The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1911-01-09
By Associated Press.

Oklahoma City, Jan. 9.-This city
witnessed, for the first time, the in.
stallation within its borders, of state
officers, when Lee Cruce, as governor
and the other democratic state oil
GERS were inaugurated today.
Governor Cruce is a Kentuckian A
hundred and fifty former Kentuckians
acting as an escort marched behino
his carriage as he went to the Auditor
ium, where the inaugural ceremonies
were held.
Governor Cruce in his inaugural ad
dress said:
I'm speaking to you today, am fol
lowing custom that has prevailed
with the chief executive of the states
since the foundation of our federal
government. The occasion demands
and my inclination compels, that | be
brief in my remarks.
"On November 16, 1907, the procla.
nation of President Roosevelt ushered
into political being the state of Okla
homa. Already the people had adopted
"a constitution to protect their rights
and safeguard their liberties. This
constitution has been variously ap-
praised by those who have read it and
studied it. Its enemies characterize
it as a novel, radical and vicious,
while its friends claim for it degree
of perfection, not hitherto attained in
the organic law of any sister state.
Let us see which, if either, is right
in the estimation placed upon that
document
1--WE assert that there is nothing
radical or striking new in our con-
stitution. We have simply acted the
part of wise citizens and have at
tempted to profit by the experience of
Others, and in writing our funda-
mental law we have embodied in it the
best provisions to be found in other
state constitutions, so that Okla
homas constitution is the condensa-
ton, into a single instrument, of the
best and most vital provisions to be
found in forty-fve other state con-
stitutions.
There is hardly a provision to be
found in it that has not its counter
part in some other state constitution.
So they charge that we are trying
new theories and experiments in gov
ernment, is absolutely without foun-
dation. We have embodied in our or
ganic law the fundamental principles
of free and just government, prin-
ciples that were first announced, estab-
lished and practiced by the fathers of
the republic; and must continue to
prevail as long as free government
endures. That practical operation un-
der this constitution is conductive to
good government is absolutely estab-
lished by the unprecedented growth
and development witnessed in the
state since statehood. The net in
crease in our population during these
three years exceeds the increase in
each of the following twenty-five
states in ten years: Arizona, Con-
necticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Hampshire, Indiana, Idaho, Iowa,
Kentucky, Maine, New Mex
leo. Rhode Island, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Yer
mont, Virginia and Wyoming. During
these three years the increase in tax
able values has averaged 100000, 900
per year, until now the total taxable
wealth of the state approximates one
billion dollars, This growth in popu-
ation and material wealth has been
accomplished during a period of ma
.ional financial depression, supple
nented by disastrous crop failures.
and the most merciless and unwar-
ranted attacks of the states enemies.
ever witnessed in political history.
But it is needless to recount the
achievements of the past. These
.hings are known to all of our citizens
Who have informed themselves upon
conditions present and past in this
state. have alluded to then in the
lope that a better understanding of
,ur laws and constitution may pre-
'ail among the people of other states.
wish it were possible to place in the
lands of every fair-minded citizen in