The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-03-01
Judge r. L. Williams Proven
Constructive Candidate

A pamphlet recently issued by
friends OF Judge X. l.. Williams, can
didate for Governor, reviews in a brief
manner. his services in the Constitu-
tional Convention and as Chief Justice
and member of the Supreme Court.
Any friend may receive one by ad.
dressing him at Oklahoma City.
The following is the Introductory
synopsis
In selecting the next Governor of
this great new state 1t is evident that
the voters are going to be largely
influenced by the proved ability of
the candidates. At statehood it was
largely a matter of experiment, as
none of the candidates had had an
opportunity to demonstrate by act
ual service their fitness for the places
they sought, and where the candi-
date has filed public station and
demonstrated his fitness 1t Is not to
be assumed that the voters are go.
ing to turn down the proved man
lOl an uuliltu Ht
and demands of the times will not
permit of any mistake to be made in
the selection of the next set of Of
ficers for the State of Oklahoma.
and the way to provide against mis-
takes in such selection is for the
voter to select tried men; men who
have. been tried by public service and
who have proved that they are capa-
BILE, honest, economical and efficient,
Judge r. l.. Williams, of the Su-
preme Court. is man of this char
acter. He has been tried and weigher
in the balances Of public service and
has proved himself not wanting in
any OF the elements that go to make
up a faithful, honest, courageous and
efficient public officer Being
cllosen as the first Chief Justice OF
the Supreme Court of this state, the
duty devolycd upon him of plotting
the court. as its presiding admins
trative officer, through the first year
of It's existence. From that year until
this that court has commanded the
respect not only Of the people of this
state but of the United States. Two
territories, within the borders of each
of which but few years ago thr
white man was trespasser, flung
together as sovereign state under
the most progressive-or most rad
ical, as some critics would insist
constitution yet evolved; two ter
ritories markedly dissimilar from
the standpoint Of private law and
governmental organization, the In
dian Territory having never known
the sembance of self-government; a
constitution bristling with innoya-
tions, establishing as aNioms prop
ositions hitherto sravely mooted-
all this presented grave perpleXities
to Oklahoma's high tribunal. For
over six years Judge II. l.. Williams
and his associates on the supreme
court bench have wrestled untiringly
with these problems. often with scant
precedent to light the way. In
writing the opinions of the court
on constitutional questions and Others
demanding a thorough grasp of the
fundamental principles Of &C ern.
ment the lions share OF the work has
fallen to Judge Williams. and prop
erly so. for he bore conspicuous part
In framing that constitution and he is
most jealous in vitalizing the prin-
ciples thereof"
Judge Williams service In the
Constitutional Convention marks him
as a man having a great fundamental
grasp OF government. II is admitted
on allshands that practically all of the
provisions of Article Nine of the Con
stitution, relating to public service
corporations and creating the Corpora
ton Commission and providing its
powers, were not only written by him,
but were reported by him as chair
man OF tho Svblic Service Corpora
tions Committee to the Constitutional
Convention. and through his leader
ship Incorporated in the Constitution
of this State.
In addition 20 that ne was author
of the two-cent passenger railroad