The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-11-03
OKLAHOMANS WANT
NO GERRYMANDER
Voters Want Next Legislature All
Observation-Disclosures Republican
cerrymander of 1906 Recalled.

That the democrats of the state were
never more solidly united than now is
the Judgment of both democrats and
republicans who have travelled extens-
lively over the state and are in posi-
ton to know political conditions. While
the republican ranks are full of insur-
gents and independents who will GER
tainly "split" their ticket and in many
cases vote the democratic ticket
straight, the democrats are lined up
even more solidly than they were three
years ago. Among the reasons for
this condition is the fact that the next
legislature will have to redistrict the
state into legislative and congressional
districts. Voters who have lived in
Oklahoma and Indian Territory since
territorial days have not forgotten re-
publican gerrymander in 1906 in an
effort to give the republicans a ma
jority in the constitutional convention,
nor have they forgotten how a republi-
can congress laid out district es-
pecially for Bird MCGUIRE, or the for
nation of the freak Second or goose
neck" district which extends from New
Mexico almost to Arkansas. The leg
islative districts as they now exist in
the constitution were favorably passed
upon by President Roosevelt, the same
Teddy who said his opinion Of the Ok
lahoma constitution would not look
well in print. While the republicans
three years ago set up a howl that the
present arrangement Of districts was
grossly unfair, subsequent events have
shown all parties were given fair
treatment and that all sections Of the
state were given fair representation
in the legislature, considering their
population three years ago. During the
past three years there has been won
derful increase in the population Of
the new state, and for this reason it
may be advisable for the coming legis-
lature to redistrict the state.
'sWe want a democratic legislature
to do the work" is the statement that
is being heard in all parts of Okla
homa. with Jim Harris, Bird Nc
Guire and the rest Of the republican
pie hunters in the saddle, Oklahoma
would be gerrymandered in a way that
would put even Philadelphia council
man to shame. We know what this
bunch has done before and that is a
sufficient evidence of what they would
do again If given the power
II am going to do all can for the
election of democrat to the house
and senate" said a prominent republi.
can in northwestern Oklahoma. "The
present legislative districts are fair to
all parties and If changes are to come
we want them to be made by party
that is already on record for fairness
along that line. My democratic neigh
bors are all lined up strong for theiI
ticket, but declare this proposition
alone would be enough to hold then
in line, even if they had anything tc
be dissatisfied about"
All over the state it is felt that the
next legislature will be more strongly
democratic than was the Second legis
lature. The senate can not possibly
be republican, owing to the number o.
democrats who hold over. And voters
are everywhere asking themselves
"why send republican to the house
where he win be without ability to d.
things in the face of the fact that We
are sure to have democratic COVER
nor?"
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