The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-12-14
STRICT SEDIT|ON
LAWS ARE URGED
FOR ALL CITIES
Municipal League President
FavOrS Them,
MUNICIPALITIES IGNORED
Legislatures Favor RuraIiteS,
Declares Duffy

Scdition ordinances for every town
and city In Oklahoma, patterned after
the ordinance now in effect in Fred
erick, Okla, are-urged by 2. P. Duffy
mayor Of Fl Reno. He urged in his
presidential addre" that the fifty dele
gates from Oklahoma cities attending
the convention Of the Oklahoma Mum
cipal league this morning use their in
fluerce to have such laws passed. He
also urged that a state and possibly a
national Sedltion law be passed.
The first session OF the leagues con-
venton was held shortly after 10
o'clock this morning in the council
chamber Of the city hall II was sched-
uled to begin at 9 o'clock, but was de-
layed by the lsteness of trains bearing
delegates
Scores Legislatures.
Mr. Duffy also charged that state
legislatures and even the congress OF
the United States have long been ignor-
ing the recommendations OF munici
palitieS on legislative matters, and
have been eagerly passing all legis-
lation recommended by the rural popu-
lation. II is time for the Oklahoma
Municipal league, he said, TO improess
upon the congressional delegation from
this state and the state legislature that
the cities are no longer TO be trifled
with in legislative matters.
Mr.. Duffy illustrated the need for
sedtion ordinances by recent occur
renee at FL Reno. A man had been ar
rested by police following alleged scdi-
tious utteranees. Mr.. Duffy was told
NAT the man had remarked that. Ger
many would soon whip the world, and
, that II hope 70 God when she finishes
the Job she comes over here and whips
u.s.
Government Po~sIlcss. ~
Since the FL Reno city authorities
had no power TO prosecute, the federal
authorities were approached. They said
that inasmuch as the accused man was
an American citizen the government
covld do nothing Had he attempted
10 incite rebellion or had he tried TO
conspire in any way agaiist the gov
ernment itself, he could have been
prosecuted, but not otherwise.
The league president spoke in semi
humorous vein of the fiekleneSs Of the
average city voter in picking men for
office.
The slogan Of the voters in many
cities is Who are you going TO de-
isati'" he sair, instead OF Who are
YOU going to electF"
Mr.. Duffy then fired a stream OF
cpigrams at the delegates.
When man accepts a public Of
lice, he mortgages himself to The pub
lic," he said.
Woes Of offieeholdsrs.
sIf he rides to his office IN his own
automobile he is classed as a thief who
makes a practice OF rifling the public
funds il he walks to work he is classed
as boob who hasn't sense enough to
get his while the getting is good and
who therefore hasn't sagacity enough
to administer public affairs
"If an offiCeholder votes for public
improvements he is regarded as a
CRATER, who gets fat from contracts
il he doesn't vote for public improve
lnents, his constituents regard him as
mossback who delights in obstruet-
ing progress.
Mayor Must Sacrifice.
sPeoRle are more eXacting OF MUM
cipai officers than any other office
holders, because they are in closer touch
with them
"Whcn man accept, the job OF
mayor he must expect to sacrifice any
personal business; he must head all
subscription papers or be looked upon
as 'piker he must be prepared to
welcome conventions to his city or be
told that he is a crouch, and he must
wear better clothes than his constitu-
ents or they will think he is a Slouch
and unfit for office .
Mr.. Duffy condemned the habit OF
legislatures Of looking on all municipal
officers as graiters, and paying no
attention TO their requests for legisla-
tion beeniitting towns and cities. He
said that the efforts of the legislative
committee Of the league, Of which he is
a member, wer largly iutil during The
last session OF the Oklahoma lesislA-
ture.
He explained that the league had
many good friends in both houses, but
that the average legislator leaves his
own town either impressed with the TACT
that he must jump whenever the coun
try districts cracked the whip, or he
prepared to he ertired from office at
the newt election
"The legislators Of Oklahoma often
forget be said, that there are more
people living in the cities, town, an
villages OF the state than outside q
them. II should he one Of the dh '
Of this league 10 impress upon to-
lature that II represents T0O00) d.
tcortInued on Psue 2, Column ~