The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-09-19

mentS were lnduBuTdteu, pu' Hc vs."
allowed to invade other departments,
the heads of which are elected by the
people, and under the operation OF the
laws he approved, was given the pow
er to practically name appointments
there. Under the law creating the Of
flee of conservation officer and plac'
ing him under the supervision OF the
corporation commissioner, 1t Is pro-
vided that all deputies or agents need
ed, shall be appointed only after the
consent of the governor is obtained.
The law that allows two additional as
sistants to the attorney general, says
to the attorney general, you can only
fill these two places when you have
found men to occupy them who are In
every way satisfactory to the COVER
nor" The commissioner of highways
is allowed to appoint an egineer and
other officers provided he gets the
consent of the governor. The insur-
ance board, of which the commissioners
of insurance is properly made the
chairman, must be served b. secre-
tary named by the governor. The in
dustrial commission having been ap-
pointed by the governor, is permitted
to appoint a secretary, and actuary,
and other subordinate employees sub
ject to the consent of the governor.
All the state already knows that the
extra help provided for the clerk of
the supreme court can only be ap-
pointed upon the approval of the gov
ernor.
Thus it is seen that the governor Is
placed in a position where he can play
the part of an autocrat. Not only
can he determine the trend of affairs
in the office to which the people elect
ed him, but through the Instrumental
ty of these laws he can largely shape
the affairs in other departments to
which he was not elected, but for the
management and control of which the
people elected other officials.
1t is not material to the issue in
volved to discuss the merits of the
elective system as it applies to these
departments. Whether or not members
of the corporation commission, the at
torney general, the supreme court
clerk, and the heads of other depart
ments of state government should be
elected or appointed is not debatable
unless the question is raised in an ar
,gument to amend the constitution.
The people, through the provisions
of the constitution, have definitely set
tied the matter and have said that
these officials must be elected by a
vote of the people. AS the elected
heads of these departments they owe
duty to the people, and the people
expect them to perform that duty. To
do this, they must be left unhindered
by interference from other depart
ments 1t is perfectly proper for the
governor to confer with and advise the
heads of other departments. Such ac-
tion on his part will conduce to har-
mony among the departments and eff
ficiency in government. But to un-
dertake to dictate the policy another
elective official shall pursue is fraught
with grave peril to the peoples well
fare, for any official who is fit to fill
the position of trust to which the peo-
pie have elected him, will resent such
dictation.
The obligation rests upon the COVER
nor to direct his course in dealing
with other departments as to bring
to pass the greatest efficiency in gov
ernment; and as this cannot be un-
less there is fair degree of harmony
existing between him and other elect
ed officials, it is his duty, self imposed,
to so interpret the new laws as to avoid
friction 1t is folly to undertake to do
this by crushing" those who do not
submit to a single will
The welfare of two million people is
involved; the continued supremacy Of
the democratic party in Oklahoma is
at stake Upon the governor more
than anyone else rests the burden of
solving the problem. If he solves it to
the satisfaction of the people, the glory
will be his, if he fails, the democratic
party will pay the penalty. 3,
-O-
The British might give as part Sc
cmritN ON that hillinn. dollar loan a