The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-10-20
ALTUs MEETING EXCITING
Mass Affair Called to Discuss Extra
Session And Governors Action

Altus, Okla, Oct 20--That the
Democratic politicians of Oklahoma
are accusing Governor Lee Cruce OF
"courting Republican applause in
refusing to call a special session OF
the state Legislature was the state
ment here Saturday night of j. S.
Moore, county treasurer of Jackson
county, that statement coming orig
inially from the governor himself and
being received by Moore in letter.
The statement was made at a mass
meeting of taxpayers held Saturday
might to discuss the hign taxes, but
the discussion turned to the special
session.
In his speech Mr.. Moore highly
commended the governor for his re-
fusal to call the special session, and
Immediately following resolution
was introduced indorsing the gov
lernor's position by w. C Baker cash
ier of the Altus State bank. An i'm
passioned speech by State Senator
Guy p. Horton prevented the carry
ing of the resolution, and it later
was withdrawn
SenatTg Horton said that white he
was in thorough accord with the ac-
tion of the meeting in attempting to
lower their taxes by abolishing GER
tain schools and had not intended to
take any part in the discussion of
the question, he could not see action
taken commencing the action of a
Democratic governor in refusing TO
call a special session of the legisla-
ture, which virtually would mean
the condemnation of the action of ev-
cry Democrat who requested the spe-
ciai session, including former Gov.
C. N Haskell, United States Senator
Robert l. Owen, Congressman Char
les Carter, Chairman of the Corpor-
alton Commission Jack Love, Justice
r. L. Williams of the supreme court
and more than two-thirds of the SEN
ators and representatives comprising
tae Oklahoma legislature, also the
Democratic state central committee
He said he preferred to stand with
those Democratic politicians rather
than to stand alone with the govern
or we've
Senator Horton then proceeded to
show that a speciai session costing
the $4,000, on $1,075,8 ,596 valua-
ton would cost the taxpayer of this
state 6 1-2 cents on each $1,000 worth
of property that he had on the tax
rolls, an insignificant amount. In ms
argument Senator Horton mentioned
three primary reasons for special
session: First, for the purpose Of re-
districting the state; second, for the
of separating the election OF
state officials and congressman; third
for the purpose of settling the capitol
question.
He pointed out how the state had
been gerrymandered by the Repub-
lcans and said that true Democrats
who believe in the theory of tarl1f
for revenue only, and the curbing OF
unlawful trusts and combines that
operate in the restraint of trade,
should be interested in SO redistrict-
ing the state that i would assure
the sending of Democratic congress
men to Washington in sympathy with
such policies He also spoke of t1e
possibility of the next legislature be-
ing Republican, unless the grandfa h
er clause of our constitution is en-
forced, which he said could be done
only by having separate elections.
With the exception of Mr.. Moore
all of the speakers VINO defended the
governors position and spoke in IA
yor of the resolution were Republic
ans, and the author ofthe resolution
stated that he had been a Republican
up to the time of statehood. When
r. t. Williams arose to speak against
the resolution the Republicans at
tempted to break up the meeting by
leaving, but the Democrats refused
to leave, and upon the final show
down, it being evident that the reso-
luton indorsing She governors ac-
tion would be overwhelmingly de
feated. it, was Withdrawn. and reso-
luton unanimously adopted in its
stead refusing to either indorse OF
condemn the governor in mis- action
When the needs of special session
and the cost it will add have been
explained the Democrats in this sec
ton are Overwhelmingly for a spe-
cial session and the Republicans are
against it