The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-18
HON, LEE CRUCES
OPENING SPEECH
CONTINUED FROM PAGE TWO

found in no party. There are some
dishonest men to be found in every
party The recent disclosures in
Oklahoma City, brought to light by
the recount in the primary election,
have sent thrill of Indignation
throughout the state But these dis
closures nave justified the state
ment | have made that there are
dishonest men in every party, for
the frauds attempted to be perpe-
trated can be charged to no single
party. In each of the ten precincts
where these frauds prevailed, there
were two republican counters and
two democratic counters, SO that
whatever crimes occurred are equal
ly chaIgeable to democrats and re-
publcans. In precinct c of Ward
8. the chairman of the republican
county committee and the county
attorney had sought TO provide
ior fair count by having watch.
er present to see that all was reg
ular. but in spite o. this the re-
count shows q worse state OF ar
fairs in that precinct than any
other. Certainly the republican par
ty will not charge that the demo
cratic party is responsible for the
conduct OF this republican watch
er. and the two republican counters
in that precinct. l do not think that
it is possible TO safeguard the bal
lot too sacredly. Government by the
people is impossible where the cleo
ton crook has sway, and there is
only one adequate way to deal with
the man who steals an election, and
that Is to put him in the peniten-
tiary. want, however. to go on
record as stating that the great
body who have acted and are now
acting as election officers in this
state are honest, and honestly dis
charging their obligations to the
people. In this state there are 223I
election precincts. OF these. only ten
have been found where frauds have
o,curred--less than one-half one
per cent. submit that ii is not
lust fair or right TO make Wnoie-
sale condemnation OF The election
officers of this state as the repnbll-
can leaders and their candidate FOR
governor are doing, and thus cast
aspersions upon thousands OF hon
est men merely for political advan'
tage. If my party cannot triumph
without resorting TO such debaslng
methods, ] prefer that 1t suher
deleat Any victory that is pur-
chased by the sacrifice OF the rep
utation OF a single honest man, be
he ever so humble and obscure, Is
too dearly Won; and the effort OF
the republican leaders and their
candidate for governor to win TINS
election by breaking down the good
name and honor of honest oflcia!s,
because of the fraud of few cor
rupt officials, will meet with well
deserved condemnation at the polls
In November. II it be true as chars-
cd that election crooks can only be
punished by fine and Imprisonment
in the county Jail, l am in favor OF
amending the law SO as TO make
such conduct a penitentiary offense.
The Two Parties Compared.
| promised to the people of Okla
homa that If nominated to office ]
would make no defensive campaign,
but that l would wage an aggres-
sive one. This promise / expect to
fulfill. | assert
First-That the Democratic party
has given to the people OF Okla
homa the best state constitution in
existence.
Second--that We have given to
Oklahoma the only banking law
ever enacted in this republic under
the operation of which no deposit
or has ever lost a dollar
Third-That we have enacted
laws separating the negro race from
the other races in Oklahoma, in
travel and in schools to the mutu-
al benefit of all races.
Fourth-That we established fair
and equitable freight and passenger
rates in this state, saving to our
people millions of dollars in freight
that had formerly been unjustly eX-
acted from them by the railroads.