The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-02-19

d itSoclHtiuu. IbnfNtiN 10, lSHh.)
Mr Chalrman and gentlemen of th,
Demo ratio Press Associations Il
affords me aseat pleasure 10 address
ynn on ihis occasion; q makes mt
feel that am surrounded by kindred
spirits. whose labcrs shared while
the dostinies Of unr state hung in fhe
puverlue balancc of partisan scale
thHlgh Our experiences are not
without their instructive lessons
The travellers who have passed
through 4 storm at sen have expert
cnced an the perils have endured all
the hnrdships have horne the bur
dens. and huyo gone through alive and
we'll would not enacc that picture
from thsi memories. In their hours
OF reflection they can see the old shin
as Il was tossed on the mad waves oi
the stormy ocean: they would not re-.
peat that experience set they wonld not
cHace that picture from the memory.
The soldiers who have passed
through the terrible conflicts of bat.
tie. who amid The roar Of cannon the
rattle of musketry the crash of bayo.
nets and the glitter of swords have
lcharged the enemy and whipped them
routed them from the last ditch and
won au immortal victory uTa proud 0i
their enlistment and should he Tgey
would not willingly repeat this expert
cnce set they would not eiface this
picture from their memories and / 90
not blame them, it would be sacrilegi-
Gus 10 rob heroes 0f their glory and
that Is Q part of o.
4 believe there 10 be something of
the spirit Of the wind tossed travicr
and the fbatilc Scared hero in the
brave bold and fearless pioneers OF
the state OF Oklahoma. and for the
few minutes allotted 10 m4 it matters
not whether Oklahoma was discovered
by De Sotois wandering band. or
whether an alluring hope brought hith-
or Ponce do Leon In his frnitless
search for tha spring Of immortal
youth Of whether ii was discovered hy
the FIRST carpet-bag governor when he
was called from the qniets of his M
diana home and brought here to guide
the ship Of state
Since high noon OF the 22nd day Of
April 1889. Oklahoma has been con
stantly smingng surprises on the
world The creation of q city of $4,000
Inhabitants in a single day Is mar
Nft f't Nti NANN W 'AtNAAAf ~ Wtti VIZ
ated la this mp6as
When Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory were engaged and preparations
We're being made TO coesummaie the
happy union II was necessary t1 have
the two territior laid OH into one
hundred and twelve districts-tney
We're lain out with lines that meander
ed like the course OF the brook that
rnshes on IN growing fulinesR from the
mountain 90 the sea-the latter Ia ma
tnral aud expected but tho former is
unaecounted unless the Federal Judges
were 50 crooked they could not agree
on a straight line.
When tile delegate election was be-
ing asitated the democratic press es.
poused the cause of the common peo.
pie supported only pure men and Just
measures. When the results OF the
election was declated The principles OF
democracy and Won grand victory.
When the constitutional convention
met and became busy with the consid-
Ieration Of measures that would insure
the common people against the plutocra
! tic power of the rich and opnlent they
/ iwere constantly attacked and malign-
ed by aniriendly and subsidized press.
but thank God amid the shafts of SLAM
der aud arrows OF hatred they remsin-
ed unmoyed ia their grand work and
again Che democratic press OF the state
stood firm in the defense OF the ever
lasting principles of Justice.
And again when the lahors of the
constitutional convention were ended
a partizan press announced that Okla
homa aud Indian Territory could never
become state because 'Cockle-hurr
Bnl' had packed the document that
was 80 be ths organic law OF Oklahoma
in his grip and retired 20 TishOmingo,
but the democratic press stood firm.
lsaying to the people that the docu
mont was in safe hands. that l3iil
would deliver the goods at the proper
time and aa did yindicating the
Judgment of the democratic press.
Later when the skirmishers were oe.
coming frequent along the line Of bat
Tito "a partisan press and partisan courts
we're huttling for existence and the
defeat OF the constitution and state
hood even going 20 the extent of
bringing the cOrmlsnt secretary ol
war here 10 dcnOunce the constitution
land make promises OF another enabling
lact, the democratic press arose, cloth
cd In the armor OF righteousness and
bearing tbs shield OF unlalteldng faith
hurled the lancet square i'm the face OF
the enemy aud routed them at the last
ditch whenpn the 18th day of Septem
ber they were Joined ny hordes of men
with callouscd hands, Dronzed faces
and pure hearts. who placed the stamr
Iuf popular approval on the work ol
the constitutional convention. democ
Tracy and the democratic press OF ths
state. by The happy marriage Of Okla
homa and Indian Territory
The 10Th day of November ta07 Is
made memorable because on that daA
the iitle OF the people began The
blowing of Whistles and firing of guns
! that announced the glad iidlnea that
the president had signe3 iha procla
nation of statehood was also ringing
the death knell OF carpet basism ir
Oklahoma. for which The democratic
press association OF This state should
be awarded the merit Of doing grfa
aewise,
CHAs a KELLER