Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-08-26
TRUSTS AND RATES
WERE HIS THEMES
His Attitude Concerning Oklaho.
mas New Constitution Subject
of Much Criticism In That
TerrItory--Will Speak at
Springfield Tuesday.

Joplin, Mo, August 26.-Secretary
OF War Taft was booked to deliver
three speeches in Joplin and vinicity
today. The secretary reached Joplin
last night, escorted by committee
of Joplin citizens who went to Okla
homa City to meet him. Although
his arrival here was late, 1,5O0 peo-
pie gathered at the station, and gave
him a warm greeting.
Taft secured good nights rest
and started the day greatly refresh
ed He delivered his first speech in
joplin this morning addressing a
large throng. He talked principally
Later Taft was escorted to Webb City
a mining town near here, where, af-
ter luncheon, he delivered his sec
ond speech. Early this afternoon the
party went TO Carthage, where Taft
spoke for the third time.
He will return here late this af-
ternoon and depart for Spring gfeld,
Taft Defines Issues.
Oklahoma City, Okla. August 26.
There has been much criticism,
most of II favorable, concerning Sec
retary Taft's speech In which he ad-
vocateG the voting down of the new
Oklahoma state constitution.
Taft began by defining the issues
of the Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory state election as twofold: First,
the acceptance or rejection of the
constitution, ami second, the election
OF a republican or a democratic state
and legislative ticket and United
States judges. Explaining his atti-
tude as that of a republican putting
himself in the place of a citizen of
Oklahoma and advising the republi-
cans of Oklahoma in respect of the
wi g1nna p nfhnFxxiGn a ~
constitution, he disclaimed entirely
any authority TO speak for the presi-
dent on the subject of the validity or
invalidity of the constitution for the
reason that the function which the
president performed was a judicial
one as to whether the constitution
conformed to the enabling act and
the constitution of the United States.
1t was not the function of the presi-
dent to reject the constitution merely
because he did not approve its pro-
visions from a political standpoint.
Cites an Omission.
He commented at length on the
necessity for maintaining the power
of the courts, and condemned the
provision that jury trial should in
tcIvene between an order of injunc-
ton and punishment for its aboli-
tion. He said that the writ of in
junction was one of the most bene-
fetal writs that a court could have,
and that it was just as useful i'm de-
fense of the poor as In the defense
of the rich, and with any weaken
ing of 1t as an instrument for rem
edying wrongs would operate in fav-
or of wrongdoers.
Secretary Taft commented on the
heavy expense which the state would
be subjected to in the unnecessary
number Of offices, ana also upon the
severe impairment OF the system OF
education by the limitation upon
taxation for educational purposes
which, in the Indian Territory, as
said by those who know, would prob
ably not afford more than two
months education in a year. The
constitution provided for separate
schools. white and negro, and yet has
no provision b ytaxation for carrying
out any system.