Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-05-15
oKLAHoMA's CONSTITUTION.

The best statement Of facts concerning
Oklahoma new constitution IS published
in The Commoner Of April 10Th. 1t is
from the pen Of Hon. Jesse ]. Dunn Of
Alva and is interesting to Kansas and
Oklahoma readers alike. The article
follows:
The democracy Of Oklahoma is again
placed under obligations to The Com
moner for its generous defense of the
members Of our constitutional convention
contained in its issue of the 5th inst.
1t is true that the convention was no,
made up Of Platts, Depews, Aldnches
or Roots, and that this class of gentry
would unquesionably speak Of the law
yers who guided the destiny of our state
IN the formation of the constitution as
"com6eld lawyers" built can be said
with equal truthfulness. that no man any
where, not even the partisan press of the
territory, state or nation, has accused this
convention Of being dominated in the re-
hottest degree by the trusts or railroad
interests of this nation nor Of any special
interest within the two territories. In
this age Of universal graft it is almost i'm
possible to realize that it is really a fact
that body Of one hundred and twelve
men were called together to deal with the
deshnies of two millions Of people, and
with the interests and existence in the
future of the commercial life of the state
and nation, so far as it concerned Okla
homa. and that no faint of corruption is
attached to that body nor to any mem
Der of it. Yet this is the amazing fact.
he constitution will be model for
other states for years to come. Among
the things which it provides for is a cor
porahon commission with full visitorial
and inquisitorial powers over every cor
poradon, foreign or domestic, doing bust
ness in the state. 1t makes the giving or
the acceptance Of free pass or the
contribution Of money by corporation
tor political purposes, criminal. 1t pro-
vldes tor two-cent passenger rate with
out reference to the distance travelled,
and every foreign or domestic corporation
doing business In the state is required to
agree that it will submit to the state board
Of arbitration any and all differences be-
tween itself and its laborers. Eight hours
constitute legal days work. Contract
ing Of convict labor and the employment
Of children under the age of fifteen years
are prohibited. The night Of the state
and every municipal corporation to en-
gage in any business enterprise is reserv-
ed, thereby protecting the people from
the rapacity Of trusts, and relieving them
Of ever being placed in position in which
Kansas found herself when seeking to
establish state oil refinery. The legis-
lature is authorized to establish public
printing plant with an elective state print
er. All the officers Of the state nclud-
ing the corporation commission and men,
bers Of the different boards are made
elective by the people, even to the clerk
OF the supreme court. Liberal exemp-
ions are provided. The initiative and
referendum was adopted, and it is man.
datory upon the Legislature to provide
for mandatory primaries for the nomina-
hon Of all state officers, and providing for
the election Of the United States sena-
tors by the direct vote Of the people as
soon as the federal law. will permit.
1T is modem, uptodate constitution
and carries out practically without an ex-
cephon the pledges in the platforms on
which the delegates were elected. 1t
will be ratified overwhelmingly. The
convention has provided two easy meth
DDS for the amendment Of the constitu-
hon: FIRST, by the legislature, and second
ly. on the fifteen per cent initatory pe6-
ton. The convention was not afraid to
trust the people. 1t was democratic.
1t was not written at the dicfation Of
either the carpet-bagger. the CRATER, or
the monopoGs, and of course, does not
please these classes, but the honest farm
er. tadesman and professional man in
state and nation will read this document
and recognize In it a modem declaration of
independence.
his brief resume is written for the
sole purpose Of asking all to reserve iudg-
nent until they can read the document
Itself"
JESSE ]. Dunn.