The Washington herald., 1907-08-25

Oklahoma City. Aug 24-Secretary OF
War Taft arrived here to-day, and after
being met at the station by q committee
Of Republicans. went into a conference
with Oklahoma party leaders. Later he
was taken about the city in an automo-
bile, after which a parade in which the
Secretary took part, passed along the
main thoroughfare.
The Secretary spoke tonight at the
Convention Hall He began by defining
the issues Of the Oklahoma and Indian
Territory State elections as twofold.
As TO Wisdom of Constitution.
First, the acceptance or rejection OF the
constitution; second. the election Of a Re-
publican or Democratic State and legis-
iative ticket and United States Senator's.
He explained his attitude as that Of a
Republican, putting himself in the place
Of citizen Of Oklahoma, and advising
the Republicans Of Oklahoma in respect
to the wisdom. or otherwise, Of adopting
the constitution.
He disclaimed authority to sneak for N.
President on the subject Of the validity or
invalidity Of the constitution. for the rss5
son that the function which the President
performed was a judicial one. as n
whether the proposed constitution con-
formed 10 the enabling act and the Con-
stltution Of the United States
It was not the function OF the Presiden,
10 reject the constitution merely because
ne did not approve its wisdom and did not
Ike It's provisions from q political stand
point.
Defends Writ of Injunction.
Mr.. Taft commented al length on the
necessity for maintaining the power -
lhe courts, and condemned the rasr,ra-
ment that jury trials should intervene
between an order Of Injunction snd nun
ishment for its violation.
He sand that the writ Of sr,n,,,,,.,
IS one OF the most beneficial writs thar
a court could have. and that it is ilzt
as useful in defence Of the poor as II
the defense OF the rich: and any weak
enihg OF It as an instrument for remedy
ing wrongs would operate in favor Of tbe
rich malefactor.
He spoke al length on the bvpocri=v oF
the trainers of the Oklahoma consrfr,,-
'ion IN purporting to make an instru.
ment by which the VIII Of the people
should be sustained pure and undealed
ana then, by the merest political trick
cry and ehicanery. adopting a plan bv
"hich there might be a majority Of
1900 for the Republican ticket in tbs
State and yet there would be a Demo-
cratic legislature and two Democrats
Senator's. This itself showed what mock
cry an attempt by initiative and refer
endum TO ascertain the true viii Of the
people was, and how empty their decla
ration, Let the people rule"
Provisions Criticised.
The Secretary commented on the bas,-,,
expense to which the State would be
subjected in the unnecessary number or
offices. and also upon the severe i,npair.
ment OF the system Of education nv
limitations upon taxation for educational
purposes. which. in the Indian Territory
it was said by those who knew. could
probably not afford more than two
months education IN a year.
The constitution provided for separate
schools. white and negro. and vet made
no provision by taxation for carrying out
any such system.
For these reasons the Secretary said
that if he were citizen of Oklahoma he
would certainly vote for the rejection Of
the constitutions because he believed that
it was a great deal easter TO reject the
constitution than 10 amend 1t so as 10
eliminate its defects. and he would be
confident as a citizen that the next Con-
gress would come to the aid of the people
Of Oklahoma by new enabling act and
a new convention.
Secretary Taft then took I'D again tbe
national issues. the tariff. and the disas-
trous effect Of a revision of it: the policy
with respect 10 the dependencies in the
Philippines, the question Of whether we
should have government ownership Of
railway regulation, the treatment by the
present administration Of trusts, the for
eign policy, and the navy.
He urged that the new State of Okla
homa should be State that would range
itself under the progressive principles Of
Theodore Roosevelt, who did things,
rather than with the ranks OF a party OF
inefficieney and negation like the Demo-
cratic party, which had the support only
Of the States of the solid South. united
by the ghost of a past issue and the un-
founded fear of so-ealled negro DONNA
tion."