The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-05-20
WHY THE CAPITAL
LOCATION BILL
SHOULD Be KILLED
Guthrie Argument Which Goes
on Ballot June ii

and shall not be changed thereIrom
previous to Anto Dominl nineteen
hundred and thirteen. but said capital
shall, after said year. he located BY
the electors Of said state at an cleo
tion to be provided for by the legs-
lature.a +f
That act was adopted by Sec. 497
OF the state constitution, ana by Sec.
i92:
Was engrosscd with the engrosseu
copy of the constitution on parch-
ment." (Bunn's constitution; Snyders
,constitution.)
The enabling act protects the rights
granted by congress to Indians and
their lands: prescrihcd liberation ot
religious liberty: prohibited liquor In
the Indian territory; territorial debts
to be paid provided for public
schools; restricted abridgemcnts o.
the right Of suffrage. granted millions
OF acres Of school college. indemnity
and public lands TO the state, and pro.
tected rights therein; and these and
many other rights, protected by the
enabling act can be violated, II the
tate capital can be located before
fi9l3 This attempt TO violate the
constitution and enabling act should
be voted mo-
Second This measure, unconstitu-
tiopally, would appropriate s600O00 to
be placed in the hands Of three per
sons, selected by the governor rhis
Is done TO move The capital twenty
600 miles NEARER oklahoma CITY,
but not necessarily AT Oklahoma
| city
Third There is no necessity for
this violation Of enabling act and
state constitution aud expenditure OF
100000 TO he followed by millions
more for the time will soon enough
come for the location ri the capital,
ind in the meantime the state is kept
busyaprovlding moneys for the other
institutions Of greater Necessity. The
institutions already located have re.
qnired and are requiring millions OF
| dollars of the peoples money; the
state debt on November 30, 1893 was
| over s2,000,000 the recent special
4 session of the legislature alone au-
! thori2ed the lssnance OF over $1,000.
900 more in warrants, liens on. ne
funds derived from public building
lands, and bear per cent interest
No necessity exists for appropriating
immediately, 100000 more for state
| capital site TO be followed by appro
| priating millions TO construct capital
! building, because Guthrie Is centrally
\ located, with nine railroads connect
ng this city with all sections of the
state and one more being built. Gnth
rie Is nearer the majority of the peo
/ pie of the state than Oklahoma City
which proposes the change; Guthrie
Is naturally situated for being and 1;
one OF tho healthiest OF the states
cities, with splendid drainage, The
best of sanitary sewerage, with pure
! filtered water in abundance, with
streets paved and bcdutiiled at n CO.'S
of million dollars; It has electric
lights, natural gas and the latest sys
TEN OF street railway. When 1t wa
designated as the capital orig Inaly
more than twenty years ago, 1t sci
apart, on as fine and commanding /
site as there IS in the state, fou
blocks Of ground on the prlncipa
street and only eight blocks from th'
i geographical and business center io
state capital purposes, and under al
act of the state legislature, It has ey
pended in money Of It's own people
; costing the state nothing. in beautl
1 flying these grounds. building conyer
1 ti0n hall--a state capital-used eve
/, since as legislative halls, suprcm
court and criminal court of appeal
rooms, chambers for judges, Office
for attorney general and state library
| used by the state on a five year lease
: rent lree-sl a approximate
. quarter OF million dollars, an
| these grounds and buildings, worth
half million dollars are the state!
!, having been provided By Guthrie 70
the state, temporarily and permanen
lly. and are, with the one hundre
acres in a beautiful park nearb!
which Is also provided for the STATE
worth more than the 100000 whic
Oklahoma City asks the state to al
proprate. The other executive of
ces are using the magnificent coul
house, built by the people of Loga
county. These buildings provide
are serving every present need OF I'll
state and at a small cost to the Ia
payers.
Fourth-You may vote twice at tn
election; vote NO on the mea
urc and YES opposite Guthrie
will support the constitution and Il
enabling act, and leave the capital
be locatcd when the law provides, al
save much trouble and expense.
Fifth The bill Is unfair 1T a
tempts ~ locate tile state capital (
terms dictated by one Of the cant
dates; it permits commission
town iot boomers to select the 81
for the capital and erect the capt.
, building: u crcates iDbs for thr
! i coiundssionefs at $1,000 a year ca
and gives them unlimited power to
any number Of employees and The
salaries; It require the city tb
loses the capital TO pay the expens
Of the second election and reliev
the city that wins from any expense
IL bars all cities that might be capi
aspirants from the race except
those selected by Oklahoma City;
unnecessary special election is call
al the request Of Oklahoma City VIII
the proposition could have as "
been submitted al general clecti
at the time fxcd By law and witb'
this expense; the bill makes no m
lpnm limit Of the amount Of Ia
tbst may be purcllased Tor the cnoI