The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-09-28
DECLINES
TO CALL
SESSION
Governor Announces De-
CiSiOn;; Issues Statement
Defining Position

Declaring that ther will be no
special session OF the legislature as
no necessity for the same exists,
Governor cruce In a statement sent
out to the press several days ago
Tor publication today finally dis
poses of a question that has agitated
the state for several months. The
governor in explaining his position
says. in part:
i addressed a letter to each mem
Der of the present legislature. ask
Ing his opinion upon the question;
second. | addressed a letter TO each
newspaper OF the state, asking in
formation as to the desires OF the
taxpayers in the state upon the mat
ter. with the following result: OF
the members OF the lower branch OF
the legislature. who answered my re-
quest. twenty-nine per cest opposed
the call; of the senators. forty-one
per cent opposed Il; OF the editors
who wrote me, seventy-seven per
cent were in opposition, while Of the
letters that reached me from indi-
yidual taxpayers, seventy-seven per
cent plead with me 10 refuse the call.
From this Il is seen that the per-
centage in the newspaper column is
identical with that Of the Individual
taxpayers. which certainly argues
strongly that the newspapers have
quite accurately ascertained and re-
ported public opinion upon this inn
portant issue. II also shows plainly
that my first determination in the
matter was In harmony with the de-
sIres Of the great majority Of the
taxpayers OF the state. In addi-
ton to all this. the Federated Labor
Unions OF tho state in convention as
cembled passed strong resolutions,
urging me Ia the interest Of the tax.
payers and laborers OF the state.
to issue no call Similar resolutions
we're passed by the Oklahoma Ger
man-American association. and var
ious other organizations OF the state
and transmitted to me.
Various reasons are assigned for a
special session BY those who advo-
cate the call, but practically sll who
favor the session agree that two
propositions need speedy considera-
tion.-to-wit, the proposition to erect
the capitol. and the redistricting OF
the state into congressional districts.
With reference 10 the first PROPOSE
tion.-thi legislature has already
acted upon the question OF a capitol,
and that the building is not now in
course Of construction Is no fault
Of the legislature. When the funds
are made available that were con
tracted to be paid the state, the
work viii 40 forward don't be-
lieve that the legislature could has
ten It's payment and ! am sure that
there is nothing that can be done in
special session that cannot be done
equally well in regular session.
Nor do think the redlstrictlng
OF the state will warrant me in cali
ing a special session. The three addi-
tional representatives in congress. to
which the state is entitled, can be
elected from the state at large, and
while It may work a greater hard
shop upon those who become can.
didates for these positions, Il oc-
ours to me the larger interest Of all
Of the people ii the matter should
have the first consideration AT the
next regular session a redistricting
hin can be passed, and in the mean
time the three representatives who
viii be elected from the state at
large. will, am sure, be represen'
tatlve citizens who will properly rep
resent our people and their interests
at the national capital.
aMany other matters have been
proposed for submission to the legis
lature which are thought by their ad
vocates to be sufficiently important
to justify speedy action. In fact. il
all Of the propositions advocated
should be submitted it is impossible
to forecast when the session would
end. However. It does not occur tc
me that any Of these questions ar'
Of such urgent character as to JUS
tify the expense Of a special session
Of the legislature at this time
but there are other and stronger
reasons for holding no special ses
soin. Since statehood the iegisla
ture has been in session, exclusive
Of Sundays and holidays. three hun