Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-06-09
CONSTITUTION Of
OKLAHOMA USED
~ CHINESE STATE OF TOO CHOW
IN FORMING A GOV
ERNMIiNT
OPIUM INSTEAD OF BOOZE
l. Prohibited for "a Years In the New
Constitution As Adoptcd by
China.

The constitution Of the state Of Ok
iahoma. u. $. A., has Deen adopted, al
most In It's entirety, by the state OF
Foo Chou, Republic OF Ch.na, rms
news was brought 20 America by the
RI Rev. James W Bashiord, OF Pt-
kin, China, Methodist Episcopal lilsn
op for China, and transmitted by MN
10 the people OF tins country teN
davs ago AT Cedar Falls, Iowa, IN an
address before the Iowa state Teach
rrs' College. The koV. John G. Ma
gee Of Tulsa YESTERDAY mane known
the facts In the case, as they were
glvon out By Bishop Bashiord.
The only important change thal
has been made IN the Oklahoma con-
stitut.on by The Foo-chuu ofhclals, ~
slight revision Of the prohlpllloh
clause Instead Of making lhls pro
vision In the constitution TO prohlplt
the sale or use of liquors, II covers
the hartering in opium, whleh 70
China is what lntoXicants are TO tho
United States only much more ue-
grading IN general eject Inc new
Chinese republic mas placed a pan On
ouium and the various states are put
ting anti-opium clauses into lheH
constitution from which they are
copying their laws. a..
MOI only has the state Of Foo-Chou
adopted the salient parts Of the Okla
homa constitution, but the maJorlll
az the other Chinese states are pat-
terning their constitution arter thr
sa,no document. Foo-ChOu Is one ol
thc most important of the Chlhese
states. and was the real storm cehtr
Of the revolution that overthrew lhe
empire few months ago. 200 Nhou
was the first state TO adopt consu-
tuition, and consequently the remain
ing states are using Foo-Chou as an
example In organizing their own gov
ernmcnts.
The story Of how the officials OF
Foo. Chou came 10 use the Oklahoma
constitution rs a pattern, IL an IN
teresting one. AS told By Blshop
Pnshford, whohas been in THIS couh-
try attending the Methodist Eplsco-
pal general conference at Minneapo-
lis. and brought to Tulsa by the Rev
Magec Is substantially as follows
Shortly after the triumph OF the
revolutionary forces In CHINA, Blshop
Bashtord had occasion To journey 10
the city Of Foo-Chou, which Is lhe
capital Of the state Of Foo-Chou' Inc
distance from Pckin, Bishop Bash
fora y nehhQudllti0i w J. wv N~'''N -
about 500 mile. When he arrived AT
Fno-Chou he was visited by certain
of the leaders OF the revolutionlsts,
who inquired for copy OF the con
stituton Of any one of the states in
this country. The bishops library
was at Peldn and he promises to look
the matter ny when he returned
home. on his return TO Pekn he
found no United States constitutions
I'm his effects, but an American mer-
chant in the city came to the rescue:
He happened to discover copy OF
the Oklahoma constitution and this
was In due time turned oyer to the
revolutionary leaders at Foo-Chou'
who by that time were in authority
there. They at once proceeded with
the making of their constitution
Many articles in their pattern were
copied verbatim.
The clause providing for the estab-
lishment of state agricultural schools
which was used TO great personal ad'
vantage by former Governor Haskeii,
In oklahoma, will be used IN emma,
also. and some of the leading political
spirlts there are said TO be anticipat-
ing the building Of a great machine
ON the strength of the schols they VIII
establish in this manner.