The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-08-20

eus arose TO Interfere with the poliii-
cal rights of a lungsnifering people
Ignoring with contempt the fat that
ignoring with contempt the fact that
control of the liquor traffic was pecu
liarly "a matter OF individual choice
and that its regulation belonged to
the people themselves, these paid
agents set themselves up as masters
of the situation and. by using a few
Indians as am argument persuaded
congress that the people We're over.
helmingly in favor Of prohibition.
The hour was a critical one for
stateshood and a fight in congress
meant It's probable defeat Gagged by
such danger the people were com
PEELED to restrain their opposition, and
permit these alien dictators to rivct
upon the enabling act prohibitory
clause that stands unparalleled as an
example Of federal interference IN
state affairs
Win eyeglasses canes and patent
leathers, these influential personages
came cishing 10 oklahoma and indian
Territory. and announced from the
house tons that no man should go as
delegate TO the cOntibtional conyen.
ton who would not pledge obedience
TO their demands. They declared AFRO.
gantly that all must subscribe 10
statewide prohibition, as this wac the
only genuine solution of the liquon
problem Men who were temperate,
men of ability. men of good citizen
ship, We're defeated through the arti-
fees of these emissaries from other
states, simply because they believed
there were better ways OF controlling
the liquor traffic. were honest enough
TO say SO. and not dishonest enough
to treakle TO outside threats
When The constitutional convention
assembled these same personages
camped IN the lobbies They proms.
ed this and that leader success or de.
feat in his political schemes. to the
degree that,he helped or opposed their
wishes The convention adopted
stringent rules against lobbyists. some
of the penalties being exclusive from
the hall, and the posting of the often
der's mama al the doors No lobbyists
cver.played the game more boldly and
with Jess fear OF punishment than did
these hired agents. There was Just as
much scope for honest difference OF
opinion about the merits of prohibi.
tion as there was ca6certqif' the regu-
latiOn Of corporations, etc. The alien
lobbyists for statewide prohibition
button-hoied delegates in the lobbies,
followed them 90 their rooms, and
conferred with them in private places
In hotels. Delegates We're even en-
tertained at banquets paid for by
those lobbyists and their friends. A
railroad lobbyist employing the same
tactics would have been held up 10
pubic scOrn. and rightfully
The inside facts would show that
these lobbyists from other states We're
The benehciaries of vote.trading that
made possible The division of coun.
ties In Oklahoma and the adoption or
defeat of other measures of nc less
concern 90 the people There are old
fashioned persons who believe that 90
buy one vote with another is NO less
a crime under the law than TO buy "a
vote with money
The people OF Oklahoma and Indian
Territory are emlnently capable OF
taking care of their own affairs They
dislike the insOlcnt interference of
carpethagger. whether he be am Office
holder or a lobbyist and viii como
near voting on the question of state.
wide prohibition in q way than viii
permit each community 10 protect lts
property rights aud compel ihe liquor
Interests 90 obey the law. instead of
bringing on g reign of boot lcggers
and 'blindtigers
r. MIG.