The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-03
WHY THE CAPITAL
LOCATION BILL
SHOULD Be KILLED
Guthrie Argument Which Goes
ION Ballot June Il


and shall not be changed therefrom
previous to Anno Domini nineteen
and thirteen, but said capital
shall, after said year. be located by
the electors Of said state at an cleo
tion to be provided for by the legis
lature.* *isp
That act was adopted by Sec. 497
OF the state constitution, and by Sec.
492: ).
WAS engrossed with the engrosseo
copy OF the constitution ON parch-
ment," (Bunn's constitution; Snyders
constitution)
The enabling act protects the rights
granted by congress to Indians and
their lands; prescribed federation of
religious liberty; prohibited liquor in
the Indian territory; territorial debts
to be paid; provided for public
schools; restricted abridgements oil
the right Of suffrage; granted millions
of acres Of school, college, indemnity
and public lands to the state, and pro-
ltected rights therein; and these and
many other rights, protected by the
enabling act can be violated, II the
state capital can be located before
1918, This attempt to violate the
constitution and enabling act should
be voted mo"
Second--This measure, unconstitu
tionally, would appropriate 100000 to
be placed in the hands of three per-
sons, selected by the governor. This
Is done to move the capital twenty
(20) miles NEARER Oklahoma City,
but not necessarily AT Oklahoma
City.
Third-There is no necessity for
this violation of enabling act and
state constitution and expenditure OF
100000 to be followed by millions
more, for the time will soon enough
come for the location fl the capital,
and In the meantime the state Is kept
busy providing moneys for the other
institutions of greater necessity. The
institutions already located have re-
quired and are requiring millions OF
dollars of the peoples money; the
state debt on November 30, 1909, was
over 100000; the recent special
session of the legislature alone au-
thorized the issuance of over $4,000
900 more in warrants, liens on the
funds derived from public building
lands, and bear per cent interest
No necessity exists for appropriating
Immediately, 100000 more for state
capital site to be followed by appro
priating millions to construct capital
building, because Guthrie Is centrally
| located, with nine railroads connect
! ing this city with all sections of the
state and one more being built. Guth
rie Is nearer the majority OF the peo
pie OF the state than Oklahoma City
which proposes the change; Guthrie
is naturally situated for being and Is
one OF the healthiest of the states
cities, with splendid drainage, the
best of sanitary sewerage, with pure
filtered water In abundance, with
streets paved and bedutitied at cos
of million dollars; it has electric
lights, natural gas and the latest sys
tenn of street railway. When it wal
designated as the capital originally
more than twenty years ago, it Sc
apart, on as fine and commanding
site as there Is in the state, fou
blocks of ground on the principa
street and only eight blocks from thu
geographical and business center TO
state capital purposes, and under al
act of the state legislature, 1t has ex
pended in money of its own people
costing the state nothing, in beauti
flying these grounds, building conven
ton hall--a state capital--used eve
since as legislative halls, supreme
4 court and criminal court of appeal
rooms, chambers for judges, Office
for attorney general and state library
used by the state on five year lease
rent free-$1 a year-approximatel
quarter of million dollars. Ant
these grounds and buildings, worth
half million dollars are the states
having been provided by Guthrie TO
the state, temporarily and permanent
ly. and are. with the one hundre'
acres in beautiful park nearby
which is also provided for the state
worth more than the 100000 whic
Oklahoma City asks the state to al
propriate. The other executive off
ces are using the magnificent cour
house, built by the people of Loga
county These buildings provide
are serving every present need of tn
state and at small cost to the ta'
payers
! Fourth--You may vote twice at tn
election a vote mo" on the mea'
ure and YES" opposite Guthrie
will support the constitution and tn
enabling act, and leave the capital I
he located when the law provides, an
save much trouble and expense.
Fifth-The bill is unfair 1T a
tempts to locate the state capital o
terms dictated by one of the cand
dates; it permits a commission
town lot boomers to select the sit
for the capital and erect the capiti
building; IL creates jobs for thre
commissioners at $4,000 year eac
and gives them unlimited power to ii
any number of employees and the
salaries: il requires the city ths
loses the capital to pay the expense
!, of the second election and relieve
the city that wins from any expenses
1t bars all cities that might be capit'
aspirants from the race exceptin
those selected by Oklahoma City; a
unnecessary special election Is calle
at the request OF Oklahoma City whe
the proposition could have as we
been submitted at a general electio
at the time fixed by law and withot
: this expense; the bill makes no mil
imum limit of the amount of Ian
that may be purchased for the enorn
, GUS sum of 100000 and does not e,
clude Interested parties from bein