The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-05-10
CAMPAIGN IS NOW
ON IN EARNEST
COMMERCIAL BODIES APPEALED
TO IN MOVEMENT TO AMEND
CONSTITUTION.


l.. Walker of Waurika, secretary OF
the state organization of commercial
clubs. and l.. =. Arnold. of the Law
ton Commercial clubs were in the
City Sunday in the interests OF the
proposed amendment to Article -.
Section 9. Messrs. Arnold and w; K
are on the executive committee OF the
state organization.
The Federated clubs plan Is to have
various commercial clubs throughout
the state adopt resolutions urging the
repeal of the constitutional provision.
which 1t is claimed. prevents building
by railroads operating only in the
state. Following is a resolution along
which lines the campaign will be con
Quoted. and which will be presented
to the various commercial bodies eth
er by the committee In person or
through correspondence:
Whereas an amendment entitled
Section ~ to Article of the Oklaho-
ma constitution has been proposed by
this organization and will be voted
upon June II, 1910. and
Whereas the executive committee
of the Oklahoma Federation of Com
mercial Clubs and Industrial Organi-
cations believe that the proposed
amendment is In the interest OF the
development, growth and prosperity
OF the state and the welfare of all
classes of citizens In the new state,
and
Whereas. since the adoption OF the
Oklahoma constitution, the building OF
new railroads and the extension OF ex.
listing lines has practically ceased. ex-
cept such lines as were financed PRIOR
to statehood
Whereas, the amendment proposed
will modify the constitution of the
state / nsuch way as to bring about
renewal of the railroad building
without in any way diminishing the
control of the present or future lines,
or making of freight rates by. the cor.
poration commission,
And. whereas, the adoption of the
proposed amendment will bring mil
lions of dollars into the state and will
taxation,
Therefore. be It resolved. that we
the executive committee of the Fede
ration of Commercial Clubs and Indus
trial Organizations OF the state of Ok
lahoma. hereby recommend to the peo
pie of Oklahoma, without regard &c
proposed amendment"
The commercial organization has
prepared a brief pamphlet entitled
i why the Proposed Change in tn,
Constitution Should BE Made" IL
' which the reasons are set forth in :
j. clear, concise manner In part i
reads:
! Article Q. Section ., should be re
! pealed because under the present con
stitution railroad building cannot de
? velop. That means few cities, less m
= dustry. decrease in the valuation o
farm lands. poor facilities for ship
: ping produce and less opportunity TO
4 the workingman"
t "a foreign company should be per
1 mtted TO buy a domestic company be
I cause il it cannot there will be NJ
]. construction of such roads. 4 mar
! would seldom construct n large build
ing IL IL was not worth something Il
him at sale. Small state railroads
cannot be built because they are no
self-supporting."
= Independent lines are not beinl
built in the state because there Is no
n money enough In the state availabl,
!, for railroad purposes to build an,
!. equip twenty miles of railroad BE
cause they cannot sell after they ar,
I, constructed 4 man will not buy wha
he cannot sell"
The farmer and the workirg gmal
. should support the repeal OF Article
A 3, Section ., because through IT the,
. can enjoy all the resources of th'
. country, II will make work for tn
. laborer and a market for the farme
, in that II builds the towns and cities
: Taxes will be lowered fully 10 pc
:. cent because OF the money coming II
the state TO buy and build the neP
roads"