The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-16
tsy vernIee EarIs pannerl.

(5y Vernice Earle DanneF).
In the old Territorial days the legis-
iature consisted Of thirteen senators
aad twice as many representatives
They aiwl-,s met In Guthrie at the res.
ular time. did their york, and ad-
journed without 8ny noticeable fuss
about quarters. principally because
they knew thaQ there was no use to
fuss, and because not any larger quar-.
terr than we're provided we're aeces.
sary.
But iael DeeembeTs when lAe first
state legislature met, II had increased
IN size many times over the old Terri
torial legislature and consequently
needed larger and more comfortable
quartere. In some ways the members
failed to find these, and at once they
began to complai1 These complaints
Increased ias volume until finally 1t ne.
Game apparent that unless something
was done Guthrie might lose the cap
stoi. Then the citizens awoke to their
duty and the agitation for conven-
tion hall was begun with senator
Harper S. CHnninghsIe as It's chief
champion.
Added to the lack of Accommodations
there were several other things which
augmented the convention hall agita-
tion. For instance the legislature was
overwhelmingly democratic and there
was a political prejudice against ieav
ing the capitol In a republican strong
mold any longer than necessary. There.
fore fiodg1f tlie local democrats labor.
ed hard TO dispel the notion, yet those
democratic members from away were.
determined to move Gnle3s better
quarters were provided. Most OF the
old members Rad hopes OF being res
turned next year and they wanted
some assurance that better Recommo
dations would be provided. Then
there W'as a fight between Governor
Haskell and certain local republicahs
along toward the latter part of the SOS
sicn that threatened Guthrie's capital
chances. Thia was hushed up by the
citizens OF Guthrie as soon So possible
yet Il created a hatred in the minds 90
certain members OF the legislatur and
made them more determined thaR ever
90 take the capital away unless better
quarters we're provided. Somehow the
question OF accommodations remained
the paramount issue throughout, ans
no matter what other questions came
up the accommodation question OuG
Swallowed them all
When the agitation for a conventioa
nall was started, members OF the legis
lature from other towBs aspiring 70
some day become che capital, saw
the defeat OF any chance OF getting the
capital removed soones than 1918 0i
tae earliest n Guthrie built conyen-
ton hall They therefore, simulta-
neously with the agitation to get Gutk
rie 10 build q convention hall. tor that
was ali tnat most of the members of the
legislature wanted, there was begun
greater agitation to move the capital
ua er i:e pretenee of 4 defeat OF any
especial legislation that would permit
Guthrie 10 build hall
The Oklahoma constitution provides
in Article 10, Section 26. that 40 city
shall be allowed to become indebted
more than per cent Of the taxable
valuation Of the taxable property of
the city. Il was therefore thought that
9 special act OF the legislature would
be required to permit Guthrie to build
e convention hall. because It would re-
cuire more money than she could raise
under the existing law 20 build suit
able hall. Sucn q bill was introduced
lA tue iCAiHldAuiE duN aAltl OuN Oi lit
IOsi bitter fights during the entire
cession II was passed on the very last
Eigat and the opposere OF the OIL
had lost
when the lesiglature had adjourned
9 new light was thrown upon the scene
2enaior Cunninghaim announced to the
citlzens OF Guthrie tial the special &C,
aid not have the emergency clause
attached to a and therefore offered no
niatefial relief as far az Guthrie was
concerned because In order to bave the
nall ready for occupancy by the next
leEislature preparaAlone Ger It's con
etrnction would have 20 be begun at
once and the special act would not go
iato effect until ninety days. or too
late The opposition mad NOT lost, then
SITTER all
Sonator CunEingham tooig up the
constitution aud studied II for a day OF
bwo, He was determined that GUth
rie should skave'a convention hall He
had lead NE fight all along and did
U-t propose TO be beaten now II he
could help II. He discoyered that the
constitution gave the city the right 10
vCte a larger amount OF bonds than
5 per cent Of ts9 iaxsble vsluati0n OF
he CEHbie property Ia Article 10
Seciioa ~, t1S eonbtiiultcn y1ys that