The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-03-22

In fact, all this contention about
the constitution has been over the
fact that the delegates did dare to take
step In advance of some OF the old
constitutions and seek a larger pro-
lection for the rights of the people. IL
was nothing but this fact that arrayed
the special interests against Il.
There is no guarantee whatever
that any other convention could form
ulate constitution that would come
nearer meeting the requirements of
tho whole people
Perhaps no delegate got all he
wanted ia the convention. Constitu-
tions are and always will be a COM
promise of more or less divergent
opinions. II was tire In the conven-
tion that wrote the constitution OF
the United States and very likely will
always be true.
Adopt the constitution, come into
the Union and then, If the people
want to change it. they can easily
do so; meanwhile statehood will be a
reality and not a dream.
The constitution may be changed
/ by a majority vote of the people. A
majority of the legislature may pro
pose an amendment to be voted on at
the next general election or two-thirds
of the legislature may call special
election to vote or an amendment,
The people may take the initiative.
Fifteen per centum of the legal
voters shall have the right to propose
constitutional amendment by petit
ton, and every such petition shall in
clude the full text Of the measure so
proposed 1t is then made the duty
of the legislature to refer the pro
posed act to the people for a vote
Any measure having been rejected by
the people can not be again referred
under three years.
II will thus be seen that the con
vention has not shut the door against
progress. but has made il easy, being
careful only of one thing, and that is
that 1t was the will of the people
Those who so loudly declaim against
the constitution will be found in the
main to be those who object TO sub
mission to the popular will and very
frequently have some adverse inter
est to subserye.
| Take statehood now. This is the
first and only opportunity tho people
of Oklahoma have had I'm eighteen
years. Turn it down now and who
knows but IL will be eighteen years
lmoIe of disfranchisement.
DO not trust any Republican prom
ises to the contrary For ten years
they promised statehood to Oklahoma
and then only grudgingly gave it a
Iseat in the omnibus. Now II is the
sole occupant and II we get out of II
what guarantee is there that a
special cab will be sent for us. Re
call the history of Oklahoma state.
hood bills before Republican con
gress for ten long years and then get
out of the omnibus, If desirable, but
not before.
The constitution is a good one and
worthy the support of any man who
has the best interests of the new
Estate at heart. Adopt IL, then change
Iit If it does not suit the people
ROADS FOR The NEW STATE.
All great movements in the line ol
progress are a growth, rather than
the creStlre OF a moment. This ap
plies especially 10 such great inter
nal improvements as good country
roads. 1t is pleasant to note. however
that this movement is now growing
with great rapidity in nearly all the
states. The time is not far distant
when one can travel al over the
United States over good roads. The
lrich are now quite as anxious for il
as the poor on account OF their auto
mobile tours.
AS an example Of what other states
are doing and what the new state
hopes to do at an early date the roa1
work in Illinois Is very interesting
Fhe state of Illinois has 94,l41 mile.
OF roads and in one year there have
b5en $500 miles of road surfaced
with gravel and 1.106 miles surfaced
with stone. The expense of the state
road work was S4,2f0,9550 Such
work as this would surely put tha
state in possession of splendic
system of gravel roads in a few years
This work has largely been done un
der the direction of the state highwa,
commission.
The new constitution of Oklahoms
directs the Legislature TO establish {
department Of highways and grants
the power TO create Improvement dis
tricts and provide for building anC
| hialhfaiHhlh DuHit lpdub anu ndl
provide for the utilization of convic
and punitive labor.
The new state has accepted al
reservations and grants OF lands fo
public highways made under an,
grant. treaty, agreement or act oi
congress-
This places the further develop
ment of the roads of the state up I,
the legislature with full power anC
freedom to act. except that stat,
department of roads must be Great ed
GoVERNM ENTAIL PATERNALls sM
Last fall Secretary shaw deposite,
$50 100000 of the public money II
certain banks. says the Washington
Post, with the understanding that IN,
amount was 70 be withdrawn abou
this time. That sum went TO swell
the general circulation and the oh
ieci was to subserve the great busi
ness interests OF the people Tn,
stock market is In an awful fix. and 4
became necessary for Secretary Cor
telyou to assure the banks hodinl
Dublic money that the government de