The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-11-28

lature now express not only wiling
nesg but an impatient desire 10 be
called together 10 do things they
could so easily have done While in
regular session? surely 1t was their
sworn duty to give to the people they
represent all needed laws. Having
confessed to failure they should not
| be surprised that the taxpayers pro
test against further waste OF money
in a special session. What assurance
have the people that change OF
opinion has come TO members of the
legislature on these subjects? Do
visions of six dollars per day for an
indefinite period through the dull
winter months appeal with more
force to these lawmakers than the
arguments of the governor? Evident
~ there is no sort Of justification for
special session to consider these
matters that have already met with
disfavor at the hands Of the legisla-
ture.
Eut there is another reason put
forth at this psychological time as
a new and extraordinary reason for
convoking the legislature in special
session. II is urged that our election
laws need immediate attention. That
the recent decision of the supreme
court of the United States invalid
ating our state constitution which
eliminated the illiterate negro voter
makes II necessary for us to divorce
our state and local elections from
federal elections. Could this not
have been done just as successfully
while the legislature was in regular
session? To say the best of it, the
proposition is one of doubtful eff
cacy in dealing with the subject in
hand. why urge it as something new
when it Is worn with age? People
who have kept themselves Informed
with the march of public events will
not be deceived by this clamor OF
patriots who want to yield service OF
doubtful value-at six dollars per day.
II will be recalled that early in the
fall of 1911. when a tremendous effort
was made to induce the governor to
call special session, a meeting or
the democratic state central commit
tee was held in the assembly room
of the Iee-FIuckins hotel, at which
time resolutions were passed, which,
after reciting the fact that two OF
our state election officers have been
unjustly convicted and sentenced to
n federal prison" ended in this fash
ion:
Whereas. under such a condition
the state and federal elections should
be held on different days.
"Be 1t Resolved, that such an emer-
gency we believe demands the calling
of the legislature in extra session,
that the rights of the state and OF
the virtuous and intelligent citizens
may be preserved
History records that no special SEES
sion was called at that time. 1t
likewise records that since the reso-
luton was passed there have been
two regular and one special session
of the legislature without any ap-
parent effort to correct this impcrtec-
tion in our election laws An eXami-
nation. of the records will also dis
close that the present governor was
an active participant in that meeting
and advocated the adoption of the
resolution above set forth. II is read
ily seen that this Is no recently dis
covered defect in our election laws,
II is likewise plain that it does not
Offer an extraordinary reason for call
ing the legislature in session.
The Ardmoreitc does not want to
be misunderstood. II believes that
most of the things that the governor
mentions in his letter are matters, If
ravorably acted upon by the legis'