Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-01-29
The Land Of the Fair Man.

For many decades Oklahoma was
the redman's home. Chosen by him
as the choicest spot in his limitless
domain the redman gave up all else
IL only he might remain in this his
Garden Of Eden, secure from that
great white peril---a swarming civili-
zation which he comprehended not
nor desired.
Cut off on all sides by invisible
barriers the pathway Of civilization
was blazed around and about him
until nis happy hunting ground alone
remained virgin wilderness,
Like the angel with the flaming
sword, Uncle Sam stood guard at the
gateway and forbade to enter any
who had partaken the fruit Of the
tree of knowledge.
But the old generations passed
away. New generations came on,
and their dasky tribe bartered, with
the white man, exchanging their cat
tie for his sugar and tobacco. Their
children entered the white mans
school They observed his ways and
their eyes were opened. Thenceforth
the CLINT OF gold and the sheen of
silver cast their magic spell upon
his mind. and his heart was stirred
with strange desires. ,r...t
Then 1t was that he bargained
with the government, agreeing to
share his heritage with the aons and
daughters Of the white man.
This was eighteen years ago aud
!t was then at the crack of pistol
the white flood. Of civilization surged
over the border and swept away for
ever the clustering tepees and the
curling smoke of the Indian camp
fires.
| Oklahoma is now the white mons
| land. In 1t new kingdom has been
founded; the kingdom of the sover-
eisn people. Here the ballot shall
be the sceptre, and the voice Of, the
people, the royal command. 20
Il is now the land of freedom.
Untramnleled by tradition, unde-
faced BY the landmarks of less
modern civilization, giant young
Commonwealth is arising here which
Is already the model and envy of
| older units in our great national
| structure.
Oklahoma bids all men welcome,
so they be honest. She stands
storehouse of golden opportunities
to all who come within her borders
with clean hands and a valiant heart.
Wealth Is here for the earning.
She thrusts riches upon no man,
but pays generous dividens to thrift
and energy.
The people of Oklahoma are hon
est. They have thrift and energy.
Drawn from the best young blood of
older States, they have banded to-
gether here to establish a govern
ment where equal rights to all and
special privileges to none shall be no
idle boast.
The poor man will be protected,
and wealth will not encroach, but
protection shall not be for the poor
alone. Equality in protection and
equality in opportunity is the aim.
A fair show and square deal will
be meted out to the investor, the
home-seeker, the tenant or the la
borer.
The Oklahoma constitution, that
remarkable document which was
prepared for and by the people, pro-
vided. among other things. for the
Initiative and referendum, by
which the people become the court
Of last resort, and with whom lies
the power to inaugurate any or all
laws. The constitution also provi-
ded for the establishment Of cor
poration commission, whose duty it
should be to supervise and regulate
the acts Of corporate bodies in such
a manner as to prevent extortionate
charges for services to the public.
Contrary to the fears Of some it
is neither the intent Of the constitu-
tion nor the aim of the commission
~ rob all corporate organizations Of
g. fair and legitimate profit on the
capital invested and employed by
the stockholders of Oklahoma cor
porations.
Oklahoma welcomes capital right
ly invested and honestly managed.
The constitution has even made pro-
vision for the exemption from mu-
nicipal taxation of any new industry
for period of five years, whenever
any town desires to offer such an
exemption for the purpose of induc-
ing new Industries to locate. Indi-
viduals cannot build railroads, nor
telegraphs nor extensive telephone
and lighting systems. Natural gas
was piped to Oklahoma City at
cost of over one million dollars.
No individual would have furnish
ed such fund and no branch OF the
State government wifi ever attempt
to deprive the shareholders In that
enterprise of just profit on the
money they hazarded in the invest
ment.
Oklahoma's laws are just, and
they will be Justly administered.
Oklahoma, the chosen home of the
redman, was far-famed among In
dian tribes as the Land OF the Fair
God" Now that the, Indian no lon-
ger rules and the white man holds
full sway, Oklahoma shall be known
as the Land of the Fair Man."