Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-22
MAKESNOPROGRESS
Railway Building in Oklahoma
Retarded by Legislation.
BAN ON ALL CORPORATIONS
Administration Declared to Have
Discouraged Investments.
POWER OF EX-G0v. HASKELL
Present Executive Laboring to Re-
peal Objectionable Restrictions
Imposed in CONSTITUTION.

Imposed in Constitution.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
OKLAHOMA CITY, March 16, 1911.
There has been practically no increase
in the railway mileage of Oklahoma since
its admission as a state. The four great
systems which were constructed during
the territorial period now have only the
same 600 miles. The reason for this
stagnation is the unfriendly disposition
of the administration and the restrictions
placed in the constitution by anti-corpora-
ton agitators. The constitution was
written by c. n. Haskell of Muskogee
and William H. Murray, a squaw man of
TishomiDgo, who has reputation of be-
ing thorough crank, just as Haskell
has reputation of being demagogue.
Murray came into Indian Territory at an
early day, married an Indian woman and
has lived among Indians all his life. He
is an Unsuitable reader, professional
philosopher and claims to have made a
special study of constitutions and politi-
cal economy, although entirely without
experience in government OF in the man.
agement Of corporations or in other prac-
tical lines. He is purely theorist and
the constitution of Oklahoma represents
to be. Some of his disciples still contend
that it is an ideal instrument far beyond
the Constitution Of the United States and
will immortalize the man who wrote it,
but many have lost faith.
An Ohio Product.
c. N. Haskell, whose name and per-
sonal affairs occupied great deal Of
space in the newspapers during the late
presidential campaign, is from Lima,
Ohio, where he was protege and po-
litcal agent Of the late Calvin S. Brice,
formerly United States senator from
Ohio. Haskell was educated in the po-
litical methods for which Senator Brice
was notorious, had confidential relations
with him and assisted him to manage his
campaigns.
appeared in Indian Territory as lawyer,
promoter. land agent and politician,
where his experience and energy gave
him such a decided advantage that he
soon became the recognized leader of the
democratic organization. He became an
intimate friend of William Jennings Bry-
an and was his personal representative in
this state. Bryan trusted him implicitly,
and Haskell was made treasurer OF the
national democratic committee through
his influence.
1t will be remembered that President
Roosevelt threw a bonbshell into the
democratic camp by accusing Haskell OF
defrauding the government and the In
dams and of dishonest transactions In
real estate at Muskogee. Bryan. who is
a thoroughly honest man and has high
sense of the proprieties. was shocked and
turned his back on Haskell, who was
compelled to resign from the democratic
national committee, was indicted in the
United States courts and in self-defense
brought libel suits against several news
papers which had impeached his integrity.
He is very bitter toward Bryan for go
ing back on him. when he was in trouble
Bryan is said to have been freely con-
suited by Murray and Haskell while they
were drafting the constitution, and in
dorsed that instrument without reserve.
First Governor Of the State.
Haskell was elected the first Governor Of
Oklahoma and held that Office at the time
he was attacked by Roosevelt and the
newspapers. He served his term, named
his successor and is now in temporary
retirement, editing a newspaper. pro-
noting real estate enterprises and specu-
lating in land. He is candidate for
the United States Senate. to succeed Mr..
Owen, the representative of the Indian
Territory side Of the state, whose term
will expire two years hence. and Is work
ing at that business every day. strength
ening his machine by making friends
him.
There was a good deal of surprise
when he selected such a man as Lee
Cruce to succeed him as governor, for
Cruce is the very opposite of Haskell in
every respect. He is straightforward.
conservative. old-fashioned bank presi-
dent. safe and sane, without political
ambition and believed to be absolutely
i,x,v1 <Sol in, Ind amt
in his ideas. This is explained, however,
on the theory that Haskell knew that
Cruce would not become rival would
not create a political machine, would not
be a candidate for the Senate or interfere
with his plans and prospects in any way,
and in that he seems to have made an
accurate forecast. Cruce is giving the
state conservative, practical and sensi-
you in previous letters. has been earnest
ly endeavoring since he toook his seat
in the executive chair the first of Janu-
airy to straighten out the crooked things
the state administration upon business
basis and to restore its credit. to reduce
expense by abolishing hundreds of sine
cures which Haskell created for his
friends. and by amending the constitu-
ton so as to remove the obstacles that
prevent the development of the great
natural resources Of this section.
Haskell as Dictator.
Oklahoma. with Indian Territory. was
admitted as a state in 1908, and the
constitution, written by Haskell and Muir
ray, was adopted almost Immediately
thereafter by very large vote. Haskell
was elected the first governor, served
for two years and became an absolute
dictator. The legislature did everything
he told it to do. and. of course, the
numerous commissions appointed by him
to take charge Of the various branches
of the government were entirely subject
to his will. He advocated almost every |
queer proposition that the fertile imag-
nations of Oklahoma could suggest. He |
was a socialist and prohibitionist and
was willing to try out every theory that |
was advanced.
There is a very expressive phrase in |
use down here which describes Haskelrs |
benevolent and comprehensive policy. |
They say that he played to the forks of