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

ne tdIhtdl Ol stiQ Nldtt sHAti
temporarily be at the city OF Guthrie,
in the present Territory of Oklahoma
and shan not be changed therefrom
previous to Anno Dominl nineteen
hundred and thirteen but said capital
shall. after said year. Be located by
the electors OF said state at an cleo
ton to be provided for by the legls-
lures *@"
That act was adopted by Sec. 49J
Of the state constitution, ava uy Sec
492;
Was engrosscd with the engrosseo
copy of the constitution ON parch-
ment.' (Bunn's constitution; Snyders
constitution.)
The enabling act protects the rights
granted by cansgeas to Indians and
their lands, prescribed liberation Of
religions liberty. prohibited liQuor in
The Indian territory; territorial debts
10 be paid; prov ided Tor puhlic
schools restricted abridgements OF
the right or suffrage, granted millions
OF acres oi school, college, indemnity
ana public lands to the state, and pro
tected rights therein, and these and
many other rights, protected by the
enabling act can be violated. IL the
state capital can he located before
1913, This attempt to violate the
constitution and enabling act should
be voted NO"
Second--This measure, unconstltu.
tlonaliy would appropriate 5000 900 To
be placed in the hands of three per.
sons, selected by the governor. THIS
Is done To move the capital twenty
t20) miles NEARER oklahoma city
but not necessarily AT oklahoma
CITY.
Third-There is no necessity for
this violation Of enabling act and
state constitution and expenditure OF
$600,000 to be followed by millions
more, for the time Will soon enough
come for the location ff the capital,
and in the meantime the state Is kept
bnsy providing moneys for the other
institutions of greater necessity The
institutions already located have re-
quired and are requiring millions ot
dollars Of the peoples money; the
state debt on November 30, 1909, was
over 81 100000; the recent special
session OF the legislature alone au-
thorlzed the Issuance OF over $4,000
900 more in warrants, liens on Ve
funds derived from public building
lands, and bear per cent interest
No necessity exists for approprlating,
Immediately, 100000 more for state
capital site to he followed by appro-
priating millions to construct capitai
building, because Guthrie Is centrally
located, with nine railroads connect
ing this city with all sections Of the
state and one more being butt Glths
rie Is nearer the majority Of the peo-
PIE OF the state than oklahoma City,
which proposes the change. Guthrie
| Is naturally situated for being aud ID
one OF the hcathiest Of me state s
cities, with spcnGid drainage, the
bost Of sanitary sewerage with pure
filtered water In abundance, with
| streets paved and bedutllled at COST
of million dollars II has electric
! lights. natural gas and the latest sys
/ TEN Of street railway. When II was
1 designated as the capital orig lnally
more than twenty years ago, II sci
apart on as fine and commanding Z
site rs there Is in The state, roul
blocks of ground on the principa
street and only eight blocks from tho
geographical and business center fo
state capital purposes, and under al
act of the state legislature, II has ex
pended IN money Of It's own people
costing the state nothing, IN beanti
flying these grounds, building c0nyen
ton hall-a state capital used eve
since as legislative halls suprem
court and criminal court OF appeal
rooms. chambers for judges. Office
for attorney general and state library
used by the state on II five year lease
rent free--$l q year approximate
a quarter Of million dollars, an
these grounds and buildings, worth
half million dollars are the states
having been provided by Guthrie 70
the state, temporarily and permanent
ly, and are with the one hundre
acres in a beautiful park nearby
which Is also provided for the state
worth more than the $GJ0,000 whlc
Oklahoma City asks the state TO al
propriate. The other executive on
ces are using the magnificent cour
house, built by the people Of Loga
county. These buildings provide
are serving every present need OF th
state and at small cost TO the Ca,
payers.
Fourth-Yon may vote twice at IN
election: a vote mo" on the meai
ure and YES opposite Guthrie
will support the constitution and tn
enabling act and leave the capital I
he located when the law provides, an
save much trouble and expense.
!, Flfth-The bill Is unfair IT a
tempts to locate the state capital 0
terms dictated by one of the cand
dates; it permits a commission {
town lot boomers to select the SIT
for the capital and erect the capiti
building: II creates Jobs for thre
commissioner al $4,000 q year eac
! and gives them unlimited power 10 Il
any number Of employees and the
salaries: Il fequires the city thi
loses the capital to pay the expense
! Of the second election and relieve
the city that wins from any expense'
: IL bars all cities that might be capt.
I aspirants from the race eyeeptlr
those selected by Oklahoma City; a
unnecessary special election Is callC
at the request Of Oklahoma City whs
j. the proposition could have as we
Y been Submitted At general .elcctiC
O at the time fixed by law and witho
. h;.f .x,aucos tho htIf roaLas NJ ,,,i