The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-06-26
Miles Items.

June rs.
Some well meaning friend has been
kind enough to give me copy Of the
Vinita Journal In order that / might
be able to form correct opinion Of
the Oklahoma constitution. On the
first page Of the Journal is an article
headed Calling the Bluff" which
gives some Of the Republican obiec-
tions TO the constitution, one Of which
is the DISTINGUISHING of soldiers and |
marines. Let me ask any fairminded
citizen which would be more just, to
let President Roosevelt send ia fifty |
or a hundred thousand to see that we
vote fright, or do the voting them
selves, or let the voters OF the state |
elect their own officers This article
further says that under our proposed
constitution mo citizen can 90 to the
United States court for redress of
grievance. l fail to find such pre-
hibitory clause in the COPY of the con
stitution 1 have; but il any company
or corpnration is licensed to do busi-
ness in this state it should be amenable
to the laws OF the state or get out. II
any wish to do business in Oklahoma
let them do it according to law. This
bluff caller objects because the courts
may always be Democratic which
hope they will be. Who in Tins new
state want the state courts to be au-
tocraticy Not many do, surely. The
constitution, he claims, fixes the dis.
tricts 50 that the majority in the state
Legislature will be Democratic. If it
were possible TO fix It SO that all mem
bers Of the legislature would be Demo
Gratis, who would have a kick coming \
The constitution gives the legislature
power to decidewho shall be governor
in case of atie vote, and why shouldn't
theyg They are the peoples repre-
sentatiyes. Would the bluff caller
have his autocratic judge decide this
question also. Bluff Caller bewails the
fact that they (meaning the people
are prohibited from bringing IN outside
help to protect life and property. I'll
the people Of this grand state are not
able to protect their own lives and
property iu isnot statehood they need,
but guardianship. There may be
few lawless charactersin this, as there
are ia all states ID the Union, but to
assume that we need outside help TO
enforce the laws Of the state is an in
suit to our citizenship. There has all
ways been characters who wanted the
right to hire proctect they being
enemies to law and order and their
interests such that they could not de-
pend upon officers elected by the people
to protect them. No, no, we do not
need to import helpto enforce the law
nor to assist any one in eyading or
breaking the law Say Mr. Republ-
can, that constitution is no bluff, and
if you attempt to 90 up against it you
win find it's 'pat hand
The journal also says that the G. A
r. is opposed to the initiative and
referendum as not being republican in
form Why, bless your soul, that S a
democratic principles and whether the
G Ar, or the Cars army Of George
Fourth's army did, or don't ike it it
is going 70 stay ia The constitution.
and a majority Of the people will vote
for il: and while there may te some /
members Of the G. A. r. who are op
posed to it there are agreat many who
are not. BY the way, didn't the Re
publican candidate for delegate to the
constitutional convention last fall
promise that If elected he would vote
and work for the initiative and refer /
endum ? I believe he did, and have no /
doubt that he would have done 50 had /
he been successful Don't attempt to
scare the voters with the G A. r,
God bless them. JR.
Geo. NidiGsr and IT, G. Miller at
their own request have been relieved |
from service on the board Of equaliza-
tlon and E, n Ratcl'f and Jimml
Thompson take their places.