The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-07-17
LARGE CROWD
HEAR JUDGE
ROBERTSON
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR has GOOD AUDI
ENCE AT THE COURT HOUSE
LAST NIGHT.

JuuSt d. -. "a lNpb1l lSOllt utll'l-
cratic candidate Tor governor, address
ed a crowd estimated to be five hun
dred in number at the court house
last night, and the remarks of the
Judge were well received by the voters
present
Judge Mason introduced Mr.. Rob
ertson in a brief address, and the
latter launched Immediately into hi
subject.
Judge Robertson began by saying
that he was \ democrat who was
proud of his party and proud Of the
record that had been established since
statehood lie stated that he was
aware of the fact that the democratic
party and public officials had com
mitted errors, nut on the whole the
record was one to be proud of.
In announcing his qualifications for
the Office which he seeks, he recited
few things that he stood for and
also suggested some remedies for ex.
istng evils.
He began by taking up the primary
law and told of some of its glaring
defects. Judge Robertson stated that
we needed preferential primary law
with more safeguards around it, if the
primary is to stay in place of the
convention system of nominating dele
gates, and he also advocated an ef-
fective corrupt practice act, making
it felony for one candidate to mallc.
iously slander another ,and to keep
out lot of political freeboters who
run for office, merely to gain little
nOtoriety. Judge Robertson stated
that the primary law, as it stands
low with its limitations as to eXpen.
ses, is a farce, and makes the run
ming for the Office of governor or
other state Offices Il rich mans game
and without the reach of a man OF
moderate means. In concluding this
subject, he exhibited two pamphlets
Issued from the headquarters of an
ether candidate, which he stated had
been sent out TO use against him in
the last week Of the campaign, the
contents of which Judge Robertson
branded as a malicious falsehood
Speaking further of the primG"y
he stated that he was in favor oil a
democratic primary for democrats on-
ly and would effectively bar all other
PARTIES from participating therein.
In speaking of the present system
Of tayation, Judge Robertson stated
that one Of the greatest needs of the
state today was a revision of the tax
laws that our ad valorem system of
taxation was a sort Of legalized rob-
berry. which was unfair to the snail
taxpayer.
He said that he was in favor Of free
textbooks and would, if in his power
see that every child in the state was
giyen the privilege of a good educa
tion. .-~--,.
In speaking of good roads and good
road laws, he stated that he was hear
tily in favor Of this department, and
would make such laws as TO invest it
With some real power He stated that
Col Suggs, the state highway COM
missioner, had been handicapped in
his department, and was unable to do
lnuch real good, but the fault was not
with the commissioner, but with the
legislature, which placed such handi-
caps about his Office rs to make It
practically impossible for him to do
much real work. He said that if the
people would choose him as their
governor that he would see that good
roads were a reality and not a dream
and too, they would be built by the
idle convicts now in the penitontiary
now in competition with free labor
and be a saving to the taxpayers Of
the state, instead OF a burden, as thev
are at present.
In speaking Of economy in state
affairs, Mr.. Robertson stated that
there was a chance to save the tax
payers of the state an immense
amount of mohey by consolidating
some Offices and abolishing others
entirely, and suggested that bureaus
be established instead over certain de
departments with head whose term
of office would be determined by hi
fitness for the position.
In conclusion, Iulge obertson stated
that he was making the race fer gov
ernor on his own personal merits and
took severe rap at the method nj
other candidates, who were trying TO
discredit him Jy mis-statement Of
conditions.