The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-11-17
WILL ENTER RACE IN
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
Issues Statement In Which His
Position on State QueS-
tlOnS Is Outlined
Special to Daily Leader

Ardmore. Okla, Nov II Lee
Cruee today made public the follow
ing announcing his candidacy for the
Democratic nomination for governor
Of Oklahoma:
| hereby announce myself a candi-
date for the Office OF governor Of Ok
lahOma. subject to the action OF the
Democratic party. In making this
announcement [ feel Il incumbent
upon me TO define my position upon
certain Important questions in which
the voters OF the state are yitally in
terested In fulfilling this purpose
shah endeavor to make my state
ment as concise as possible, nor shall
ondeavor to discuss every question
likely TO be dis'auslsed during the
campaign. To do so would make this
letter tediously long
The Constitution.
Practically two years Of severe
test Of the constitution of Oklahoma
has thoroughly demonstrated the fact
that il is the best constitution that
has yet been written. Il has success
fully withstood the criticism aud at
tacks of It's enemies and today has
more defenders and advocates than
at any previous time. II recognizes
the right OF the individual citizen and
refuses 70 surrender or subordinate
those rights to The demands OF com
mercialism While II stands as the
fundamental law Of the state, and Is
observed and obeyed by those in all-
tholity. there is vouchsafed to our
people good laws and honest govern
ment.
indian Affairs.
favor a speedy, complete and fin.
al settlement OF the affairs of the
Indian tribes in this state All un-
allotted lands should be disposed OF
and the proceeds iherefrom, togeth-
er with all the moneys now held by
The United States Government, should
be distributed among those entitled
to receive the same. The depart
ment Of tile interior should be en-
couraged 10 withdraw its blightlng
hand from the administration OF the
affairs Of our Indian citizenship and
leave those people unhampered in
the race of life
Coal and Asphalt Lands.
The best interests OF the Indian
and Of tho state demand, that Ia dis
posing of the segregated coal and
asphalt lands she surface be divorced
from the mineral rights. The agri.
cultural lands should be sold to actual
farmers In tracts not exceeding one
hundred and sixty acres, thus insur-
ing the greatest development Of that
potion OF the state where these lands
are located The coal and asphalt
underlying these lands should be sold
separately so as TO yield the great.
est value io the Indians who own
them IN this connection ! viii say
that | am decidedly opposed to the
efforts being made by certain leaders
among the Indians and paid attor-
news % dispose Of the coal and as
phali properties to the state OF Ok
ahoma ri an extrayagant price. No
contract for the sale Of these prop
critics to the state should become
effective until same has first been
submitted 10 and ratified Dy vote
Of the qualified voters OF The state.
Taxation.
favor the observance of all law
By an act Of congress all Indian
lands from which restrictions have
been removed are made taxable. and
in observing that law the officers OF
Oklahoma are but doing their plain
duty when they ievy and collect
taxes from all such lands Person
ally ! believe that every person in
the stale upon whom has been con
ferred al the rights and privileges
Of citizenship, has had imposed upon
him also the burdens aud duties Of
cifizenship. and while he enjoys the
one he should heas the other There
Is no sort Of condition or logic that
viii Justify exempiine from taxation
The property Of one class Of our citi-
zenship simply because Of race dis
finction Hitherto in this state there
las been no conflict between the
white race and the Indian race They
have been received upon plane Of
absolute eanality in all matters so
cial and political The snresi way
to bring an end 10 these pleasant
and much to be desired conditions.
and pfecipItate race antagcnism.
Is to so fashion and administer our
laws as TO favor one race 10 tie In
JURY OF the other That man IS
short sighted indeed who does not
foresee that. should this conflict
ceIae, tile lalsi.ail ls.Aes sl.ils. l4s1,t.
NJ believe that all taxes should be
uniform. "a dfhat every Individual
firm ard corporation should bear his