The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-08-04

peupie Of oklahoma to decide al the
baliot box on election day IN Noyem
II IS no, q political qUeafiH Some
democrats say yes. others say nc;
slHc republicans say yes. O prs Say
no Every voter viii have decide
tor himself when he goes 10 fhe BAR
LOO hos We Hmra our opinion and
Others are entitled TO have theirs. i,
is ~ ouostan OF judgment
Let Us Have the History of This Land
The land belonged to The United
STATES government, and was given io
the state of oklahoma by the act Of
congress passed June 18th, 1906. called
the stutehood bill In granting tins
laad ia the state, some of il for com
mon school purposes, somc for pub
lic binding purposes, and gone for
university normal schools, A. K 81
I college university preparatory and
coicred agricultun1 normal university
I purposes, the congress in section nina
/ of the statehood biz recognizing the
obligation that the United States gov
: crHnehi was Under iaa lessees upon
said land, put the following provision
I IN sald statehood bill as part 1f
sech0n nine thelcot:
~ sEid ections sixteen and
th,t sIGt and laIs taken in leo
a2stH.r. I1ein 8. C.ed fsr the SUP.
IN fE.u M. COMMON schools IL sold
( q g. W. appraised and sold at public
sam ~ -one hundred ard sixty acre
| tracts or less, under such rules apd
I lresulations ns Tie legislature OF the
state may prescribe, preference igat
70 purchase at the highest BID being
/ giFen te the lessee al the time sG D
sale a..
So 10 will be seen that the aet g.
congress that gave this land TO the
state, recognized a preference right in
I the lessee llpon the lard
This brings us 10 the point where
the people of the state of oklahoma.
represented by the t%o great political
parties, define their position with fa.
gard TO these public lands.
Now, lei us trace each party's prom
isas and declarations on the subject.
Democratic Position.
The democratic party OF Oklahoma
wrote the constitution of the STATE
Article .. section l. OF the consHta-
tion accepts the grant of these pubHc
lands from the government. subject 10
the conditions OF the grant which n-
cludes The preference right mentioned
Section four provides that al this
public land. Nav be sold by the sta,e
Gnder such rules and regulations 3
The legislature may prescribe in con-
iormity with the regulations OF the
enabling act"
The above constitutional provisions
drafted by a democratic constitution
al convention.
Democratic Platform.
Al the democratic convention he'd
in Oklahoma City june lcih. 1907
The democratic party Of the state OF
Oklahoma adopted platform, one 3f
Tao pienks Of which read as follews
We lelieve that rs s0oa as pos
aihle and practical lands held by TIE
state for educational purposes should
be sold upon terms that should te
absolutely fair to the people OF ih's
state preserving preference right d
The lessees guaranteed by cnablins
act TO end that such lands should b.
come taxable and be made more val- !
rab'e and productive by actual owne
thereof
We believe that funds derived from |
sale Of such lands should be faithfully {
preserved and Invested as provided ~ /
tho constitution.
We believe that the present state I
schools should be maintained au 4
teat other necessary schools and stte I
Institutions should be established /
throughout che state
Upon this platform and coustit1. (
Lion a campaign was made aud ln .
The 18th day of September foiiowiuE .
the election was held The canstiti- 1
81
people, and the democratic candidates /
running upon ihe platform above men |
ioued received majority OF about 1
thirty thousand votes. The legsla- /
urc elected al that election was oyrr
whelmipgly damocratic.
Ihe legislative session began in De. /
eember a0f and remained la ses-
sion until May ! sos During this sps-
sion, to-wit. On the 22d day OF Febra- |
arg, 1908 the second democratic state I
convention was held, and adaned q I
platform OF principles. One of he SER
tions OF ibis platform reads as lol
lows;
Eve rr subscribe ousoives to lie /
principles as set forth ia the last state /
platiorm adopted in convention at. OK
lahoma city aud pledge the people ul I
This state it's fullQlment'
Things to Remelnbsr.
NOW, DO nat fofget Te1der Shat !
of the things re subscribed 10 by tno
democratic state convention oil Febrt- |
ary 32d. 1893 was ihe sale OF the pc1 |
llc lands promised IN the Platform
adopted at he Oklahoma city c0nyca-
lion in June, 1907
Time progressed the first leglaia- /
tpre adjourned without providing for /
tbe sale of the land, although he /
house after much consideration did 1
pass d hill, but 81 reached the senate |
so late as not TO give that body a 1
reasonable lime for rs considaraG n. /
However, as the constitution OF Osil- I
homa had directed the legislature % /
provide for the Initiation of laws by |
the people, and as public disciss 5n F.
oi the school land question was tai en- ,
as indicating that the people woald .
want 20 vote on the provisions f9c
sale Of these lands either by reierr1g
a legislative bin or bg initiating q n.
ihe failure of the legislature 10 .ct
was not of great consequence.
Immediately Governor Acts
immediately upon the adio1rnm n 4