The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-16
WILL SOON JOIN
THE SISTERHOOD
Constitution for Oklahoma
Drafted and Will Be Submit
ted at Special Election.
HAS IMPORTANT FEATURES
CONVENTION ALMOST UNANI-
MOUSLY DEMOCRATIC.

Guthrie. Okla March f5-The only
state constitution TO be produced under
modern conditioEs-that intended for the
proposed new state of Oklahoma-has fin
ally be drafted here. The constitutional
convention finished its work today and
adjourned after having been in session
1l5 days. The constitution will be sub
mitted To- the people of the two terri
tories at a special election on Aug. g.
One of the last acts of the convention
was TO appoint committee to solicit
funds 10 pay the expenses Of the cleo
ton, the convention having exhausted
practically all the money appropriated
by congress.
Made by Democrats.
The convention was overwhelmingly
Democratic, being composed of 100 DEM
Ocrats and l. Republicans
Probably the MIST important measure
killed by the convention was the pro-
vision relative to separate coaches for
whites and negroes. although the Demo-
Gratis had been pledged 20 insert it. Sew
erai delegates alleged on the convention
floor that President Roosevelt would re-
Ject the constitution If the Jim Crow
ptopositiCn was adopted, and warning let
tiers We're sent delegates by Senators Till
man, Pettus and others.
Woman suffrage was defeated by a few
votes.
The initiative and referendum. pat
termed after the Oregon law, was adopted,
as was IA provision for the nomination
of all state officers and United States
senators by primaries.
Succession in state offices is prohibited,
and II is provided that the senate COM
mittees shall not be named by the lieu-
tenant governor, but be selected by the
body itself.
Strict Prohibition.
Oklahoma will be a prohibition state,
the most stringent liquor law in exist
ence, prohibiting not only the sale but
the Introduction of liquor into the state,
being provided for The enabling act
provided that Indian Territory must ac-
cept prohibition for twenty-One years. The
convention provided that the whole state
shall vote on the question. and there IS
no doubt that the terms of the enabling
act will be made uniform over the whole
state.
Provision is made for a state railway
commission, 20 be elective, and a 2-ceat
passenger fare order.
Railway companies are prohibited from
owning any productive agency OF natu-
Ial commodity, a provision particularly
irtended to cover coal lands.
a fellow servant law is embodied in the
constitution.
Corporations are prohibited from own
ing more land than is absolutely neces-
sary in the operation of their business.
No Watered Stock.
The issuance of watered stock is pro-
hibited and the books of all corpora
lions are made subject to inspection at
all times.
The organization of corporations to deal
in real estate outside of Incorporated cit
les is prohibited.
A commission is appointed to negotiate
the purchase of the segregated mineral
lands in the Indian Territory valued at
many millions of dollars. and state own
ership and operation of the coal mines
thereon is contemplated.
The legal rate of interest is fixed at
per cent and the contract rate at 10 per
cent.
compulsory and separate school sys-
tenn is established.
Commissions are created on labor and
arbitration, charities, insurance. railroads,
agriculture. oil. gas and mines
The state is divided into seventy-five
counties. twenty-one judicial districts
forty-OLe senatorial districts and los leg
islstive districts.
The state seal adopted is a comhiua-
ton of the present seal of Oklahoma and
the seals of the nations of the Five Civil
lized tribes.
A majority vote is required to amend
the constitution.