The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-11-28

BY Associated Press.
J Oklahoma City, Nov. 2S.-The spe-
/ cial session of the state legislature
called by Governor Haskell, to meet
here today, convened at noon, organic
ed and adjourned without taking any
action whatever in the capital matter.
Guthrie, Okla, Nov 28.-It looks be-
fore the special session opens as
though opponents of Governor Has
kell's plan for removal of the seat of
the government by action of the third
Legislature in special session at Okla
homa City have been given complete
rout and the main fight to have been
waged against ratification of the Okla
homa City call has been lost. Out
of 109 members, it is indicated the op-
ponents can not muster thirty-seven
votes, the number necessary to block
a two-thirds ratification. The senate
| is said to be even better for the gov
ernors position, while the governor
himself asserts that he had at least
that portion of the legislation provided
for with many votes to spare.
The appearance of Governor-elect
Cruce before democratic caucus this
morning is the incident which the op-
ponents assert upset their plans. They
say the next governor was requested
to come here and tell the legislators
that he was not opposed to immediate
location. Mr.. Cruce told the members
that the next administration wanted
the matter settled and out of the way.
but disclaimed preference for town or
plan. He made it plain that he wanted
the legislature in regular session to be
able to meet the situation free from
possible influence and expressed the
fear that if such was not the case the
session beginning in January would
be dominated with the capital removal
idea.
Governor Haskell followed Mr.. Cruce.
He presented the matter as being dem
ocratic, appealing to the caucus from
the standpoint of loyalty to a demo-
cratic administration, declaring that
refusal on the legislatures part to
ratify the call as the constitution pro-
vides would mean nothing short of a
defeat of the administration. Among
the reasons which the governor assign
ed for the calling of the session here
instead of the legal seat of govern
ment, he said that the district court
was prepared to issue injunctions
against members of the legislature. In
the course of his remarks he referred
to what he termed Guthries attitude
toward the seat of government for the
last twenty years, giving brief fore
cast of what his message to the legis-
lature would deal with.
A member of the Muskogee delega-
ton, which came here prepared to re-
sist confirmation, insisted that the
members had been informed by advo-
Gates of the session that if they did not
ratify the call they would be entitled
to neither per diem nor mileage pay.
1t is said the statement was given the
members on the basis of legal opin-
ion.
Many of them are not personally able
to stand the expense of their trip here
In meeting this, Muskogee contend
ed that refusal of the legislature to
ratify the call would not affect the sit
uation, for in such event the legisla-
ture has nevertheless been called to
assemble, and its action would have
the effect Of transferring the session
from Oklahoma City to the seat of
government. 1t was pointed out that
a legislature was the creature of its
own fortune and in law could be con-
trolled by no other branch of the gov
eminent. A third agency which the
opponents say relieved them of nor
NAL strength was prospective appro-
priations for state institutions during
the regular session, but it is not charg-
ed that the incoming executive gave
influence in this direction.
Summing the situation up, however,
the contest has been largely ore of the
governors personal influence, in which
the leading opponents admit he has
been successful, at least on prelimin-
ary points.
The next test will be in terms of the