The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-30
PERNICIoUs POLITICS IN OKLAHOMA

going at all to the satisfaction of the
veterans. They looked upon the pro-
ceedings of the Convention called to
form a Constitution with deep dssatis-
faction.
The Constitutional Convention SEEM
ed to be a catch-alI for the Populist-
Socialist driftwood from Kansas and
adjoining States. AS those commune
ties had returned to sanity, the long
whiskered Apostles of Hot Air and Po-
litical Bacteria thought it best to mi
crate elsewhere. to find people who
would pay any attention to them. Ok
lahoma looked promising.
The best that can be said of The
Constitution as finally adopted is that
it is not nearly so bad as it threatened
20 be. That it is no worse is due to the
sharp admonitions the Convention re-
ceived from time to time from the
President and other leading men that
certain propositions would be fatal to
the Constitution if Incorporated.
The worst feature is that it Gerry
manderS the State SO as to throw the
utmost difficulties in the way of any
change or amendment. SO anxious are
the people for Statehood that they are
willing to take almost anything in the
shape of a Constitution, hoping to cure
its defects by future amendments.
Something was done unheard of in
american history by Incorporating this
atrocious Gerrymander in the Constitu-
ton. Heretofore where Republicans
and Democrats have made outrageous
Gerlymanders it has been by act Of
Legislature and could be changed by
any succeeding Legislature. The Okla
homa Constitution thinkers tried to
make the Gerrymander perpetual. The
Constitution also disfranchized all SOL
Giers and sailors in the service of the
United States.
At the Annual Encampment of the
Department of Indian Territory, GA.
r., held May II, at Sulphur Spring,
the following resolution was unani-
mcIsly adopted:
The Grand Army of the Republic is
not It political organization, but by be-
coming a member of this great society,
whose members have given evidence of
their love of country by offering their
lives that the Republic might live
they do not forfeit any right of the
American citizen to express their opin-
ions upon subjects vital to patriotism
and the welfare of the State and Ma
ton.
The proposed Constitution provides
in Section 3, Article 3, THAT no off,
Ger. soldier or marine of the Regular
Army or Navy of the United States
shall be entitled to vote at any election
in the State"
This provision is vicious in principle
and public policy If any citizen of
the Republic is entitled to put his vote
in an American ballot box and have
an equal say with his American
brother as to who shall be one of the
officials of the State or Nation, 1t is
the man who dedicates his life to his
couTtry's service, becomes a member
of its honored Army or Navy, and by
SO doing says to the invader or those
who offer insult to our National honor:
You may send your bullet through
my heart, but you shall not trampie
upon old Glory or insult this land
of liberty bequeathed to us by George
Washington and Abraham Lincoln
These men are guaranteed all the
Federal Constitution; they are part
and parcel of our country; their blood
Is as rich in good principle and as
grand in patriotism as any under the
Stars and Stripes; their homes and
children are as dear to them as the
most favored in our Nation In times
Of National peril they are first on the
scene of conflict and the last to leave.
The Grand Army of the Republic
demands for them equal political rights
before every ballot box of this State
and Nation.
To deny it is an act of base ingrat-
itude, the rankest injustice, and brands
the makers of our proposed Constitu-
ton as wanting in fidelity to the best
manhood of the Union.
To say that the bootlegger and the
gambler may help to choose our Gov
ernor, but that the soldier of America.
who fights our battles, shall be dis
franchised because of his enlistment
for that purpose, is treason against
American manhood and American lib
erty.
1t is an insult to patriotism and an
afront to the best courage of the land
to say that member of the Army of
the United States cannot vote in this
State, even If his home is within its
limits and there lives his wife and his
little ones.
In view CT these outrageous pro-
visions We call upon the President of
our Country to withhold his approval
of such a Constitution. We are in favor
of Statehood: we are in favor of i'm
mediate Statehood: We are in favor of
joint Statehood of Oklahoma and In
dian Territory, but we want even
handed Statehood. Statehood where
every man has an equal political pow. r
| in deciding the question as to who
| shall ne the United States Senators to
represent us in the National Congress
and an equal say with any other citi-
zen of our State as to what laws shall
be enacted for our guidance.
We are opposed to any Constitution
| or any appogtionment which gives 10
the citizens of one County six times the
voting streQeth of like citizen in an
other Colby. Every citizen of Greer
County is entitled, under our form of
Government. saved to us by the Grand
Army OF the Republic, with just as
much power in saying who shall rep
resent US in the United States Senate as
any citizen in Oklahoma County, and
no more.
And any system of apportionment,
or plan of organization which gives to
any portion of our State an advantage
over any other part, Is not republican
in form and tends to destroy the plan
of Government intended by the fathers
of the Republic.
| ANY form of apportinnment or no.