The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-04-21
RIDDLE
REPLIES
TO CRITIC
AND STATES HIS ATTITUDE ON
QUESTIONS AFFECTING CAP
lTOL AND LABOR

DAILY EXPRESS Inc Cnlckasna jour /
nal published an editorial that l con
slider very complimentary to me, com
ing from the source it does.
If the Journal should ever say any
thing good about me, should feel very
bad, for | certainly never want to
be accused Of being in such company
or having the friendship of such thing
as its editor, and | should be made to
exclaim, what great wrong have ]
done that my enemies praise mel"
I should not take trouble to allude to
this article that appeared in its col.
umns on April 18th, but l thoual
that possibly all the people IN Chick
asha did not know hir and his paper
as I do, viii therefore give the neo-
pie little light that they may know
how small and insignificant that dopist
is, hereinafter mentioned as "Fido"
do not hope to reform Fido, for he
has barked up the wrong tree until
he is beyond the hope Of decent train
ing. l desire merely to say to the
people Of my city that my attitude
toward Labor unions has never chang
ed. have been their friend and l am
their friend today I took occasion
ito amend, or rather to assist III amend
ing, one of Senator Taylor's bills so
that the new and weak railroads OF
the state might have that protection
that is necessary for the development
of thes tate att his time. Eevery rea-
sonable man comedies that every pro
lection possible should be thrown ar
ound young and new enterprises that
are necessary for the immediate de-
velopment of the state.
I voted for the bill with all my heart
after it was properly amended. l stand
ready to work for and vote for every
labor measure that has just merits
and does not interfere with the rights
of the people and the development of
the state. ! stand ready to force eve
ry railroad and other public service
corporations in this state to give to
the people that service which their
best interests demand. 1 stand for
lower rates for the farmer and the
consumer. stand for better depots,
better tracks and better car service
10 facilitates the transportation Of pas
sengers and freight. | stand for
shorter hours for the railroad laborer
and for good and sufficient wages as
pay for his services, for want to see
him prosper and be happy, but | cannot
vote for unnecessary employees to en-
barrass our new roads and frighten
capital that desires to come to our
state.
I came to this legislature to repres-
ent all classes of people that live in
Oklahoma and l am doing what my
conscience directs me to do. l hope
to see built in the state another asy-
lum for the care Of the insane, and
penitentiary for the Incarceration of
criminals, | do not know which of
these institutions will catch the editor
Of the Journal, but to be sure I am
legislating so that he too may re-
ceive his part of the benefits.
I desire to state that l have never
changed my position upon any ques-
tion before the legislature. l did not
approve of the prohibition bill as it
came to the house, and no other house
member did, the first amendment be-
ing proposed by Speaker Murray. 1
did what | could to amend it so that
it would be the proper bill to become
a law. When We got the bill in the
best shape possible voted for it with
out coercion from any kind of league
and even without the consent of the
aforesaid Fido.
I am here to represent the whole
people, not caring at all for the ap-
plause from the gallery l carry with
me a conscience that is free from
wrong and I shall continue to per-
form my duties here regardless Of Fl
do and his contemplate howls.
A. S. RIDDLE.