The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-12-13

garbled accounts as they must pick
Iup here and there afterwards from
gossiping senators. Senator Garrett
| favored open discussion until time for
actual voting on combinations any
how. Senator McMechau expressed
some sentiments exceedingly compli
mentary to newspaper men, but did
not offer them much assistance. for he
would have made them honorary mem
bers of the executive sessions, bound
by the same oaths as the senators, in
which case they could hear every
thing and tell nothing.
Asked Senator Roddie DO you
think it necessary to have the news
paper men help US keep our secrets p"
Yes I do" answered Senator Nc
Mechan.
Anderson Trusts Newspaper Men.
I'D about as soon trust a news
paper man as a senator" said Senator
Anderson, himself an old newspaper
man.
Senator Russell observed that his
Experiences in a recent cat-skinning
campaign had not qualified him to
agree fully with Senator Anderson.
Senator Roddie made talk in favor
of the executive sessions, saying such
must be held, under the constitution.
Senator Barrett declared the execu.
tive sessions a relic of the darg ages.
1T reminds me of star chamber pro-
ceedings," he said.
you never hear of the lower house
of the legislature holding an execu-
tice session." he continued. That is
why they are referred to as the popu-
lar branch. The people of this state
have right to know what is going on,
and they will know"
| Senator Thompson spoke very
strongly in favor of an open session,
and concluded by eulogizing the eff
fects of publicity upon public as well
as private morals. "If we didn't have
the newspapers to report us to our
constituents, we would all of us go a
| little wrong at times, l expect" he
said. Newspaper publicity is the best
political disinfectant on earth. The
most progressive rule that we could
adopt, would be to abolish the execu-
tive session entirely. We could best
prove our modern democracy by let
ting the people know.
Senator Tucker also spoke strongly
in favor of an open session. Il have
nothing to say against any man. he
said, that | would not say in public
or am afraid to say before his face"
Shaw Motion Loses.
A motion by Senator Shaw to at
least permit the newspapers access
to the deliberations, under such re-
strictions as the senate might impose
for the moment was amended by Sen
ator Thompson to make the sessions
entirely open, to the public and press.
The vote was upon the Thompson mo-
ton 1t was defeated II to %, the
roll call being as follows:
Ayes" Austin, Barrett, Edmond
son. Kendrick; Memminger, Mitchell,
Shaw, Thompson, Tucker, Warner,
Wilson.
No" Anderson, Barefoot, Briggs,
Burford, Carpenter, Curran, Dutton,
Franklin, Garrett, Graham, Harion,
Horton, Jones, McAlester, McClintic,
McCully, Mcintosh, McMechan, Pugh,
Roddie, Sorrels, Sutherlin, Vandeven-
ter, Waters, Watrous.
Senator Russell was recorded as
absent
Senator Edmondson arose in explain
alton of his vote. II represent a con-
stituency that is made up almost en-
tirely of farmers" he said, "and I
want them to know what l am doing
here just as they want to know it too.
II vote yes
Senator Anderson then moved that
the five newspapermen present be al
lowed to attend the executive sessions
as they represented newspapers coy
ering" the senate sessions. On a not
very enthusiastic viva voce vote, the
Roddie motion to table prevailed.
The senate then went into executive
session to take up the board of educa-
ton appointments, as Secretary of
State Harrison had sent over the com
missions requested, also the data rela-
| tive to both sets of commissions and
to the investigation of year ago as
to charges of partizanship in school
and college leadership appointments.
ThreadgiII Suggested.
The use of the dining room and