The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-09-29

may work a greater hardship upon
those who become candidates for these
positions, it occurs to me the larger
interest of all of the people in the mat
ter should have the first consideration
At the next regular session a redistrict-
ing bill can be passed, and in the mean
time the three representatives who will
be elected from the state at large, will
| am sure, be representative citizens
who will properly represent our people
and their interests at the national
! capital.
Many other matters have been pro-
lposed for submission to the legisla-
ture which are sufficiently important
to justify speedy action In fact, if all
of the propositions advocated should
be submitted, it is impossible to fore
cast when the session would end. How
ever, it does not occur to me that any
of these questions are of such urgent
character as to justify the expense of
a special session of the legislature at
this time.
But there are other and stronger
reasons for holding no special session.
Since statehood the legislature has
been in session, exclusive of Sundays
and holidays, three hundred and sew
enty-two days, at cost to the tax-pay-
ers of the state of $667, ,17701 Accord
| ing to these figures, our legislature has
been in session practically one-third
of the entire time intervening since
statehood, and since the trainers of
our constitution deemed one-twelfth
of the time ample to pass all needed
laws, it cannot be said that sufficient
opportunity has not been given to pass
all such laws in this state. No ses-
sion of the legislature, special or reg
ular, has ever convened in this state
that cost the people less than 100000.
1t is quite certain that special session
at this time would cost vat the least,
500, 600 and possibly much more. This
| is burden | am unwilling to place
upon the bending backs, of our tax
payers without, a greater necessity
therefore shall come to pass.
In addition to all this, we have our
remedy through the initiative There
is not a single measure that has been
proposed to me for legislative action
that could not be initiated by the peo-
pie; and since no effort is being made
by the people to initiate any of these
measures, it is evident they see nc
pressing need for immediate action.
Some have urged as a reason for
calling a special session the interests
of the democratic party. My answer
to this is; My first and supreme duty
is to the entire citizenship of the state
No governor can justify himself in en-
failing additional burdens upon the
taxpayers of a state for the sole pur
pose of subscribing the interests of &
political party. In adhering to this
policy I am deceiying no man in this
state. As a candidate for governor
l repeatedly stated that if elected
would be governor of all the people
of the state, and that if democrat!
were supporting me upon the theory
that, if elected, would use the office
to build up the democratic party a.
the expense of all the people of the
state, they had better not elect me
for | would certainly not be that kline
of governor. Since | have been gov
ernor, in the face of violent criticism
and tremendous pressure, l have KEEP
faith with the people, and I expect t
pursue this policy to the end of m!
term of office. l have no apprehension
: of democratic disaster as long as W.
deserve the support and confidence o
the people.
What the people need, what the peo
pie want, what the people must have
: is legislative rest. Give us a breath
, ing spell. Let us take an inventor!
and see what we have done in leg
islative way since November 18th
1907. Give us the opportunity to pu
; into operation the laws we have ant
study results. Then if changes ar
{ needed or new laws desirable we cal
/, set ourselves to the task of rewriting
| them; but let us not be too hasty il
casting reflection upon what has beel
/ done by saying that the carefully con
tsidered work of 372 legislative day