The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-25
.BRANSON' 5
ADVICE. To
ELECTORS
Tells OF CONFUSION
CAUSED BY THE
REPUBLICANS
WHAT the LAW Is
ON REGISTRATION

Chairman Branson of the Demo
cratic state committee has issued the
following:
There is considerable confusion
found to exist among many OF the
people OF the state as to the present
status of the election law Of Oklaho-
ma. II seems to have been the height
Of ambition OF some of the Republic
an pape S to undertake to confuse the
public as to the election law Of Okla
noma. The editors Of the newspa-
pc s, of course, understand the situa-
tion, but many of their readers do
not, and | am calling your attention
TO this in order that clear and con-
else statement may be made as to the
condition. which is as follows;
The election law in force In Okla
homa at the present time Is the one
passed by the first state legislature
of Oklahoma in the spring OF 1908,
and Is found in Snide! s Oklahoma
statutes. The second legislature
which met in January 1900, passed a
new election law known as the Tay-
lor bill, which would have repealed
the 1908 act had II ever become effect
i've, II never became effective for
the reason that the Republican party
had the same referred under the ref
erendum provision of on. law to a
vote of the people. thus snspending
he same unit, after it could be voted
upon Before an election for the rat
itication or rejection Cf said act was
called, said act was repealed BY The
egislature in the special session oil
1910 and what is known as the Bryan
election law was passed. The new
law will operate to repeal the 1908
law, which Is now in effect, on and
after June 10, 1910, provided tina; ref
endum petitions are not filed ask
ing that he same be referred for
alification or rejection by the people.
Il il is referred, the old election law
Grst above referred to passed by the
first legislature oil Oklahoma will e.
main in full force and effect
The special session of the second
Oklahoma legislature of 1910 passed a
lesoluton recommending TO he peo-
bie Oi the state that an amendment
% Lhe consti utlon of the state be ini-
Lated under the provisions OF our law
lur initiating amendments to the
constitution, relative TO suffrage The
amendment TO be section Az to arti-
Gle 3 of the constitution, and Is IN
words and figures as follows, towit.
mo person shall be registered as
an elector of this state, or be allowed
TO vote in any election held herein
| unless he be able to read and write
any section of the constitution Of the
state Of Oklahoma, but no person who
was, ON January l, 1865, or at any
time prior thereto, entitled to vote
under any form of government. ol
who at that time resided in some for
eign nation, and no lineal dcscendan
Of such person, shall be denied Tx
right to register and vote because o
his inability to so read and write see
ton OF such constitution.
II Is clear from reading this tha
the same des not put any qualification
upon the right OF any white man o
Indian citizen to vote. II will merel,
operate to exclude the illiteratc co
ored population OF this state, many 0
whom are nocking to Oklahoma t
make this thei home. for the Teasol
that other states from whence the
come have deemed il advisable an
for the best interests OF the state I
put a similar qualification in effect
This committee shall highly appr'
ciate II ii through the columns OF YOU
paper you will make II clear 10 tn
people OF Oklahoma that this allent
meni to the constitution OF the stat
will no in any wise affect the right
suffrage OF any white or Indian cit
zen OF this state. In compliance wit
this resolution OF the legislature, re'
ommending the same initiative pet
ton In conformity 10 the state OF Oh
Iahoma have been. sent out over Oh
state TO be signed for the purpose
initiating this amendment TO the. Co
stiution OF Oklahoma. 1t Is eSpecte
that the same Will be signed at ono
and returned. 30 that the same ma
be filed at once and the election ca
ed upon this proposed amendment
The constitution as early as practic
BILE. II IL, expected that the same ca
b. gotten IN shape so that the Gle
tion on the same may be called {
the date OF the primary. August
\ lpff, thus avoiding the expense OF q
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