The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-08-02
GOVERNOR ASKS
LEGISLATURE IN
ACCORD WITH HIM
In open Letter, He Urges Voters to
Select Men Of AblIity-EcOnomy
is Needed.


legislature be selected who will be in
accord with the expressed economy
ideas OF the administration, declaring
that the threat has been made openly
by politicians that they expect to or
ganize the next legislature In opposi-
ton 70 the governor, in order to pass
appropriation bills over his veto
He declares that he fayors bill
reducing the legal tax limit, and bills
eliminating and consolidating various
state, county and local Offices. and that
If given legislature in sympathy with
these ideas, that he will see that such
legislation is passed He urges the
voters to study carefully the list Of
candidates before casting their ballots
at the primary, and to select only men
who are honest and who stand for
real economy. The letter follows;
Governors Letter.
ITO the Democratic Voters OF Okla
homa.
"The primary election to be held
on the 9Th day of August probably is
more important to the citizens and
taxpayers OF Oklahoma than is the
general election which will follow on
the 9Th day OF November In the pri-
mary election the various political
parties OF the state viii go through
the wedding out process among the
candidates, and the type Of men who
win be elected at the November cleo
tion to fill the various offices In the
state viii be determined at this cleo
ton. II anything can be said or done
by any citizen OF this state to arouse
the voting population to sense OF.
lts public duty, and cause II to re-
feet upon the Importance Of this cleo
tion, it should be done.
while my appeal is made TO the
democrats Of this state, 1t Is imDor-
tant that men OF al parties should be
interested in this matter and cast
their ballot in the primary election in
the interest Of honest and efficient
government | feel. however that
have a special right as member OF
tho democratic party oil Oklahoma 70
give voice to my convictions in mat
ters Of this kind. and to let the public
know that am interested
4 have scrupulously avoided taking
any active part In the pending con-
troyersy between democratic aspiraats
to official position; have never pub
licly or privately expressed prefer.
ence between candidates. feel that
It would be unfair for me, as the gov
ernor of the state. however much
might desire To do 20. as a private
citizen. to become involved IN this
controversy. 1t Is almost impossible
for the individual to be separated from
the ofiice. and have ever opposed the
idea Of men holding high official posi-
tons under the electorate Of the state.
undertaking. either directly Or in
directly. to use that public trust to
further the interest of any friend Or
partisan il political campaign.
Retrenchment Needed.
There Is MUCH being said in this
state about retfenchment and reform.
Taxpayers of every political per-
eaaslon are seeking some relief from
the existing burdens of taxation No
one has appreciated more fully than
the fact that the people Of Oklahoma
are thus burdened and no one has
more earnestly desired that this bur
den might be lightened and every pos
sible extravaganza in government be
eliminated. l would cali the attention
of the voters to the fact, however,
that there viii be 40 real, substantial
and abiding reforms iii government Of
any community or state: neither will
effective economy be brought to pass
until each individual voter realizes
that be has a duty TO perform and
faithfully performs that duty at the
ballot box. The governor of the state
Is practically impotent in bringing tc
pass this desired economy unless he
has the support, not only of the tax
payers OF the state, but members o
the legislature as well.
AS governor Of the state have
not the power to abolish single elee
tive Office e,-state county or district
and my power TO deal with appointiv,
officers is limited to those coming i'm
mediately under my department.
"The public is pretty generally ad
vised of the fact that in dealing witt
appropriations passed at the last ses
sion of the legislature, vetoed al
preparation bills carrying In the ae
gregate about million dollars. NJ
reward for this consisted largely i
-