The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-01-10

The banks contributing same, Rnde
terms and conditions thar viii ihsur
its payment on demand when neede'
BY the banking board.
Prohibition.
There can no longer be homes
doubts in any mind that the people o
this State favor prohibition On tws
occasions the voice OF the people hal
unmistskably spoken in its favor. II
is now the duty Of the Legislature
and this administration to see that
these demands are needed. II serves
no good purpose 10 try to disguise
the fact that the enforcement OF the
law in this Stale has been unsatisfac-
tory 10 the people. The fault how
ever, has not been with the State ad-
minisirati0a but with the law itself.
The powers given the Governor have
been entirely inadequate. The best
the Governor can do. under the pres
ent Law, is to send enforcement off,
GERS from one community into another,
to try to enforce laws that local on
cials fail. and occasionally, wilfully
refuse, to enforce. These imported
officials enter the community with all
the influence these delinquent local
officials and their frieRds can com
mand. thrown in their way. 10 hinder
and obstruct them. Coupled with this
is the natural resentment that an Ok
lahoman holds against the system. AS
citizens OF the two Territories prior
TO state government, we fought so con-
stantly against the idea OF imported
officials, that the doctrine of local self
government has become a fixed prin-
icple with nearly all Of us. Yet the
State and this Legislature owe a duty
to the good people OF the State, and
the law-abiding citizens in every com
munity, no matter how much they
may be In the minority. are entitled
TO the protection Of the law If local
officials fail TO give this protection,
the State must give It; otherwise, just
and righteous government is a farce
and a failure.
Again regard the present law in
adequate In this We refuse the IN
dlyldual the right to deal In intoxicat-
Ing liquors, holding that the same is
wrong, yet In collective capacity,
We have established dispensarjes,
where the State handles these out
awed liquors, and that too, in the
ACE Of the fact. that the people Of
he State, by popular vote, declared
against the dispensary system. II II
3 wrong for an individual to sell in
oxicating liquors, it is wrong for an
aggregation Of individuals to sell them,
nough you try to disgnise the indi-
liduals b. calling them "the State"
therefore recommend that you abol-
sh the dispensary system in this
State. and give the power to some
State official, to remove
my officer in the State, whose duty 1t |
s to enforce this law, who fails or
efuses TO enforce 1t. With these |
effective, / am sure that
nore satisfactory results will be OBJ
aimed
One Of the chief hindrances to the |
roper enforcement of this law is the |
REVEALING practice Of gambling in the
tate A large percentage Of the vio
alton of this law of prohibition, Is |
irectly traceable to this cause. II you
iill abolish gambling, you Will de-
rease crime fifty per cent in the
tate. or course no one believes you |
an pass a law that will entirely stop |
but you can lessen the evil.
IS a means to this end, l Recommend
hat you make it felony for any man
) run a gambling house in this State.
Vhen you have passed such law, you
ave discharged your duty in this mat
sr. The responsibility for results will
len be placed upon other officials,
nd the people Of the State who be-
eve in law enforcement.
Reapportionment
It will be your duty to redistrict the
tate for Legislative, Judicial and Con-
purposes. OF course moth
lg can be done toward establishing
Districts, until Congress
lall establish the basis of apportion-
ent, but this should not cause any
clay in fixing Legislative and Judicial
istricts. In the matter of redictrict-
& tne State for all OF these purposes,
trust d spirit OF fairness viii char
steri2e your actions. No political
arty can permanently profit by prac-
cling manifest unfairness. The his
,ry Of the other States teaches us
lat honest men, in all parties, resent
ltrageous gerrymandering. In 10
tate in the union are there TO be
und a larger per centage of fair
inded people. than live in Oklaho-
a. Your duty as Representatives OF
.e people, is to the entire citizenship
this State, and not to any portion .
that citizenship. No matter how
.alously we may serve any political
'ganization, If thereby we fail to rel-
.r Just service to all the people, we ,
I'VE failed to perform our real duty.
or has any political party the right
demand or expect that you do less
an your duty to all Of the people
he usefulness Of any political party
organization. reaches its end when
at party ceases to be fair and just. .
|. =, -, ,s,,.ft. 10 rfv in thfa State has y