The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-10-03
STANDS PRACTICALLY ALONE IN
FIGHT AGAINST STATEHOOD.
LANNON'S SENSIBLE VIEW
Correspondence Reveals the Fact that
the President Approved Of the
Initiative and Referendum and
Government by Injunction.
Ardmoreite Special.

Oklahoma City, Okla. Oct. 3.-Com-
ing the day after the federal Office
holding element OF the republican
state committee had met In Oklahoma
City and authorized Chairman Char.
ley Hunter to fight the initiation OF
state government under democratic
officers to the last ditch the announce
ment from Washington that Presi.
dent Roosevelt has declared his In.
tention of issuing the statehood proc.
lamatlon on receipt of the certified
election return from Oklahoma has
proven a complete wet blanket to the
hopes OF Hunter and his hackers
The presidents announcement was
torney General Bonaparte, In which
they went entirely over the proposed
constitution. The dispatches sent out
by the Associated Press contained
the simple statement from the pres.
ident that he had found the consti-
tuition to square with the enabling
act and be In keeping with the
constitution OF the United States.
The Associated Press dispatches
added that when asked Tor his per
sonal opinion of the document the
president had declared that his perso.
,.I - h.. .A,,t "A
not do to print Private correspond
ents in Washington have advised sew
eral democratic papers that the pres.
ident made no such sighting re-
mark. They assert that on the con
trary the president approved of the
initiative and referendum for cities
and the state. and raised no OBJ
lection to the much harped about
clause preventing government by in.
junction.
Whatever the presidents personal
opinion of our constitution may be
is OF little interest to us said
Chairman J. II. Thompson of the
democratic state committee. THE
thing we want to know is what his
official opinion will be. and that he
has given us his declaration that
he will issue his proclamation max
ing Oklahoma a state as soon as he
is given an opportunity
Announcement of the presidents at
titude has been received as final by
practically all of the republicans, and
the rabid talk about tying up the
election on the constitution by in
junction. and delaying statehood until
after congress meets. has died out
with every one but Chairman Hunter
and a few of his chosen spirits.
Governor Frank Frantz. when he
learned of the presidents statement,
Immediately announced that he would
give up the hunting trip with the
president which he has been planning
and set about getting the affairs OF
his office In shape to turn over to
Governor Haskell.
Hunter still proclaims loudly that
he means to sontest the election In
practically every county in the state
that gave a democratic majority, but
he is standing practically alone In
the contest. The old time leaders Of
the party are against him to man.
Jake l.. Hamon authorized an inter
view the day before Roosevelt said
he would approve the constitution,
In which he took the hide on both
Hunter and Frantz, In a genteel way,
and said In substance that the re-
publican party was whipped fair and
square. and that to raise the cry
OF fraud after such a drubbing was
significant OF "A yellow streak some
where In their makeup. Hamon was
Hunters predecessor as state chair