The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-11-15

Champ Clark said in part:
As / understand it, this great and
important congress is a non-political
body convened for the laudable pur
pose of discussing .on-political prob
lens with the intention of promoting
the happiness, prosperity and comfort
knows there are many far-reaching
questions affecting the public veal
which human ingenuity has not been
sufficient to twist into partisan poll
tics.
The members of this congress rep.
resent in one way or another almost
every legitimate business in the coun-
try. You can not legislate but you
can and do to large extent crystal
/ lie and voice public opinion, thereby
indicating to the congress of the Unit.
ed States and the state legislatures
the desires of the people for remedial
legislation. Your selfimposed duty is
Of vast import to the republic. This
is the day of organization and | wish
you a hearty Godspeed in your work
of improving the conditions under
which we live Speaking for the
house of representatives, of which
body have been member for seven
teen yeoars, ! am well within bounds
of truth when | say that we vel
come suggestions, advice and infor-
nation from any and all sources
whatsoever. Particularly. do We vel
come advice, suggestions and informa-
ton in such intelligent body as this.
| am aware that there is a wide
spread belief that the chief delight
of the congress of the United States
is to flout public opinion. That may
have possibly been true as to some
to certain representatives; but take
much pride in the fact that the chief
have the honor to preside is to ascer-
tai nand do the will of the people
who elected us. Any othtr theory
of action in a representative gov
ernment is absolutely preposterous,
if not criminal OF course there are
some CongresSmcn who are elected by
predatory interests and who serve
them rather than the public, but ! am
happy in the belief that their num-
ber is diminishing and will continue
to diminish until they are reduced
to the minimum or rooted out entire
ly.
Al the present time the average cit
izcn is more carefully scrutinizing the
votes of representatives and senators
than ever before, which is well, and
are relegating the unfaithful and in
capable to the shades of private life
which is also well. Consequently pub
lie men are growing more and more
chary about running counter to public
opinion and of ignoring any proper
demand of the people That this is
a healthy state of affairs is the belief
of every lover of our country ard our
land and is certain to have a whole
some Influence where it is most need.
ed.
There are several important and
far reaching problems of urgent ne
cessty in pressing for solution. Among
these are rational conservation of
our natural resources, which we have
wasted with a prodisal's hand; n COM
prehensive and practicable scheme
for the building of wagon roads; a
change in the banking laws so as to
give the element of elasticity to our
currency system, consummation de
youtly to be wished: the drainage and
reclamation of ovcrflOwed and swamp
lands and above all, an adequate and
comprehensive system of river i'm
proyemcut There are others, but
these are enough and more than
enough for one evenings consider
alton
I'.on Investigation, it will be ascer-
tanned that one of the chief Difficult
ties in effectinS certain much needed
reforms is our dual system of govern
ment state and federal. Every body
knows that our little remaining timber
supply should he carefully conserved.
Not only that, but We must speedily
euter upon an extensive and scientific
system of tree eplanting at the head OF
our streams if We would prevent the
drying up of this country and the
conseQl, II das0'ation such as fell mp
on Spain a, a later day, which can he
traced directly to the destruction of
their fo'.s,t Ne are all agreed vat
trees ought TO be plated but the ques-