The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-08-17
skuLKINe ON rHE FIRING LINE


skuLKiNe ON THE FIRING LINE
III this campaign The Democratic
party Is The only party that takes a
decided stand on the paramount is-
sue OF the campaign The people OF
Oklahoma commissioned the Demo
cratic party to write their great or
eanic law The party accepted the
trsgt and In the face of all the oh
s.h.ction that lay in the power Of the
organized forces of the Republican
party fulhlea that crust in a highly
commendahle mahner and made good
every promise made TO the people
The Oklahoma constitution is an
advance step over any constitution 20
be found In any Of the older states.
The best that there is in all the other
state constitutions has been carefully
selected modified 10 meet conditions
IN the new state. and embodied in its
constitution This was proper TO
have attempted TO be, or pretended
to be- original in an things would
have subjected the constitution
makers TO a Just charge OF being
visionary and impractical
che constitution makers cid not,
however. hesitate TO takeesever8l steps
Ia advance OF the old constitutions.
The delegates were not time servers,
hut men fully alive TO present need
and future possibilities They did
their duty squarely. as they saw it,
without fear or favor to any man
Because Of this, and their refusal
% accept the dictatiOn of a Republi-
can minority. the Democratic major
fly drew upon themselves and their
work the fierce FIRE OF every Republi-
can office holder with a few eXcep-
tons. and every Republican boss from
pop gun 10 pistol
This fusilade began on the first
day OF the convention and was con.
sNmmatel iE t,g Tulsa resoil ions.
The Republican parts therefore, as a
party stands sponsor for al the yellow
Journalism OF the Republsran press
bureau. sent out during and after the
convention This action did not and
does not meet the approval OF many
thoughtful Republicans. but in its
ranGest form it took shape in the
Tulsa platform and all Republican
| office-seekers stand sponsors for It.
The Republican party as a party has
thus stamped itself as an obstruction.
isS
On the paramount issue they stand
sharply In contrast with the Demo.
cratic party and its candidates who
know where they stand and have had
the manhood TO announce their stand
for the constitution IN their platform
The Tulsa convention feared 10
announce itself for the conststution
and immediate statehood for fear OF
endorsing the action Of Democrats
and II equally feared TO announce
itself against the adoption OF the con.
siitution and present statehood, for
the reason that q feared the tremend
ous and growing sentiment for tho
constitution, statehood and the new
ere.
After two columns Of siush this con
veniion of Rough Rider heroes de
| liyered Itself OF the following know
nothing stand on the constitution and
present statehood. the greatest issue
that ever has. or ever will. confront
the people OF the two territories
The Republican party the special
hampton of a free ballot and a fair
count. comedies to every elector the
right to cast his ballot as his enlight
ened Judgment and conscience may
suggest Republican Platform
Indeed, a wonderfully positive stand
on a great issue and worthy Of men
| with ragstrlnss for backbones