The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-06
Why You Should Oppose the
Railroad Amendment June ~

lnlS cOmUlSslun, now OT a. any lilhS
approved OF or virtually agreed TO
the same amendment as Is now being
asked for by the so-called Federated
Commercial club. You ask, II this be
true, why have changed front MY
reply to that, this is not true and that
have not changed front. My attitude
toward the amendment has been sn
attitude OF the most strenuous op
position to which have been capable
and any representation that 1t has
been otherwise at any time Is mis-
representation OF fact
The remainder OF your letter CON
slsts Of a yariously stated question
whether the big pet railroads are
not paying for the campaign that
this commission is making against
I this amendment. | answer no. They
are not. On the contrary they are
paying for the campaign in favor OF
I It, They are paying for suite OF
looms and .orce OF rs or so clerks Ia
( Oklahoma City. for the tons OF printed
matter urging voters, for the sixty
regular employees OF foreign railroads
l who are drawing regular salary or
! extra pay and expenses for attempt
/ Ing railroads anywhere and every
/ to sacrifice their interests and sup
port this amendment, for the lawyers
In every locality ID the state who are
/ urging for this amendment on the
/ street corners aud from platforms
! for tho transportation OF their hired
agitators who are campaigning among
passengers and employees on railroad
trains. for the thousands OF copies Of
\ newspapers containing arguments pre-
pared al the Oklahoma City hcadquar-
4 tiers that are being distributed free
every day; for the automobiles ali
over this state that are carrying tbelI
campaign to the inland towns promis
Ing To persuade their fellow employees
where IL this amendment Is adopted
/ to an extent that would IL these prom.
ises were to be fulfilled bankrupt
4 every railroad in the state within
twelve months, for the Intoxicating
liquor that has been given and Is be-
ing given in meetings OF railroad EN-.
ployes as a bribe to men who will
lose their positions II they get drunk,
and for each and every other item
OF the expense asgregating the In
calculable price that these foreign
railroads are willing to spend to Sc
cure the adoption OF this Garter"
: amendment June IL.
II these foreign railroads are not
anxious to have this amendment
adopted, why did they not content
themselves In letting the people vote
upon the legislative amendment thai
is to be voted upon in November? II
they do not consider 1t worth the
price they are paying to abolish stats
control and regulation In OklahOma
why ara they paying the price? Il
the big foreign roads are not anxious
for the Carter" amendment Why are
tho men now sgitating the mattel
: among the employees OF the foreign
roads, men regularly employed by tht
!. Santa Fe, the Rock Island and the
Frisco? Are these men drawing theii
! regular pay and extra pay and expeRs
es to oppose the desires or their en-
: ployers? Candidly, your injection o
! this absurd proposition into this dis
, cussion, and publicity 1t has received
/ through the agencies with which yo,
appear to aligned, Is in my opinion
: decidedly blunder. | am glad 1t hai
!. been done for 1t reveals the despsr
y ateness OF the plight in which the Nd
y vocatcs OF this amendment find them
y selves and the false character OF tn
y whole fabric of their argument AM
. contention.
= = You ask where, II the big roads arr
" unt ha uuifh whtpi
- the campaign the corporation CON
y u mission is making against this amend
y ment does come from.
+ am glad you have given me an op
portunity to tell you clearly as t
y this.
= The people OF lne state of Okls
y homa are paying this money.
' II you are taxpayer In the stat
! you are paying part OF II.
y You say you can not believe tha
u !, would violate the law by using tn
I" taxpayers money In this way.
/. You are correct In your belief tha
"a | would not violate the law, but 20
y do me an injustice in believing that
Is would not make this use OF the tai
r payers money. II there Is any la'
preventing me from thus doing ! ar
Z" unaware Of It. and | have correspof
q dence in the files Of this office. fror
Judges on the bench in this state. col
u graduating and thanking me for d.
D ing exactly this thing. and these lc
- ters came voluntarily and withou
e. solicitation, suggestion or previou
~ knowledge of the attitude OF thos
- judges in the matter. beyond my col
viction that all judges or REASONABLE
G. learned lawyers would agree that m
N course is right and just.
The people OF Oklahoma throrg
Se the corporation commission can nc
y hope to compete with the foreign raj
M roads in the amount OF money the
p can expend in conducting this can
y paign. but In the interest OF the PEI
SS pie, in protection of the vast materi:
sh resources OF this state. In the inte
y est OF future generations OF our ci
$ izenship against exploitation by trus'
Ss and railroad monopolies. again!
y y plundering Of the public In the futuT
AS as II WAS plundered by these railroad
Ss In territorial days, In compliance wit
~ ~ my sacred oath to protect, uphold an
KS defend the constitution OF the Stat
Ss OF Oklahoma. | have spent conside
ss ss able money, and expect to spend col
% siderable more.
NJ The corporation has an extra fore
~ OF employees "a well equipped circ
% lar printing outfit. and the regul;
NJ employees are devoting days and nigh
~ aud nlY tha ability thAv Dosseqa M