The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-03-24

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iutie and al things considered per
haps that is as F1od name IS any.
fop from that December dag when
6rst The measure was read IN the sen
ate until noon thle day. Richard a
Bliups has given u ag of his time
bis thoueht nd on Il he stated bis
political fortunes in the Great South.
west
Because of the drastic articles la
the former bill which was introduced
/ without the dispcnsarp clause. u
aroused opposition and the history OF
that contest is. tn fact the history
OF the state Of oklahoma for the past
few months
The First Fight
The contest before She holidays
made two men famous Billups and
Davis-both members of the senate;
both men of tha highest integrity
and each q temperance man in the
absolute fun meaning OF the word
The contest lasted ten days. and
dnally. with several Of the drastic
! features cut out the bin Went TO the
house. where 1t took the center Of
the stage. Speaker Murray added to
the bill the dispensary clause and
!
great contest arising as to whether 1t
was tho bin or substitute from the
house.
Lieutenant-Govern Beliamy sent
the bill to the legal advisory com
mlttee, and after the committee had
reported. the senate refused to con
cur In the house amendments. and a
conference committee was appointed
The conference committee returned
a bill. with several OF the drastic feat
ures eliminated. and again the amend
ed bill was offered TO the senate. the
lreadins and preparations fcs the con
test requiring an entire day
Eloquenee Ran Loose.
II was upon the emergency meas
lure that the senate went into the
greatest debate Of modern, legislative
history Men spfang into the fullness
lof manhood ia a MON nt Boys the
hour previous and not sure or them
selves, in a moment became aggres-
siye mel and arose TO the occasion,
land for days the senate chamber look
cd like some great debating hail. the
people iocking TO The place like en-
thusiasts on some topic open for dis
ouaaion.
With the organized members Of the
senate on one side. and those who re-
fused to subscribe TO the diapousary
on the other, 1t was worth the time
and tho price paid to have knowledge
that in Oklahoma are men who can
overcome all obstacles
Little Warred Against H.
Senators Davis aud Frank Mathews
who led the opposition were trained
lmen IN debate and work; but Senator
Little, OF sulphur in the hitherto an
unknown Quantity over the state, In
sarcastic and satllcai debate. listed
himself as 0ne Of the states ereatest
orators and one of the men who
would go 70 defeat when in pursuit
lof right as he gaw 80
ihe Insurgents as they were called,
Igathercd around them, also Senator
lFianklin VINO demanded that the dis
lpepsary clauses 50 direct 10 the peO-
lple am on the vote 10 pass The emer-
sency the vote was q TO rs. defeating
that measure
Blair Held IT,
Notice that be would move TO re
lconsidor was offered by Senator
Blair. and so long as that u'otion was
lpending the people over the state
We're kept in expectancy
lOthers Were offered.
The opponents of the diapensary
loffered q bin, containing tho enforce.
ment clauses only, to force the issue.
and Senator Graham who bad in the
lpast kept out OF the discussion
lstesred the bills to the waste basket
and sent the measure to the lower
house In thar body Speaker Murray,
master OF paYliamentary usage. mad
the fight 20 have only the emergency
feature, Of the bin considered, ruling
that the senate had refused TO concur
lorly in the house amendments.
For two days the war waeed In the
house, and finally one afternoon the
Speaker rushed the bill through. with
the emergency clause attached
Final Struggle to Win,
once more the Billups bin was in
It's senatorial home aud once again
had 70 fight for it's life
Conference after conference was
held and those who wanted the dis
lponsary sent to the people first
seemed masters OF the situation One
rumor Of agreement after another
was sent to the outside world, but
AN failed
Finally. in caucus. Senator Graham
leading tho organization forces for
1.-The bill told Mr. Davis, who was
II nghting 10 defeat the emergency
that be (Graham), would never con
sent TO ths minority controlling the
majority. even If the bin had to go
20 defeat
Final Roundup.
ln the final roundup the frienas Of
the measure had only one TO gain
and the organization went 10 Maih
aws who had fought the measure
from IT'S FIRST introduction. and he n
Ian othcros would would agree, would
consent TO have that part of the dis
Ipensary not constitutional voted on
before the dispanearies were started,
10 allow IL his vote
This agreemenl entered into by
sufficient 10 make the necessary
ltwothirds. the bill, asi Friday after
noon was carried ID both houses IL
being passed In the absence of sena-
tor Little. but Mr. Davis went 70 de-
feat With his ideas making a master.
iy address Ia telling why he followed