The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-01-18

''ifrNtfiiN Hui iNVHta anu IOI the sup
port Of It's peal charitable and edu-
cational institutions"
The courts Of Kansas prevented
that state from erecting ain oil re-.
iinery with which to cope with the
Standard OIL Co This caa never
happen in Oklahoma, but Oklahoma
may build. own and operate kasl-
roads. telegraphs, packinghouses. fac
tories Of oil kinds, and can 20 into
any mercantile business. wholesale
or retar. can own and operate ho-
tells. theaters or perform any func-
tion except agriculture. The social
ist awakes from his dream and finds
Oklahoma armed with the power to
carry his fondest visions into effect.
Having decreed that no power shall
stop them from trying the experiment
Of public ownership, the constitution
proceeds TO make Il easy for the ma
jority of the people TO carry into
effect any scheme which appeals TO
them. This they may do through the
Initiative and referendum, the cher
ished weapons which all radical re-
formers have tried To grasp. and
which Is now In the hands Df the
people OF Oklahoma This Is the in
novation which aroused the bitter
opposition OF the financial interests
of Oklahoma, and which led % the
rather amusing contention that the
power of the people to pass OF repeal
laws was in conflict with q "republi-
can form Of government" The ini-
tiative ani referendum are in force in
Oregon and have long been used for
specific purposes in most Stats, but
no part OF the world save Switzer-
land and New Zealand has ever been
invested with the stupendous demo
cratic power bequeathed to Okla
bona in these lines copied from her
new constitution:
The legislative authority OF the
State shall be vested in a legislature
consisting of a Senate and House
Of Representatives but the people
reserve 10 themselves the power to
propose laws and amendments to the
constitution and TO enact or reject
the same at the polls independent
of the legislature, and also reserve
power at their own option to approve
or reject at the polls any act OF the
legislature
This is a crushing blow delivered
rAi nAt-AA eAA AAlitetnldilNE EONti IL
ment,i and tnost radical ireformers 1
agree that all our national woes flow
from the fact that the people have
had no power over their elected rep
resentatives. Their slogan has been
Representative government is a fail
ure; democracy is possible only with
direct legislation through the initi-
atiye and the referendGm. And at
last their turn has come, and | do
not hesitate to predict that the fate
OF representative government in the
United States win depend on the re-.
suit OF the experiment which Okla
homa is row certain to make
When you take into consideration
the following resolution adopted by
the legislature upon the recommen-
dation OF Governor Haskell who is
today recognized as the leader OF ad-
vanced thought in matters OF politi-
cal economy. and unquestionably the
friend Of the farmer and the laborer,
himself poor man who mas made
his way through the world since early
childhood. We quote the resolution
In full.
Relating 10 the calling OF a con
vention on phe States to propose
amendments to the Constitution of
the United States providing for the
election Of United States Senators
by direct vote Of the people. and for
other purposes, and providing for the
appointment OF a. Senatorial Elec-
tion Commission Of the State OF
Oklahoma
Senate joint Resolution.
WHEREAS a large number Of the
State Legislatures have at various
times adopted memorials and resolu.
tions in favor of the election OF Uni
ted States Senators by direct vote
OF the people OF the respective states;
and
WHEREAS, the national House of
Representatives has, on several diff
ferent occasions in recent years,
adopted resolutions in favor of the
proposed change in the method of
electing United States Senators which
were not ladopted by the Senate;
therefore
BE 1T RESOLVED BY THE SEN
ATE AND THE HOUSE OF REP
RESENTATIVES OF THE STATE
OF OKLAHOMA:
Section l. That the Legislature OF
the State of Oklahoma in accordance
with the provieions Of Article Of
the Constitution of the United States,
desires to join with the other States
of the Union to respectfully request
that 3 convection on the several
states be called for the purpose OF
proposing amendments to the Con.
stitution Of the United States and
hereby apply TO and request the Con
gress Of the United States to call
such convention and to provide for
submitting to the several states the
amendments so proposed fsr ratifica-
tion by the legislatures thereof, or
by convention therein, as one or the
other mode of ratification may be pro.
posed by Congress-
Section 3 That at said COnven-
ton the State OF Oklahoma viii pro-
pose. among other amendments, that
Section 3. of Article OF the Con
stitution Of the United States should
be amended TO read as follows;
The Senate OF the United States
shall be composed of two senator's
from each state. chosen by the cleo
rors thereof as the governor Is
chosen, for six years and each SEN
ator shall have one vote. They shall
be divided as equally as may be into