The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-05-28
ii Hm5arger

dicHors 81 partisan republicans and
i1e secret fear Of maHg democrats
there was n5 reaction from tie high
srt5t qt patriotism and loyalty to-
+ the masses Hhich characterized the
deliberations 81 Ohahoma's constitu-
+ ldonai convention Reform movements
generally have come to be regarded
spasmodic Human progress ls said
Ito move in cycles each succeeding
+ wave advancing q point beyond the
preceding one and then receding TO a
flower abb Probably this would prove
ltIue in Oklahoma had our mere-
Iment for equal rights been one of
reform. Fortunately iof Oklahoma our
WORK vas basic and the deliberations
+ OF ihe Oklahoma constitutional conven-
uoon resulted il crystalizing into or
ganlc law the advanced ideas Of AM
Unusually intelligent and wIde-awake
citizenship whose years OF bondage
Iunder territorial government and bu-
lresucratic oppression, had taught them
10 value local selfgovernment and the
fright 81 the people to direct the same,
much higher than do the voting pub
Tic Of most Of the older states.
WIN the Oklahoma constitution rep
resenting. as # does. the win OF such
majority Of her citizens. as their
chart, the first legislature found their
work to a large degree cut out for
them. With the single exception Of
The bank deposit guaranty law, aris-
ing from an emergency, created after
the adoption Of the constitution there
are few indeed, II any laws enacted
by the first legislature, that we're not
contemplated and foreshadowed IN the
constitution itself
The most important act Of Okla
homa's first legislature is that which
places in operation the principles OF
the initiative and referendum Other
laws are rsmediel or reformatory in
their nature and are made to correct
possible or existing errors, but the IN
litiative and referendum is fundamen
tai and goes back 10 the very begin
ming Of things Il compels public Off
cials to be in reality public servants
and prevents the greatest evil Of rep
resentatiye government by making the
wieIders OF delegated power respon
sible TO the people It brings the fna
decision Of questions Of public police
back to the source from which th'
delegated power must spring anC
makes a reality OF the constitutional
provision, which says that all law
must begin, BE it enacted by the
people OF the state Of Oklahoma"
While the Oklahoma legislature ha
faithfully carried out the duties out
lined for them by the constitution
|, makers, they have shown also tina
they are not lacking in originate
! when necessity arises, anad that oI
! new questions Of public policy the
are just as single-minded in their dc
: sires for the welfare Of the commo
people as we're the makers Of tn
/ organic law
4 The most striking piece Of origina
\ Legislation turned out by the first les
I lature Of Oklahoma is the bank depoi
\ it guaranty law, IN the making Q
! which they are without preceden
either IN the constitution or in tn
Legislative enactments Of the othe
fortyfve states.
That this law is working 10 the al
solute satisfaction OF the people &
\ Oklahoma goes without question
: That it is successful is proven by tn
endorsement given It by more tha
two hundreds state bankers in a SCI
: sion held after it had been in operatio
three months
From the viewpoint OF the newl
S paper men the Oklahoma legislator
! is unusual for it's failure to develo
strong" men. The number of me
Of average talent and absolute honest
in either branch Of the legislature
remarkable but to designate any oni
two or half dozen men in either th
senate or house as leaders would b
impossible The influence Of Speake
Murray of the house, and OF Presider
pro tenn Johnson Of the senate is VI
questioned, but each Of them came
- the senate with established reput
tions, the one as president Of II
constitutional convention and the ot
er as a member Of the convention an
~ member Of the former territorial le
islature. Despite these establish'
regulations and the influence Of the
respective positions neither Murri
nor Johnson have ever been credit'
Nv either their friends to dictate