The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-06-04

ntnttu, ana IN Tue DtklnulnE WISH
to say that this doctrine was announ-
ced IN the constitutional convention,
and when appointed the chairman of
the ccmmittee-l appointed J. F. King,
Bis hearted conscientious, modest,
unassuming patriotic j. f. King.
chairman; did It deliberately, be-
cause / knew his views
The working out Of tax legislation
is the hardest perhaps that the legis-
lator is called upon to perform. Judge
King rendered service such as to draw
and couch IN a few words, all the pow
er necessary for the state to exercise
every kind and character In select
ing the committee in this house,
selected every member OF It deliber-
ately. with malice of fore thoughts I
selected the committee l know would
draft these several tax bills, and fol-
low closely the lines laid down by
Judge King in the constitutional con-
ventiCn OF all the bills that Aave
been before this house. none have had
such pains taking efforts as the bills,
two OF which have been adopted, and
the two yet to follow, and when they
are adopted, Oklahoma will impose
her burden OF taxation upon those
who are able to pay, and not upon
those least able 10 pay.
The a. gument Of the first gentleman
who took the floor, some one remark
ed that he was opening his campaign
fer congress in the Third district,
don't know but what re was, but what
that is true, but when he had con-
cluded, and | read such expressions of
extrCme legislation, dangerous and
radical legislation, I said to myself,
IF ne runs and publishes that speech
he will get licked to a standstill."
| want to say TO you that the peo-
plo are committed to the doctrine
laid down in this bill; not only com
mitted, but It Is right. The gentle
men who first took the floor spoke OF
palliating the oil men. want to say
to you, gentlemen, that It is not good
politics to 90 wrong to palliate any
class of men, / don't care whether
they be merchants, laborers, farmers,
school lessees or oil men. DO the
right thing and the conscientious man
viii stay with you. | want to say to
you that the oil man who Is a demo-
crat and believes In democratic prin-
clp.es will stand by the democratic
party when they adhere to those
princiDles. The man on the other
hand who Is republican will stand
equally by republican principles. The
man who IS seeking selfishness will
abandon any party that don't carry
special privileges, and the quicker we
get rid CT men who are searching for
exclusive privileges, for exclusive
principles. the better Il will be for the
state and for the democratic party
The question is not whether they arc
going to be taxed--a short while ago
two excellent gentlemen came into my
office and talked two hours on this
subject with me. They are good men,
too. one OF them w. II. Johnson, of
Bartlesville. another an able gentle
man that has his millions (and l have
no prejudice against the wealthy mani
love the big hearted, patriotic, and
public spirited rich man; when they
sat down and began to talk, and II
the house will permit me, Will tell
YOU what | said said Mr.. Johnson,
it IS not a question OF whether you are
going to be taxed, but HOW MUCH?'
They MUST pay this tax, aud ]
would oppose to the last effort every
burdensome tax upon these people.
When ( explained to Mr.. Johnson,
whom | believe TO be good man,
rich though he IS, he said-"That is
not. after all, a bad proposition; we
we're not informed as to what was
purposed to be DONE" and then in
this connection, | wish 10 repeat here,
scmo of the efforts that have been
made. not by members Of this house,
because / assume every member on
the floor OF this house is striving and
laboring faithfully TO represent their
constituency, but some of the efforts
that have been made have had TO
them the greatest subterfuge that |
ever saw IN a legislature. Why, when
C. j. Wrightsman Of Tulsa an oil
man, had the gall to go out over the
state and write such resolutions as he
has. and make the declaration on the
train that Murray should be unseated
n he insisted on this tax-when he
found he had been whipped to a stand
still he wanted 10 retract and called
me up on the phone and assured me
that be was a good friend and said
"Wrlghtsman, ! have enough OF good
friends like you. ] have had enough
of Them" He denied what he had
said and said be would give q written
statemerg -and the gentleman TO
whom he had made the statement
wrote to me that he had said that and
MORE.
Now. I call your attention 10 this 10
show you that it Is not the indepen-
dent man that is behind this proposi.
tion. bu the STANDARD OIL that
don't want 10 put that tax upon the
Oh they purchase.
want TO call your attention to the
argument made By Mr. Yanieventer
II that argument IS true as made IN
the frst instance, II Is true ia tho sec
ond which he failed TO observe. He
said usually We nut such tax on pub,
Ne corporations bur never on private
corporations" I think I am quoting
hiD correctly. and IN reply 7 wish TO
eau attention to the fact that 10 this
bin it covers public service corpora
lions or such private corporations only
as deal with public property-oil gas
and coal
As said by DR. Abbott when he de.
liyered that address, ca the floor OF