The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-07-17

given as much representation as Dem
ocratic ~Pottawatomie county with
over forty-four thousand peoplci That
not looking fair I looked again for p
more equitable basis. Next I took the
so-called Asp constitution proposed IN
this convention by all the minority
members. found the McCurtain
county district (Republican.) with
thirty thousand people allotted as
much representation in both House
and Senate as the Chickaeha district
(~Democratic) with owe seventy thou
sand people.
This. with other equally unequal
comparisons. convinced me that the
minority proposition was unfair.
| looked further for some figures
that would bear a semblance to Justice
and in that search ! took up the scho-
lastic census of Oklahoma Territory
as made, certified and published bv
the Republican Territorial officials Of
Oklahoma. BY taking the report of
the present governor of Oklahoma I
found that he said that a fair way to
arrive at the proper census was TO
multiply that scholastic enumeration
by the multiple three and seventy-ffve
ono hundredths. Upon applying that
with care ! found that the apportion-
ment which was first made by this
convention was absolutely fair be-
tween the two political parties. !
found there was no political unfair
ness and but little territorial unfair
ness. In fact ] found that there was
not m single Republican state east
Of the Missouri river which had an
appOrtionment as equitable between
the political parties as was the first
apportionment adopted by this coaven-
ton.
! took the NTH set of nga-es. /
found that ar. McNabb. the Repub.
lican secretary q agriculture of Okla
homa Territory. had published a book.
over his certificate he SAYS: "The
above is the correct population by
counties of the several counties of Ok
lahoma Territory as reported March
6. l9ti" That being certified by him
TO be correct. and the notice given
that there was only one estimate given
in II. that being Oklahoma City. and
he rave that estimate at what he be-
lieved to be proper. l believe that this
body should take that certificate as
genuine, and If it Is NOT correct it is
not the fault of this convention.
We then turn TO the Indian Terri.
tory for some intelligent basis to
figure on. We find that the last Off
eial census. the census of 1900. taken
by the Federal government and report
ed by nations was the only official
! census that could be found. We found
that in the statehood bin that con
gress had said that the population of
Indian Territory was equal to the
population of Oklahoma Territory,
Excluding the Usage nation.) There.
fore we believed that Il was orr duty
TO obey the suggestions Of the .tate-
hood bill, and therefore we said that
as the official census OF Oklahoma
Territory say six hundred and sixty
two thousand. two hundred ana three
people In Oklahoma. that we should
assume that the increase in Indian
Territory gave II the same.
We didn't enter the field of guess.
ing. We stood strictly by the census
figures. We said that population
would necessitete an increase OF sixty
seven and II fourth per cent in In
dian Territory. We didn't seek for
partisan localities TO give the prefer
enc in the increase. We said each
locality should have the same per cent
Of increase. There was nothing to
Justify guess work and no necessity