The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-22
LEDBETTER SARCASTIC
Oklahoma City Lawyer Refers
to Complainant as "The
Tavern Keeper"

lne location OF the capital was
never submitted to the people Of the
state and the enabling act was not
accepted by the people of the state,
This Is a declaration Of w. A. Led.
better In defense of the pretended
removal of the capital to Oklahoma
City His argument was complete
resume OF the claims OF Governor Aas'
kell put forth for his unprecedented
action in declaring the capital re-
moved in advance of knowledge Of the
result OF the election on the question.
Mr.. Ledbetter spoke In the after
noon, making a combination legal
argument and stump speech. He
made frequent illusions to decisions
made by Judge Burford, of counsel
for Guthrie, when that gentleman was
on the supreme bench.
The constitutional convention was
not a legislative body, maintained
Ledbetter, and he claimed that 1t was
only delegated to submit the forrq OF
constitution. Had II submitted the
question Of capital location the peo.
pie would have refused to act.
Upon the admission OF Oklahoma
a new condition arose. Every power
conferred in the enabling act was
destroyed when the state was admit.
ted. There Is nothing TO show that
the state OF Oklahoma has ever as
sented to temporary location OF the
capital at Guthrie.
Ledbetter was pursuing this line
when Judge Campbell asked
Court interjacts Question.
THE enabling act says to the peo-
pie. You may make a constitution
providing you accept certain oTdi
nance and accept the certain condi'
lions. If these are conditions of con
tract how, then, should the state
act?'
Ledhetter replied that this Is not
one of the conditions. The conyen
ton represented the people of the old
territories and when the president
signed the proclamation q new or
ganism came into being; the terri
torial character was gone. Members
of the convention were not Officers
of the state The convention expired
by It's own limitations, The people
are not bound by anything the con
vention did. unless II was submitted
In the constitution and ratified.
These were Ledbetter's contentious
The holding that the enabling ac
was not submitted.
Can congress project It's act int
the future state and regulate Its do
mestic affairs?" he asked. The STATE
was admitted equal to the others
The territorial regulations do not sIr
yiye the admission
The Local Situation.
With regard to the local situation
he said Oklahoma was not admitted
as a minor.
A matter initiated becomes effec
tive at once. This Is the Haskell vie,
Of the so-called capital location elec
ton, according to Ledbetter HI
claimed that the vote showed tina
Oklahoma City was designated b,
popular vote as the capital The el
iect was instantaneous.
Gradually 14edbetter worked up
stump speech. Vehemently he declal
ed that where the governor IL tn
capital Is. He claimed that every T,
strainlng order is In violation OF Law
Would II have been competen
for congress to enact a law requirin
that Guthrie should remain the cap
fal untfl 1Q1g Qua that tha oevl,ty
should remain at Norman and the III
iversity, be removed to an Indian rel
ervation?' he asked
Then the sarcastic part came. II
alluded TO w. II. Coyle as "the Ia
ern keeper" He said IL Coyle coul
enjoin the state the BARRIERS and butte
ers and bakers could enjoln, to-
Under that theory everything shoul
bow 10 the tavern keeper