The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-05-01
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BILL PASSED
HOUSE BILL CALLS FOR SEVEN
DEMOCRATIC AND ONE REPUR-
tlCAN DISTRICTS.

A faint ray of hope that the fourth
legislature would enact a congress
ional reapportionment bill was 70
f7ected when the house of represen-
tatives todEy passed on final roll
call the measure that had been
agreed upon in democratic caucus.
The vote was 81 to q, but the emer.
gency failed for want of the con
stitutional number. Some promise
was given by senator's tonight that
a satisfactory bill would be worked
through caucus of that body, and if the
houses reach anything approaching
an agreement Gov. Cruce will sub
NIT the question by special message
The house bill calls for seven
democratic districts and one repub'
llidan district the latter being in
northwestern Oklahoma, and this ar.
rangement drew a vigorous protest
from democratic members from
counties embraced within the district
of off-political color. Mr.. Vosburgh
of Woodward, speaking for the re-
publican minority, offered a substi-
tute bill that proposed to give the
dominant party six districts without
question and hold two for the repub-
licans. In supporting this bill Mr..
Vosburgh declared it was in the in
terest of the taxpayer, and that the
legislature had better have a care
how it treated the men who were
paying the bills.'
IF you don't look after the taxpay-
err" he said, "the taxpayer will look
after you. | warn you of the DEM
ocratic party to be fair while yon
may. If you don't, then when we
(sweeping his arm toward the re-
publican side) get in power here two
years hence, we will make districts
that will be fair republican ap-
plause.) The fourth legislature is
the most honorable body of men I
have ever beheld to be defocratic
body (Applause) Take my warn
ing while there is yet time for you to
be saved"
"Your map is not fair; there Is no
provision made or the Bull Moose
end of your party suggested Mr.. Cur
~ of the democratic side.
Don't give yourself that uneasi-
ness replied Mr.. Vosburgh as the
democrats laughed. 'iWhen the next
election comes you will find repub-
licans united, and in their camp will
be a heavy sprinlIlng of dissatisfied
democrats. l am surprised that you
men would be bound by such a damn
able thing as a party caucus. and If
you would, accept a suggestion take
one from me-
Republican Substitute Defeated.
The republican substitute bill was
defeated, received but twenty-five
votes and ten of these were demo-
Gratis.
Another substitute which proved to
be the old Barrett bill of the senate,
making all districts democratic. was
offered by Mr.. Childers and Mr.. Lem
on. Under the caucus measure the
counties of these gentlemen, Garfield
and Grant, are in the republican dis
trict, condition, both said, the
democrats did not relish. Mr.. Chill
ders told the. house he was as good
a democrat as ever wore hair" but
that the voters in northern Okla
homa could not be expected to remain
disfranchised all Of their lives.
I'VE want some show up there and
want all districts democratic with
out regard to the desires of any can
didate for office" said Mr. Childers.
According to Mr.. Lemon, the eau
Gus had bound no one.
Were you not in the caucus that
adopted this bill?" asked Mr. Craw-
ford.
'The understanding was that action
was not to be binding in this mat
ter" replied Mr.. Lemon.
Would you penetrate a wrong In
the name of the caucus?' asked Mr..
Curtis of Mr.. Crawford.
81 am for anything that a majority
of the democrats want, right or
wron," shot back Crawford.
That don't go with me- closed Cur
tbs. and the substitute was submit
ted to a vote and failed % to 64.
The caucus bill which reads as fol
lows was then adopted:
Caucus Map.
First District-Osage, Pawnee. Tul-