relative to the proposed
constitution us now framed fOl
, submission to the people of Okla
homa Many Of the people Of Okla
huma have been led TO believe by
vigorous propaganda carried on
throughout the proposed state. that
the president would disapproye It
constitution as now framed, after II
had been ratified by our people
ON the theory. that some OF its pro