The Washington herald., 1907-11-03
By FREDERIC j. HASKIN.

passed the enabling act and directed that
delegates be chosen by the people 10 as
semble in convention and form a consti-
tuition.
The Indian Territory had never before
had an opportunity TO vote. although
Oklahoma had been electing a delegate 10
congress and members OF the Territorial
legislature But for the first time the
party lines were drawn all over the new
state. and the Democrats elected a hun
dred delegates TO the constitutional con-
yention, leaving the Republicans with
but twelve-"the apostles" they were
called by local politicians. The enabling
act required the Incorporation Of some
features in the constitution which were
most unusual: for instance, that the sale
of liquor should be prohibited in the IN
dian Territory portion OF the State for
twenty-one years. The convention in
corpOrated all the features required by
Congress. and then went forth and made
many new departures. In consequence,
AIr. Roosevelt said that his private opin-
ion Of the constitution wasn't fit to print;
MT. Bryan called II the greatest COnstitu-
ton ever written, and the people of Okla
homa ratified il by a majority Of a hun
dred thousand, although the Democratic
ticket Was elected by less than half OF
that majority. At the same time, the peo-
pie voted for Statewide prohibition. and
the saloon IS a thing of the past in Okla
hOma-gone with the bufaloes the cow
boy, the bad man, and the gambler into
the limbo Of things that were but are not.
OkIahoma's first State election and the
primaries OF the dominant Democratic
party have given the politicians some
thing 10 talk about The cry against
'earpetbaGism" was the slogan which
rallied the voters TO the support of the
constitution Under the old way, many
OF the Oklahoma officials and all Of those
in the Indian Territory were from other
sections. At one time there were no
less than ninety-four citizens Of one
Congressional district in Illinois on the
Federal payroll in the Indian Territory.
The people didn't Ike long-range gov
ernEent Probably half Of the popula-
ton Of the new State is Southern South
ern States are all Democratic in politics
and all intensely opposed to "carpetbag-
ISM But the man the Democrats elected
governor of the new State is c. y. Has
kell, Of Ohio. He might be looked upon
as 'carpetbagger' in some Southern
States, but not so in Oklahoma. But
then, it is true that few Southern States
have had experience with "carpetbag-
gers of their own political faith.
The two United States Senators chosen
in the Democratic primaries are as diff
ferent as men can be different Robert
Lee Owen Is an aristocrat Of the aristo-
Gratis. In his veins flows the blood Of the
two most aristocrato peoples Of America
the Nirginians and the Cherokees. He
is one-eighth Indian and member Of the
tribe, but he was born and educated in
Virginia He is a lawyer Of great ability
and has distinguished himself by earning
a fee Of $4,000 IN a single case. He is
reserved and dignifed and is Of that type
Of politician known as a Conservative
thinker"
The other Senator is T. P. Gore. He Is
the first blind man ever eleeted to the
Senate. He lost his sight when but boy
In Mississippi. He declares that when he
left his home, a penniless blind boy, he
told his mother that he would never come
back until be was a United States SEN
ator. His vaulting ambition will be
realized as soon as the legislature Of the
new State convenes. and then he viii 20
back 10 Mississippi to visit, but not 20 see.
his old home. Mr.. Cores wife has been
his eyes. She reads 10 him and writes his
letters. They mOrtgaged their home when
Mr.. Gore entered the race for the Sena-
torial nomination. and they spent no
money except for travelling expenses.
Gore is a radical of the radicals He
appeals TO the poor man as a poor man.
and he does it in speeches Of wonderful
oratOrical power. His blindness do doubt
gained him many votes but he ha9 al
ready won his political spurs in the Ter
rtorial legislature.
Thus the new State-with political and
social life far advanced, with wealth un-
told with none OF those features which
made romance in the early history of
other Western States. without any Of the
problems Of the pioneers Of other DAYS
bat with the hope and strength OF young
men who have carved for themselves for
tunes from a wiIderness-joins the great
American Union.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in It's Teens.