The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-11-17

requirement OF the people, then
present that fact to the people and
let them change it by their own
VIII If they desire. II the Consti-
tuition of the United States does not
meet the demands OF modern times.
then submit the necessary amend
ments to the states and amend It. II
three-fourths of the states are will
ling to do so. repeat that you can
destroy the principles Of free gov.
eminent for good purpose just as
quickly as you can destroy them for
an evil purpose. Your constitution
ceases to be the voice of the people
when It must yield to the whims OF
any officer or set OF officers.
Shall the Constitution be Changed? /?
Then II we are right that the pro
visions of the constitution OF the
United States shall be respected un.
I'll changed by the states we are
ready to consider the propriety OF
the changes threatened by individual
construction Shall the federal gov.
1rnment authorize the creation OF
, corporations through its powers and
influences, shall Interstate railroads
be granted federal charters to the
extent OF depriving states Of home
| control. as that control now exists?
In both particulars we say emphat-
ically no. And we would plant our
flag on the first protest which would
be made. SO long as we do not elect
| United States senators by direct vote
OF the people, that long at least
should the states reserve unto them.
selves the right to protect their
people against the improper en-.
croachments OF corporate wealth and
the power that goes with wealth.
There are other reasons. but this
one to my mind would be insurmoun-
table 80 long as 1t exists.
An illustration OF the inefficiency
Of federal control of these ques-
tions can best be given by calling
attention to the practices within
the area which is now the state of
| Oklahoma. Those anxious to cen.
tralize this power TO control. in the
federal government and advise us to
trust our fortunes and our happiness
to federal control must blush when
| they review the conditions under
which we have lived for years. Our
| freight rates are double those in the
adjoining states. The lumber trust.
| The coal trust and other like com
! binatlons have fattened by unre.
| stricted robbery of our people. II
federal control is such good thing
in state. why has it proven so
US pray for the reservation within
| the hands Of the people OF Oklaho-
ma of the right TO govern them
selves to tho fullest extent that the
| teaching OF Washington and Jeffer-
| son contemplated we should have
when they created and defended the
constitution OF the United States.
! Let the day never come when the
power to protect the people shall
be concentrated in a small aggre-
CATION of mep assembled at our far
Off national capitol where the COM
bined power and influence of the
corporations of the United Stats can
concentrate their efforts on this sin.
gle governing power. The people
may at times commit an error. but
the people invariably right their
ship. trim It's sails and launch forth
upon n sea OF justice and equality
Of their own creation; therefore,
let us ever worship the motto:
| Let the people rule. and to let the
people rule you must keep the gov
ernment close to tho people and free
from Capitalization. Concentrate the
power OF government In a few hands
and you give concentrated opposi
tion to good government the oppor
tunity It has sought for many gen
erations.
Government 10 . BUSINESS Prepo-
sltlon.
The farmer is business man.
| The laborer Is business man.
Those engaged In finance. commerce.
manufacturing. mining. or transpor
tation. are business men, each and
all; and In the aggregate they must,
for stability and prosperity, depend
upon their government, Clearly. then
|