The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-02-17
EDITORIAL LEADER
As OKLAHOMA RADlCAL7

EDITORIAL LEADER
rs OKLAHOMA RADlcAL7
one OF the stories told against the
present administration the corpora.
tion commission and the legislative
body. Is that.-all are too radical and
as whole will drive corporate wealth
from the state
Until this good day no one stating
these things has given n single fact
TO the world to substantiate the state
ment
III what and whore can this radical
ism be found?
IS il radical for the state to ask the
corporations 60 pay their full share
OF taxes? Is Il radicalism to make the
railroads reduce their rates so that
All Oklahoma institution may have
some chance to ship freight2 Is Il
radical 20 force the railroads and the
coal companies to be satisfied with
400 per cent proft2 Can a state be
rNdical when it legislates to make the
corporations under the common car
ricr head reduce their rates 20 within
twenty per cent of what the Interstate
commerce commission has declared
fairg
All OF these questions can be an
swered IN the negative More, the
people OF Guthrie, % miles distant
from the great coal mines of the state.
pay more for a very inferior article
OF coal than do the residents along
the Mississippi river for anthracite
coal shipped from the Wyoming val
ley Of Pennsylvania
Oklahoma has paid tribute 10 cor
porafe management nntil II would I've
iuetifed at open rebellion thereto. II
has paid priceG Cor railroad freights
not offered in amy other territory nor
dreamed OF IN any other state. She
has had her factories made silent by
the terrific and damnable policy Of
the powers which were. She has paid
forfeit on all industry, and her
people were made 10 whistle because
the Interstate commerce commission
was powerless 10 be OF service while
she was a territory
Oklahoma rs conservative. and that
conservatism has cost the taxpayers
much in tribute Believing IN the
houndless resources Of the common
wealth, her people have builded cities,
erected factories. established schools
and forged 60 the front hampered by
q system of corporate tariffs no other
state or territory has had TO contend
against The express companies. the
telephone trust and each and every
corporation With outside connections,
have all laid tribute against the pro.
dnctive soil and rich mineral wealth
og the state, and the people, unable
90 aid themselves. and hampered by a
WashingtNpian policy, have been
made 70 bow subseryient to all these
Interests. The wonder Is that the
people. fresh from the evils they aaye
endured have not wiped their oppres-
Hors from the very earth
Instead we find the legislature, aid
ed by the states chief executive,
seeking to enact laws which will be
fair 20 all concerned and bring TO all
fair returns on the investment Rot
even Ia the ward meetings do the vot.
ers OF the state ask for vengeance.
They have paid dearly for the right
Of suffrage. and having u aud in full
posecsaiop OF governmental machin'
cry 20 about the business with the
pnind manner OF Americans seeking
10 make the virtues of the future
ntone for the evils OF the past Aud
IN SO doing they deserve the aid aud
assistance Of every patriotic American
citizen
No higher citizenship in the Union
can be found than this OF Oklahoma.
No prouder sovereign people can bee
found than those of this great aad
productive state. No greater example
"a American progress can be I'm.
surihed upon the scroll of fame than
tho fact of Oklahoma, the oppressed
OF an territories, once sovereign pow.
ar is gained. going about the business
al statehood as II she had always pos.
sfssed that blessing and bore no
Srudee against the world
Aud the crowded marts the fertile
fields. the fastening trains carryihe
commence 20 the metropolitan cities,
ail are evidence non-controvertible of
the staying progressive spirit which
has made aud continues to make OK
lahoma among the great common
Nealths of the siEterhood
And ne who declares this is "A radi.
cal people with radical views does
bat alandcr a people who have learned
the lesson Of s3ligoYarpmeut al
bitter but instructive Fcl9ol oi eApeft
tnee.