The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-08
is II FAlR PRsseNTMENT?

the temporary and location OF the
states caDital is voted upon and
made valid as presented BY the initia-.
tory petition now on file, there are
some things the people Of our state
may well consider:
First--lt was drawn by the Okla
hoDa City realty boomers, ostensiblyI
to make a contest between three
cities, really TO enable the violation
Of the enabling act and TO give all.
machinery OF election results possi-'
Bile into the favor of the city where
in resided those who thought out the
petition.
Second. With Shawnee, a known
and formidable candidate for the cap
ital when the time arrived for such
contest, in the race 1t was made GER
tain no one city of the three could
expect to receive a majority vote.
Third: Because the capital Is To-
Gated at Guthrie and those favoring
removal would. If they are determin-
ed to remove II. cast their votes for
tbe larger city, thus splitting the
votes opposed TO the idea between
Shawnee and Guthrie, Oklahoma City
stands an equal chance to receive
a plurality, forcing the present tenn
porary capital to expend 100000 to-
secure the second election and re-
tain what il now possesses.
Fourth: IF Oklahoma City be coni-
PEELED TO take second place in the
list, the advertising of wildcat cap-
ital locations, in the time ii requires
to make the final test, will pleasant
IL recompense the grafters for the
100000 required.
Fifth:-If the removal of the cap
itai from Guthrie were important and
meant the failure or snccere of any
great business enterprise Of merit,
then, under the rule of commerce.,
those SO attempting could be forgiy-
en- their effort-as II is. all that can
be expected by such change is the
temporary boom of what is now con
si.ered bad real estate investments;
Guthrie. by reason of losing the
prestige of the capital city, being the
payer of all profits, and her people
forced 70 revise and remodel all their
present plans of improvements, TO
say naught Of what has been done IN
the past. .ai.-
Moreover, the residents OF the
state are not all visitors to the cap
ital city-Jne in fourteen plays pos
itics with motive Such being truo
the average intelligent voter, prior
10 casting his vote for removal Of
the capital. will. to be fair, consider
what ii will benefit him to move the
capital and the cost TO the citizens
from whom il is taken.
II may also be truthfuIly added that
the expense Of change Of location
can not be estimated at less than
si.oeo,0O0, 100000 being asked for
al the present time to start the
cbange) an item OF considerable inn
portance to the taxpayers Of Oklaho-
ma. To the man with no special oh.
ject In view, the cost alone should
lie proper Incentive 10 force him 10
oppose removal There is not the
shadow OF chance for the ordinary
taxpayer to profit--there is no oppor-
tunity for the state at large to re-
ceive benefit; there is loss and hui
initiation for Guthrie TO lose the cap
ital after all these years.
The manufactured argument, to ef-
feet that the people of the state Wish
q city for capital that can prospeg
without having the legislature in ses-
sion, Is certainly unfair to Guthrie
end every citizen within its borders
Guthrie, " you please, has a splendid
school system: its water supply is
second 10 none and has been pro-
ncunced third I'm the United States
as 10 purity; it has paved streets
more than any other city OF equal
size within the limits OF the United
States; II has splendid hotels which
charge reasonable rates: II has nine
lines Of railroads entering the city
With the tenth one In process of
construction: IL has natural gas with
as cheap rates as any city 100 miles
distant from the gas supply.
Its business institutions have stood
the test of years, come prosperity or
darkest adversely. Why then. pray,
charge that Guthrie is city DEPEND
ent wholly upon the session Of the
1tgislature?- II should also be re.
nembered the average citizen Of this
state is not rich and that men of
average wealth generally represent
their respective communities in the
legislature. Salaries are not extraya.
Gant-certainly a city dependent up
on the surplus earnings Of legis-
lntor would never advance so rapid
liylit need be feared BY the puniest
rival
Guthrie appeals to intelligence and
fairness, The two qualities will win
for II the capital. II appeals for It.
self and with no purpose other than
retaining that already here1hat
which is worth more TO Guthrie
than 10 all the rest of the state com
bined.
Guthrie asks that the slanderoucl