The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-05
AMENDMENT OF
ARTICLE NINE
SEN. FRANKLIN OPPOSES PRoPoS-
ED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 9,
or THE CONSTITUTION.
Madill, Okla, June 4. 1910.

Ardmoreite Pub Co.,
Ardmore, Okla.
The proposition - alehd Article
g OF the Constitution is very impCr-
tant question before he people, and, a.
| believe your paper is open for
discussion OF the questions OF interest
to the people, / herewith enclose 10
you my views GpJa the proposed ir!-
tiated amendment.
| am glad to see that many, moved
by patriotism, are ready to protect
our constitution against the assaults
OF monster greed.
When the boon of self government
was extended to us and patriotism
dominated the construction of our
basic law, the people applauded. The
cunning of greedy commercialism and
corporate aggregation failed to thwart
the will of the only true sovereign of
tnls state and the "God-made-man
was placed superior over the man
made-giant," but the devotees of the
special interest are ever alert and
they are now trying to chloroform the
people with the seductive phrases
Sdlt anu SdHt anu llluuCt capital
to come to our state" and we need
mole railroads. viii the people be
deceived? VIII We, because of the
artiulness of those who have a special
interest to serve, surrender the vic
tory so grandly won? Shall this state
be governed by and for the people or
by and for the railroad interests
This is the issue raised by the two
proposed amendments to the corpora
tion provisions in the constitution.
There is no need in me going into
details to show why the proposed
amendments should not be adopted
Suffice it to say the referred amend
ments Will cripple the corporation
commission, by curtailing its powers.
1t turns over to the slow process of
the courts certain rights now vested
in the commission, which it now han
dies properly and expeditiously. While
the resolution was referred by the leg
islature, very few of those who voted
to refer it will support it at the cleo
ton. The initiated resolution would
if adopted, destroy the usefulness of
the corporation commission, taking
away from it it's visitorial and inquis
torial powers over the books of the
railroads, and in other ways, placing
the public service corporations be-
yond the pales of law and giving them
license to be unmolested outlaws
in a state where human beings must
be subservient to the law and respon
sible to their God.
Some fear that a pecuniary consider
alton or local interest will induce many
to vote for one of the proposed amend
ments, although they may know that
the general interest will not be served
Can such consideration be the price
of the manhood and patriotism of
many of our citizens. VIII we kill
the hen that lays the golden egg?
viii we impoverish the coming gen
Grafton in this state by surrendering
cherished rights to the corporate in
terest which have no conscience, no
fear of being punished for trampling
upon our laws, no hopes, longings or
desires for an existence in the here
after? Will we submit to be bound
like Prometheus while the vultures
gnaw the vitals of our constitution?
viii We release what we have for
something less than a mess of pot
tage.". The Judas kiss they offer us
is not worth thirty pieces of silver"
On the lips of their deceptive words
safe and sane" inviting capital to |
come to our state, "let us build more
meaning let the special in
terests rule. we find only venom of
leprosy. Shall they betray us with
such a kiss?
The railroads are trying to coerce
the people as they did when they .
to take up their track when .
the corporation commission was es-
was not abolished.
If the greedy interests prevails in
this contest against the people, we
may see repeated the incident that oc-
Cured when Satraps were at the gate
and a Persion sat upon an unstable
throne. If greed and graft is permit
ted to indulge in revelry as result OF
A victory over the people, we may
look with sad forebodings for the
Handwriting on the wall
The railroads are making money in
Oklahoma and that is what they want.
They will continue to build railroads
in this state if the constitution is not
There is more activity along
his line in this state than in most of
the others. When the necessity for
the constitution is apparent
let its friends amend it.
When we entered the unity and
married calms of states" we took ad-
ianced grounds for humanitarian laws,
recognizing that while we should, by
proper legislation, protect the vast and
,aried trophies won on many fields of
human activity, our greatest wealth
Gy in the purity and grandeur of our
Shall we &C backward
It the behest of greed and graft? Men
,annot escape moral responsibility
md must be amenable to our laws.
Shall we bestow greater favors upon
!. -...a.o- L., III. indnct ri III unrld and