The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-03-20
SHOWN AGAINST CONSTITUTION
BY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE.
PROMISES A warm CAMPAIGN
Unless Much Of the Sentiment is
Overcome BY Party Leaders the
Fight viii Be Hot-Meeting
Of Republican Committee.

pubncan central committee meeting
held here today developed an over.
vhclmng individual sentiment In IA.
vor Of opposing adoption by the peo.
pie Of the proposed Oklahoma con.
sttution without any reservation
whatever. If this sentiment Is not
overcome by party leaders the ensd-
ing campaign promises to be one
Of the most hotly contested ever wit.
messed In the southwest. Not par.
ty man from old Oklahoma publicly
appeared sponsor for the scheme to
adopt the document for the good
statehood under the present condi
/ tion.
The initiative and referendum de
clarod by Judge Robnett of Arlmore
to be contrary to n republican form
of government and the legislative up
pointment characterized by Henry L.
Asp. constitutional delegate from
'GuthIic. as the acme of political
grand larceny were the two clici
points for assault II remained. how
ever. for Indian Territory itself, bad
ly divided in sentiment, TO break the
monotony and declare that the con.
stltutlon, good or bad. should be
adopted without endorsement tina,
the people might have statehood, a
boon so devoutly wished for by the
erritory on the east. They present
ed Chairman lannon's plan of point
ing out the Objectionable features
and pledgins the first Legislature,
which they hoped to elect by an ap.
peal to general party fairness. for a
correction as rapidly as possible.
This idea received lily ~ encour-
agement. but instead there was a
rapid revival of the Oklahoman's
dream of an enabling act for them
selves with the privilege of taking
Indian Territory in as piecemeal, as
Il became fit for state government.
The party's position will not be full.
ly determined upon until the state
convention Is held following adjourn
ment of the constitutional conven-
| tion.
| A. ]. Seay. of Kingfishcr, former
governor of Oklahoma Territory, and
always an ardent advocate OF sepa-
rate statehood. talked for strict
party denunciation of the document
and campaign that would encom.
pass its defeat at the polls. Added to
this feeling was that of wild re-
sentiment to the original attachment
Of Indian Territory 20 Oklahoma and
the loss of the latter in the trade
II the constitution was adopted he
saw loss Of the republican party's
blrthrlrht and its inability to get re
prosentatiycs in office.
The democrats viii then put into
laws what they feared to put into
the constitution Is the way the eX'
governor expressed IT, "and what do
We get bur suicide of the republican
marty. II would be ineXpedient for MS
now to declare what we will do as a
party until the constitution is signed
and delivered" He WAS loudly ap'
plauded. however. in his declaration
that II should be fought to a stand
still before the people.
Judge J. r. Dickerson of the feler-
al court I'm the Chickasha district
came forward with strong defense
tor the Indian Territory people who
had suffered, Oklahoma knew not
how much for the want of home gov
ernmont and pleaded that the oppor'
tunity be not now denied them.
'Jt will take the combined efforts
Of both parties to pull It through
he continued. III you could see our
children without schools, rivers with
out bridges. no way to care for tho
afflicted or insane, you would swah
low anything to get statehood. We
taught the democrats lesson in ger
rNmandCrlng ourselves ho' lonS az"
(referrng to the apportionment for
delegate district and the result
should not be held as a barrier to re-
liovc our conditions. You Joined
hands with us and you must go down
with us. Let MS meet the democracy
In the open field of argument and
rest the case with the people
!. W. Hooker, a republican candi'
date Tor delegate from the Purcell, |
T, district was optomistic in the be
liot that Indian Territory could af
ford TO wait few years rather than
accept constitution blackened and /.
loaded with calamity.