The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-05-24

| II you have not already been asked
to give your support to the proposed
amendment TO the constitution Of Ok
lahoma upon which vote is to be
taken on June II. | ask you to hear
my views before you act on this ques-
ton.
This amendment is popularity known
as the Garter" amendment bur is
initiated, according to the statement
filed with the secretary of state in its
support, by the federated commercial
clubs of Oklahoma.
The amendment is the. result of a
conference held in Chicago many
months ago, at which the representa-
tiyes of the legal departments OF the
biggest roads in the west were pres
ent. and its provisions were deter
mined definitely before the text OF the
amendment ever was submitted to any
commercial club in this state. It is
popularity supposed to be an amend
ment to repeal Section 8 Article 3
OF the constitution Of this state, but
its provisions go much farther than
to merely repeal this section. An
amendment involving the repeal of
Section 8 Article was proposed by
the regular session of the second leg
islature of the state, and will be voted
upon. by its provisions. at the general
election in November Citizens who
think Section of Article 8 ought to
be repealed, but who do not feel like
giving the railroads everything that
they would have taken to themselves
if they had written the constitution
in the first place. should vote against
the amendment June II and in favor
of the one to be voted upon in Novem-
Der.
If the railroads were willing to abide
by an amendment written by the peo-
pie, instead of insisting upon one writ
ten by themselves, the pretext that 1t
has been prepared by the federated
commercial clubs to the contrary not
withstanding, they would not have
gone to the expense they have already
gone to forestall the adoption OF the
legislative amendment at the Novem-
ber election, and would not be hiring
so-calIed commercial club officers to
canvass the state in the interest of
the railroad amendment.
The advocates OF the Garter" or
Railroad or Commercial Club"
amendment, by whatever name they
may prefer to describe it to you are
telling YOU
1. That the adoption of the con-
stitution stopped railroad construction
in this state.
2. That there has been no railroad
construction in the state since the
constitution was adopted.
3. That independent railroads can
not get money with which to build.
1. That the big railroads will not
spend any money in Oklahoma.
5. That the adoption of this Car
ter amendment will cause active con-
struction to become general all over
the state
6. That taxes will be lowered ten
per cent because of increased valua-
tions.
| will endeavor to answer these ar
guments in as few words as the argu-
ments themselves are put.
l. The financial panic of 1907,
which came six weeks before state
hood and the constitution, stopped
railroad construction in Oklahoma and
everywhere else. and the reports Of
railroad presidents all over the Unit
ed States, to their stockholders. prove
this statement.
2 There has been more than 260'
miles of new construction in Okla
homa since statehood, and 500 miles
of construction is now actively going
on.
3. Independent roads are in fact
getting money for construction in Ok
ilahoma. President Kenelck of the
Missouri. Oklahoma & Gulf. on April
20. this year offered $S,0OO,0O bonds
in Paris and the issue was subscribed
more than twice over in six days.
4. The NJ, X. & T. is spending
's3,OOOO00 on improvements in Okla
homa. s1.OOO.O0O having been appro-
priated by the directors within the
last six weeks; this road has no ap-
preparation for similar Improvements
in any other state this year.
3. AS the average business man
strives to keep his investment down
as low as possible without curtalling
his profits SO the railroads do not
build new track when they can control
the same business with the facilities
available. 1t is my opinion that if
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