The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-09-29
GOVERNOR OPPOSED To
CALLING EXTRA SESSION
Cruce Issues Letter Explaining Why He Will
Not Call Legislators Together Declares
SeUenty-Seuen Per Cent of Tax Payers
Are Opposed---Expense of An
other Session Governor
Says is Too Much

Governor Cruce has refused to call
the legislature in extra session and has
issued the following letter in explana-
tion of his stand
1t occurs to me that the time has
come for me to speak definitely upon
the subject of a special session of the
Legislature. The uncertainty that ex-
lists at this time is disquieting to the
public mind and hurtful to the best
interests of the state and it's citizens.
Hardly had the regular session of
the legislature ended it's labors and
its members gone to their homes be-
fore a we'll defined movement was set
on foot to induce me to cali special
session. In fact, l was informed while
the legislature was still in regular
session that a special session would
be unavoidable. After congress had
tardily acted upon and passed the
1reapportionment bill the demands
made upon me for a special session be-
came insistent, persistent and num-
erous. To all Of these appeals l made
the one answer-that to my judgment
nothing had transpired that made a
special session either necessary or de-
sirable. | was then met with the argu-
Iment that the people of the state want
ed it, and that l should bow to their
will To this l replied that while l
was unalterably opposed to a special
lsession, yet if l was convinced that
the taxpayers of the state, who would
have to bear the added burden, desired
lit, | would not stubbornly stand in the
way. Thereupon l set to work to ac-
quaint myself with the real situation in
this regard.
First, l addressed letter to each
member of the present legislature,
asking his opinion upon the question;
lsecond, | addressed letter to each
newspaper of the state, asking informa-
ton as to the desires of the taxpayers
lin the state upon the matter, with the
following result: OF the members of
the lower branch of the legislature,
who answered my request, twenty
mine per cent opposed the call; of the
senators, forty-one per cent opposed
la. of 81 1trbN
ty-seven per cent were in opposition,
while of the letters that reached me
from individual taxpayers, seventy
seven per cent plead with me to re-
fuse the call. From this it is seen that
the percentage in the newspaper col
umn is identical with that of the in
dividual taxpayers, which certainly
argues strongly that the newspapers
have quite accurately ascertained and
reported public opinion upon this i'm
portant issue. 1t also shows plainly
that my first determination in the mat
ter was in harmony with the desires
of the great majority of the taxpayers
l Iof the state. In addition to all this
} the Federated Labor Unions of the
T. state in convention assembled passed
} strong resolutions, urging me in the
' interest of the taxpayers and laborers
) of the state, to issue no call. Similar
: resolutions were passed by the Okla
} homa German American association
= and various other organizations of the
| state and transmitted to me.
: Various reasons are assigned for {
e special session by those who advocate
/. the call, but practically all who favor
? the session agree that two PROPOSE
t tions need speedy consideration-to
f wit, the proposition to erect the capi
+ tol, and the redistricting the state int
J. congressional districts. With reference
n Ito the first proposition--this Legislature
: has already acted upon the question o
: capitol, and that the building is no
/ now in course of construction is m
t fault of the legislature. When tn,
funds are made available that wer'
contracted to be paid the state, th'
work will go forward. do not believ'
Y that the legislature could hasten it
|. payment, and l am sure that there il
/ nothing that can be done in special ses
!. sion that cannot be done equally a
2. we'll in regular session.
e Nor do l think the redistr citing 0
n the state will warrant me in calling
e special session. The three additioGa
S representative in congress, to whicl
e the state is entitled. can be electe,
from the state at large, and while