The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-05
ISSUES
STATEMENT
: TO MEN,
CHAIRMAN OF CORPORA
TIoN BOARD DEFINES
THE ISSUE

The Following statement TO Men
was issued today from the corpora
tion commission.
The old adage that every man has
his price | do not believe. But the
lime has come In this stale when Il
IS necessary for every man 10 80 on
record The time has been named
that will demonstrate whether Okla
homa is made UP Of men who are go
Ing 10 insist upon that which Is their
heritage, or OF Esaus VINO are go-
ing 10 sell their hirthrighi for a
mess OF postage. June II will dem
onstrate whether yous The men of
Oklahoma, Who declared your inde-
pendence Of corporate domination
when you adopted the Oklahoma
constitution in 1907 by majority OF
\ $4,000 are still independent, o. are
going to sell your vote 10 the rail.
roads that are arrayed in solid pha-
lanx against you, tear up the eonsti-
tuition, and throw It 10 the four
winds.
The often repeated idea that
Money rules the world 10 not be-
lieye. You can buy a part of the
people, but you cannot buy them all
There are United States district
judges in Oklahoma, but the rail-
roads went to Kansas 10 get Fed
eral judge who presided in St Louis
OF issue an Injunction 10 prevent the
enforcement OF the two cent fare and
the just and reasonable freight rates
put in effect by the corporation com
mission. II the proposition they put
up to that Federal Judge was fair
why did they fear TO have IL passed
by Judge in Oklahoma where the
conditions exist?
Not satisfied with this they have
hired individuals TO carry around ne
trions that have resulted in the call
sar the election that has for its pur
pose the destruction of the powers
that the people took to themselves
when they adopted the constitution
Those who circulated those petitions
we're paid from five TO ten cents per
name for the showing they made, and
the money that went out so silently
but SO effectively In getting this ap
parent showing for the proposed
adroitly drawn and cleverly worded
amendment Is the merest pittance
compared with what the railroads
are now prepared to spend TO put the
deal through and knock the powers
OF the people out.
They are preparing TO put out sur
veyors to every part of the state
that would like more railroads than
II has, 70 lay out railroads and tel
the people that IL the constitution is
amended as they want II amended
they can get money 10 build roads
They robbed you OF millions before
the constitution created the corpora
lion commission and projected yo0l
and they are now willing to spend
millions to bring back the old condi-
sions.
Do not be deceived. You people
who have had relief from burdens
through the corporation commission
where you could not get a reply Of
any kind before, you who have tele-
phone service where you did not have
1t before, you who have heated your
homes with coal, or built homes or
fenced your farm. etc. on which
freight was paid on the commissions
rates. who have been saving 33 l3
per cent on passenger fare until the
railroads got their temporary in
junction, even you who visit the rail
road station and there observe The
attitude OF the corporation toward
the commission that has been the in
strument with which you have pro-
tected yourself, are YOU ready to
throw the weapon OF your defence
away?
When you asked the railroad com
pany for depot before the corpora
tion commission was established. did
you get 1t or did YOU have to stand
out in the rain? When YOU, just a
small shipper, knew YOU had been
overcharged for freight, what did
you get? A refund? Not so much
as civil answer.
The promoters of this proposed
amendment say they have the busi-
ness men with them. | deny IT,.
They have hired agitators who will
tell you that they are business men,
but they are men who do have their
price. and are receiving It,
You have adopted the constitution.
You have created the corporation
commission Its interests. my inter
ests. are only your own interests
and am asking YOU 70 act in yonr
own defence.
The fight againsi your interests
will be waged by every agitator- ey-
cry commercial club secretary or
president, every newspaper and ev-
cry other instrument for forming and
shaping public sentiment that can be
hired or bought. and not by any thar
can not be hired or bought
The only argument they can or
VIII make to YOU is the pretext that
under the present conditions they
cannot get money 10 spend in Okla
homa.
Ny friends: In the past eighteen