The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-18

vidual is vitally interested in the
enactment and enforcement of laws
that will drive the dishonest cor
poration from our midst, and until
this is accomplished there can be
no healthy, permanent, develop
ment in this state. The democratic
platform recognizes this condition,
and pledges the protection of our
laws ito all corporations, honestly
conducting their business and faith
fully observing our laws" while ii
arrays itself perpetually against the
corporations that violate our laws.
When elected governor, ! shall sur
round every honest man and every
honest corporation need have any
fear of unfair treatment. The hon
est corporation will be as secure
from unfair treatment, and as COM
pletely safeguarded from injustices
as in any state or nation of the
earth, but all the power of the law
will be leveled against the crimi-
nal corporation that violates our
statutes.
Not a line is to be found in the
republican platform upon the ques-
ton OF corporations. No promise of
relief from the eXactions of such of
these as are enemies of god gov
ernment, is made to the voters of
Oklahoma.
On the question of taxation, the
democratic party makes this dec
laration: "As the party of strict
economy the democratic party advo-
consistent with good and efficient
government. We believe that tax
alton should be just. equal and
uniform" The history Of the DEM
ocratic party is the record OF a
constant and consistent fight for
low taxes and economy in govern
ment, and where the party has
been entrusted with power, these
things have prevailed. On the other
hand, the republican party has ever
been the party of high taxes ana
public extravaganza. In Oklahoma
we have abundant proof of the as
sertion that the democratic party
is the Jealous guardian of the peo-
pies interest in all matters of gov
ernment. The best and the surest
way to arrive at the truth of this
statement is by comparison. Since
statehood the per capita cost of
state government has been one dol
lar and twenty cents per annum.
No republican state in the union
can show as low per capita rate.
Iowa, one of the most economically
administered republican states,
shows cost Of one dollar and
forty-five cents, while the state of
California has a rate of six dol
lars, five times as much as the
Oklahoma rate. The tax rate for
state government in Oklahoma last
year was two and half mills, which
was lower than that of any repub-
lican state of equal size and pop
ulation. The levy made for this
year reduces this amount one-half.
This too in thief ace of the fact
that thousands of dollars of state
tax money is withheld from this
state by injunctions by federal
courts.
In keeping with its fixed policy of
just, equal and uniform taxes, the
democratic party has so admins
tered the affairs of government
that the corporations, for the first
time in the history of Oklahoma, are
required to pay a fair share of the
cost of government. Taxpayers of
Oklahoma, and especially you re-
publicans who believe in the doc
trine of the square deal" consider
we'll this statement: Under form
er republican rule the special priv
ileges and franchise class paid only
eight per cent of the expenses of
the territory, while the taxpayers
paid ninety-two per cent, while un-
der the present democratic rule
the special privilege and franchise
class pay practically seventyfive per
cent of all expenses of state gov
ernment and the taxpayers pay only
twenty-five per cent" And yet In
the face of such irrefutable state
ments as these, the republican lead
ers ask the people of Oklahoma to
turn the administration of affairs
into their hands. The republican
platform and the republican candi-
date for governor. are clamoring