The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-18
being the most important and indie

THE DAILY ARDMoRElTe
being the most important and inde-
pendent class OF our population, as
they werep rior to 1850, they have
become the most utterly dependent
class of all our citizenship. Doomed
to life OF ceaseless toll and grind,
the picture of "the man. with the
hoe" has become living reality.
Under these conditions, why mar
vel that the ambitious farmer boy
at the first opportunity, strikes of
the shackles, and goes into some
other profession for his life work.
In this age of worldwide reform
disinterested men are trying TO
solve the question of farm life, anu
to bring to pass conditions that will
make 1t more inviting. Many RENE
dies are offered to correct this ever
growing evil. 1t has been suggest
ed that better schools in the coun-
try districts will solve the problem;
others advocate good roads as a
sure remedy. You may erect splendid
school houses on every section OF
land in the state of Oklahoma and
place in them the best teachers
that money can employ; you may
build splendid roads in every rural
district In the state, but you haven't
vet solved the question or 'Dack
to the farm" It takes more than
good school houses, efficient teach
ers and fine roads to make life in
the country attractive to the modern
Oklahoma boy. The solution to this
problem will only be found by CIV
ing to the farmer and the farmer 5
son equal opportunities with men
in every other vocation in life.
Labor
Standing as a twin brother to
the farmer in the work of devel-
oping the greatness of this COM
monwealth are the laboring men OF
Oklahoma. / challenge you to ma
a state in this republic where the
laboring man has received more
consideration at the hands OF the
public officials than he has in this
state since the democrats assumed
control. Both In our constitution
and our statutes the dignity of Ia
Dor is recognized, and the laboring
man Is lifted out of the wretched
condition under which he struggled
during the days of republican rule
in Oklahoma.
On this question the democratic
platform makes this pointed decla-
ration: "The man who labors is
entitled to the first and highest
consideration. without labor there Is
no progress, and the democratic
party of the state has demonstrated
that IL can be depended upon TO
conserve the rights of Oklahoma S
toilers." Then followed a pledge to
continue the policy started by the
democratic party in Oklahoma All
that can be found in the republican
platform on this subject is this
statement: The republican party
has stood for the farmer and the
laborer" and | might add that 1t
has usually caught both and made
them deliver. 1t stood for both in
other DAYS when they appealed IN
vain 10 a Republican Territorial ad-
ministration for the passage or just
and fair laws. 1t STOOD for both
when it passed laws that exalted
the dollar above the man. 1t stood
for" both when 1t protected ais
honest corporations while they rob
bed and plundered the people. With
these experiences fresh in the mem
ory of the farmers and laboring men
of the state, it is inconceivable 10
think that they can be beguiled INTO
voting the republican ticket this fali'
thereby showing that they favor
return to the condition from whlch
the democratic party has delivered
them. The child labor law, the eight
hour law, and the fellow-servant law
are some of the laws enacted by the
democratic party since statehood
and which the republican party re
fused to pass when entrusted with
legislative power.
Corporations.
The product of labor Is capital
and as capital is increasing, it is
constantly seeking profitable invest
ment. In the wonderful development
of the modern commercial activi-
ties, keeping pace with our advanc-