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

last quarter century
Create Corporation Commission.
The provision creatlng the Okla
homa Cooperation commission Is like
similar provisions 81 many states, and
still in those instances where the
commission IS given semijudiciary
powers. our state ranks first. At the
time of the passage of the act there
was a concentrated "howl' from
many quarters The working OF the
commission, however. has been con.
trary to ghat was expected by the
public service corporations. whicn had
IN the hitherto been lord aud master, -
hard in,eod the mastership. too, when
Il came TO the making Of rates for our
people to pay.
The commission was rounily BE-
iabored 90 the corporate interests at
the outset. but, tevidence Of merit to
honest folk), the provisions and rul-
iags we're not appealed to the courts.
ard the corporations seemed to find
wisdom in said rulings, otherwise they
would have been tested by the courts
Aide Railway Service.
When the great iate-spring food
occurred. AMI hundreds Of miles of rail-
way tracks were out--trafflc held up
and many hundred thousangis OF dol
lars worth OF property destroyed, pas.
sengers laii out at way stations. ami
all train service run without schedule
the Corporation commission became
an agent Of the roads. AMI the men,
bers. CLove McAlester and Watson1
were as servants for the great service
corporations. laboTing to serve and
| preserve property of same. IN lieu OF
the o,der 10 make the roads. at tre-
mendous expense as had been CHARGED
could oe done, run trains no matter.
save they be able to move the trains
could be done. run trains no matte-
Chairman Love took command and
aided the railroad managers to get
their trains out and over the bad
places, firmly standing strong and
positive behind the commission de.
tefee that the roads. being a part OF
Oklahoma, must have the full power
snd strength of the state in presery
ing the property and maintaining the
value Of same.
Perhaps no new official body was
ever giye1 so splendid an opportunity
to prove dts value. and certain It is
that the commission rose to the oc
oasion and demonstrated that good
public service is an item all manner
OF citizens viii approve. in this case
praise coming stoutest from the very
corporate influences which were sup
posed to be antagonistlc.
When the people of the state were
given an opportunity TO accept or re
jcct the constitution. the acceptance
was made by the greatest majority
proportion considered, the American
ceopie ever gave subject for theil
action.
People Accept Constitution.
The acceptance of the organic law
The presidential proclamation and tn,
ushering inof statehood on November
l6.19tS, rarked epochs in the historl
OF Oklahoma
Partisan leaders Of ether faith made
Il forlorn effort TO defeat the organl,
act, but there was never a question
cf the result. and the acceptance an,
ushering IN of the state government
one year ago this day, opened fo
the trial ol experience a state govern
mont that gave the electorate NOR,
rights. more privileges than had eve
before been attempted in the histor,
OF popular or other sort of govern
ment.
Statehood and Progress.
With the advent OF statehood an,
the arduous work OF uniting two poT
u.ous communitles-one territoria
regime under Nebraska. Kansas an,
fcattered statutory laws, the othe
blessed with statutes from Arkansa
attached to the whims and caprice O
Interior department rulings-gave I
the state officials a task not easil
performed; nor could II be expecte,
! ulet the work OF perfecting and vita
ization would be perfect In spite Q
, the tremendous obstacles. and star
ing in the midst of the greatest fnaI
cial panic the country has ever unde
zone. the state administration ha
carried 70 successfu. end each of tn
different matters which has been In
pnrtant In the run OF AFFAIRS
The states are alike in the genera
. method of conducting business. bt
The new constitution left wide scop
to ENABLE the authorities to prote,
r the money OF the taxpayers, and ther
D can be no iobbing in the matter
securing supplies ia any departmel
81 the constitutional provisions /
Il carried out.
I BE IL ever said to the credit OF Il
t state officials an each department TN
2 no one. enemies fighting harl, too.
. the heat OF National campaign. hl
b ever charged any state ohiciai VIII
being guilty OF misconduct or IN
i Hlightest tttempt al wrongdoing.
y lisslsell . target.
2 The chief executive bore the brul
4 II bitter partisan attRck during h
2 campaign that has now closed, an
J. al times those assaults were sure
] brutal in the personal attacks ma,
G against mm, but no responsible eli