The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-06-11
TO MAKE WAR
ON PROHIBITION
Citizens League Sends Out Thousands Of Letter Over
the New State Prohibition Not Desired
TO MAKE WAR

President l. B. Levy, Of the formi-
dable Citizens League. will make war
on statewide prohibition, to-day mail
ed out 10000 letters TO voters in In
dian Territory, as follows. outlining
the purposes Of the league in the cam
paign for strict regulation OF the
liauor traffic in the new state rather
than statewide prohibition;
Through the influence OF an east
en professional lobby, the enabling
act providing for the admission of
Oklahoma and Indian Territories IN
to the union limits the right OF self
government on the part of the people
Of those territories. by forcing pro
hibition on the citizens Of the Indian
Territory for period OF p years.
The same lobby has induced the.
constitutional convention 10 submit to
the voters of the entire state ques.
ton as to whether or not the same
prohibition provisions shall be estab'
lishe6 in Oklahoma Territory.
These same people are now attempt
Ing to promote discord in the state by
netting one-half OF our people against
the other. They are saying to the
voters Of Indian Territory that the
interference with the right OF self
government in that part OF the state
was due TO the mean ard selfish de-
sire on the citizens of Oklahoma Ter
ritory to Obtain an advantage over
! the towns and cities In Indian Ter
| ritory. and are seeking to cultivate a
spirit of revenge IN Indian Territory,
| to pet even. as It were. by forcing
| prohibition on Oklahoma Territory.
This IS most malicious. At the
| same time il has a spirit OF cunning
which may influence some who have
not taken the trouble To become tho
roughly informed as TO tho facts.
| Their position is absolutely untrue
and will be absurd when II Is under
stood that influential citizens of Ok
| lahoma Territory appeared before the
| committee in congress and exercised
ali their logic and influence to over
come this conspiracy aud tried %
! leave the entire matter OF self-goyern'
/ ment 10 the people of these territories
where II rightly belongs
II Is most important that the best
feeling, commercial and political
should be established and maintained
between the cities OF the two terri
tories. and we of Oklahoma come 70
YOU In that spirit, and appeal to you
that you treat us with fairness, as
suring the Indian Territory that yol
may call on the business element OF
Oklahoma Territory at any and al
times whore yoar interests are In
yolyed
For citizens Of Indian Territory e
vote 10 force prohibition on Oklaiho
ma Territory Is TO say, as this same
foreign lobby that Induced congresi
10 say of the Indian Territory. tina
We are incapable of local selfgoyern
ment and therefore must have out
side help in order 10 protect US agains
ourselves. We will help yon viii
oim every EFFORT TO socnre the re
moval Of restrictions which retarl
your development and viii ask yol
not 10 place additional burdens OF
our present prosperity and future
growth.
Under the sanction OF the laws o
the territory. large sums OF none
have been Invested In our cities i
connection with local option liquo
traffic and with this warrnt OF al
thorlty, conditions have become hxe
A on which our people have been taugn
TO rely. Large Investments have bee
4 made and 20 change Il at this dat
I would incur great and lrreparabl
Z loss financially aud Otherwise.
II prohibition law Ia lieu OF
4 local option law should be enaeio
i over Oklahoma a vast amount Of thl
/. ! business property wonld be deprecin
"a ia value. from rs to Is per cent,
81 the prohibition rrapoSillop should b
= defeated. our people anticipate "a
enactment Of good local optic
law which Nlll enable as 10 conlr'
our own local Affairs, aud Il the SCI