The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-06-10
TO Decd ON sTArg. CAPITAL.

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GUTHRIE, Okla. June TO- PROPOSE.
lions amending the railway sections
I,of the State constitution and perma,
nently locating the capital of the new
State will be submitted to the people
Of Oklahoma at special election to-
morrow, This city is the present CAPT
tai and will bitterly contest the at
tempt Of it's rivals, Oklahoma City
and Shawnee. to steal away its pres
tige. II Oklahoma City, the metropo
lis Of the State, should win the csec.
ton. the matter will be fought out in
the courts.
The permanent State capital propo
sition to be submitted to vote of the
people is known as the Oklahoma City
plan. In brief 1t places the cities
OF Oklahoma City, Shawnee and Guth.
rie, the avowed candidates for the
permanent State capital, into the
Initiative and referendum race, al.
though neither of the last-named
towns participated in the petition et
forts. The act provides for a State
Capital Commission, and makes an
appropriation of 100000 to carry pro
visions of the act into effect. The CAPT.
tai may be located not to exceed five
miles from the town receiving the
highest number of votes of the peo'
pie, and the State Capital Commission
fixes the exact location thereon. 1t
no town receives a majority vote in
the first election, a second election
may be held, providing the town re-
ceivihg the second highest vote makes
provisions for paying the expenses.
The state stands the cost Of the first
election.
uthrie was made the capital when
Oklahoma Territory was organized,
and in order to keep the question out
of affairs until the new stateNwas well
settled tile enabling act contained a
clause which prevents the submis.
sion of the question to vote OF the
people until after 1913.
The State constitution accepted the
terms of the enabling act by an or.
dinance. It is now claimed by CAPT.
tal-remoyed advocates that the capital
Requirement was an illegal one,
hence it is not binding after the SOY.
ereignty Of the State began.
The circulation of petitions asking
an election to amend the constitution
was directed by the commercial clubs
organization and total Of 10000 sig
natures were secured, although by 81.
900 were really needed. The signG
lures represent every county and prac.
tically every voting precinct in the
State. The amendment Is urged also
by advocates who are demanding
business administration" from the
State. 1t is estimated the special cleo.
ton will cost $75,ON.
The second State legislature, in
session one year ago, submitted the
railway amendment to a vote, and In
circulating the petition for signatures
the commercial clubs were but carry
ing into effect the Legislative action,
and under the law the governor COM
PEELED to call the election. An at
tempt was made during the recent
special session to submit a different
amendment that the one formerly pro-
posed, but the attempt failed,
The labor leaders OF the State are
the most hitter against the amend
ment being adopted. The Socialist
party organization is on record against
the amendment, as are also the so.
called constitutionalist- those Demo.
Gratis who maintain that the State con-
stitution shall not be charged until it
has had every opportunityto prove its
worth.
In effect the proposed change in the
constitution will amend that section
which forbids consolidation of the
property Of transmission. and trans.
portation companies OF this State with
those Of any other Sttae, either by pri-
yate or judicial sale: At expressly