The independent., 1907-03-21
Making a Constitution


ern residents owing to the large negro
population and the need Of negro labor
which encourages such settlement.
The freedmen who are also to have a
share in the allotment of the Indian
lands likewise are factors in the situ-
alton.
When the delegates were elected Of
the 112 chosen only twelve were repub-
licans, while 100 were democrats. Pre-
vious elections had not indicated such
overwhelming odds. = The republicans
had elected delegates to congress; the
territory had been considered about
evenly divided between the leading
parties. When the convention assem-
bled in November with the democrats
in full power political economists be-
gan to realize the reasons for the at
titude Of the convention-that the ed
ucation Of the south had preponderat-
ed over that of the north because the
southern crops were being produced
and harvested in southern ways. The
: fact that northern crops were pp-
duced in abundance and are cared for
III northern ways is OF much less con-
sequence, because machinery is so
largely utilized in the handling of
these from the moment when the first
furrow is turned for the corn or wheat
to the depositing Of the garnered grain
in the elevator at the railway station.
Modern methods on the farm have
reached far greater perfection in the
north than in the south, and never be-
fore has the contrast come in direct
observation SO clearly as in the devel-
opment OF the agriculture OF the new
territory Of the southwest
One reason for the long dra wn- out
session Of the convention was the ef-
fort OF the, delegates to frame q con-
stitution that should suit southern
ideas, yet would be satisfactory to the
northern censors who must pass upon
it. 1t was announced from Washington
directly that If the "Jim Crow car,
provision went into the constitution
the president would not approve the
same and would not submit it to the
people OF the new state. Congress in
making 1t precedent to the submis-
sion OF the constitution that it should
have the presidents approval enjoined
upon the convention the strictest care
IN keeping within bounds in racial and
social matters. The temptation to in
corporate some of the south's ideas re-
garding the management of the fran
chise, the restrictions in school attend
ance and other things appealed to the
delegates strongly; but they were held
In check by their representatives in
congress who joined in protests that
tho adoption of the constitution should
not be imperiled by putting into it
things that were not in harmony with
northern ideas.
Pattern After Old States.
The westerner be he of the north or
n a 70
organic laws things that the older
settled states are content TO fix bv
statute. The middle west states vote
every year on numerous amendments
to their constitutions, some of them
concerning trivial practices that are
scarcely worthy the expense and eff
tort. So the delegates of the conven-
ton tried to put into the constitution
matters and provisions that should
have been enacted into law if made a
part of the states government
Along with this racial difficulty
came the matter of dealing fairly be-
tween the east and west of the new
commonwealth. The Indians have been
allotted certain tracts of land. one fifth
OF each holding being a homestead
not to be disposed of for twenty-one
years. 1t is also provided that there
snail be no liquor sold in the Indian
territory lands for that period. Okla
homa has saloons with the high
license system. The temperance ele-
ment desired naturally that the same
provision should be applied to the
western end of the state as to the
eastern. The possibility of state
half prohibition and nalf under the
license system is a novel idea. The
problem Is one that can be settled only
through the constitution.
The people of oklahoma are among
the most competent in the nation.
The ilhteracy Is less than per cent
and is confined TO old slaves, Indians
and few foreigners. Even the young
er generation or negroes is able to
read and write. The Indians havo
seventeen schools. and In the territory
end the Indians have had much bet
ter school facilities than the whites.
who were unable 10 secure support FOR
their schools except by private sub
scription. This means that the provi-
sions must bo OF the most progressive
sort or they win not receive favor