The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-16
A SURPLUSAGE OF CAPITALS.


of war. After diplomacy has shot its bolt, the
inquiry is one relating TO casualties. The tales
of blood therefore seem to rest on a basis of
wanton folly. 1t seems strange that the
should shine. and birds sing while such things
be-
There is war in Oklahoma. incidentally, this
is not remarkable in a State where, BY virtue of
lis fundamental law, there is almost always, and
fot necessity, little bit of everything But the
latest phase ID Oklahoma complications is of
really vital concern Not content with a con-
Stitutlon that Is composite of all known exist
ing and defunct systems of government. there has
arisen sentiment that calls for two capitals of
the State. The Governor and the ma ioritv Of
State officers are quartered at Oklahoma City ::
the Secretary Of State and his Office force are
dong business at Guthrie. Both of these towns
are de tdcfo the seat of government. The great
seal OF the State is twins. Persons who need
| the States authorization in their business know
not with whom 10 deal and SO, TO take no chances,
deal with both capitals at double expense in fees
In the general confusion Federal Court ap
! pears to have interviewed with an injunction to
Iprevent Governor Haskell removing the Capital
from Guthrie to Oklahoma. When the deputy
attempted to serve the notice of in junction. upon
the Executive IN the improvised Capital of his
hotel room, reports differ as to exactly what hap
pened except that the Governor tore up the no
4)ce,s ine antastsslt as it kat the feaa.y t-
parted under threats of being Immediately Kick
cd down stairs; another that the Governor spit in
his face, and stil another that having asserted
the dignity of his position he turned his back
upon the minion of Federal usurpation
1t is somewhat difficult to us to conjecture Just
what the Federal Court has TO do with what
/ Governor Haskell does with the Capital That
1t would seem, ought to be ono of the rights
left TO the States, at any rate Of course il i
lnconvenient that a Governor should carry the
Capital around in his hip pocket, but that is q
matter for the Constitution of the State itself
: and not for the United States 1t seems to have
been the only contingency which the Constitu
ton of Oklahoma overlooked But then. the Con
sutution certainly could not have been expected
to foresec Governor Haskell
Curious this situation is the most curious
point Of all is why the people of Guthrie shouId
So earnestly desire Haskell in their midst as &c
take the extreme course of seeking Federal ale
( to retain him. One would think that such q
price we're heavy one to pay for the more or less
empty honor Of being the site of peripatetic
Capital. Civic pride, however, is rampant in
the West and there is no accounting for taste
For once, however, we are with Governor Haskell
! even when it comes to defying the Federal
- Courts. SO far as they are concerned he has the
right to the great seal as a facsimile sigma
turc wildcat oil stocks, to wear it as Masonic
emblem or to put it in hook for his laundry
bill. There are limits beyond which even the
/, ultimate extension of "My policies of world
!, wide rule from the kitchen up ought not to be
permitted to 60.