The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-01-14
ROBERTSON is MADE
GOVERNOR OF OKLAHOMA
Continued from Page y

nation, but the nationalism | rev.
erence and respect is federal gov
srnment that owes its existence to
The powers delegated to it by the
sovereign states, and that rests con-
fidently in the reserved rights OF
a people who direct their own local
affairs upon the lines laid down
by the constitution, under which
this nation has grown great and
prosperous. The return OF peace
should signalize the restoration OF
the admirable system of checks and
balances between the delegated
powers OF. the federal government
and the reserved rights of the pco-
pie upon which the stability, the
perpetuity, and the present and fu-
,urc greatness OF our nation rests.
| have no hobbies to ride nor pet
theories OF government to put into
practice as an experiment; for |
am at heart an orthodox believer
in the eternal veritics OF truth and
Justice and would apply them to all
the affairs Of men, particularly in
government.
I am Democrat fro mchoice
and not by accident OF birth or en-
yironment, and shall lay my course
and attempt to guide the ship Of
state by the chart handed down by
the statesmen, past and present,
who believed in a government OF
the people, Tor the people, by the
people. TO secure that end | want
to encourage among the people
wider interest in the financial al
fairs and business affairs OF the
state i recognize in the public
press one OF the most beneiicient
factors in the cause OF good gov
crnment, and during my incum-
bency of the office of governor
every facility for access to public
records, and every encouragement
to examine into the conduct OF the
public business will be extended to
the representatives OF these great
promoters Of public intelligence
and interest.
Prepare for Reconstruction
We must be prepared and hold
ourselves in readiness to enter Wig
orouslv upon the work Of readjust-
ment and construction which the
sudden dawn OF peace marks out
before us. The tests and the strain
OF war conditions has clearly ex-
posed the economic waste OF our
highway system-or lack OF syS-
TEN. Under modern conditions the
prosperity or lack OF prosperity OF
the citizens OF such a state as Okla
homa can be largely written in
terms OF market facilities, and
transportation advantages and
costs.
In the platform on which ! went
before the people OF this state, ask
ing for the nomination and cleo
ton to the position OF chief eX-
ecutiye, stated my position on
this subject in part, as follows:
declare for an aggressive policy
OF road improvement, such as will
place Oklahoma in the forefront
among the states that boast OF the
most forward achievement in this
great enterprise. and giving regard
to the fact that highways should be
improved ultimately, in approNi-
mate proportion to the traffic they
will be required to carry.
also said;
Old systems fail and fall over
whelmcd by the rising Hood OF
traffic. In the world war We have
seen vivid Illustration OF this,
and We know now, more than ever
before, that the public highway
must be made to carry the load.
The building OF permanent, hard
surfaced roads, under the co-or-
dained plan provided by our laws,
should receive active and material
support from the state. With prin-
cipal state highways built of per-
manent construction, more atten-
ton and fund, can he given to
building local dirt roads, much
maintenance waste eliminated, and
the whole people benefited i'm
measureably.
Those were general truths SO
heartily approved by the people
that hold myself pledged to use
the most intelligent and aggressive
efforts to secure at the hands OF
the legislature the submission to
the people OF measure, duly sale
guarded, tha, will provide the tunl,
10 make a system OF hard-suriaced
roads in Oklahoma, one of the
realities within the lie of the new
administration.
In order to accomplish ,he great
things which we all feel the future
holds for Oklahoma, and my col
leagues in the government, the leg
islature, the press, and the people,
must consecrate ourselves to the
same kind OF political teamwork
that has distinguished our citizens
in every walk OF lie in the various
kinds of war activities. 1t is nee
essary that we should work to-
gether whole-heartedly and har-
moniously in solving the problems
OF peace, as in carrying on the
sterner activities OF war.
For Budget System
Among others things to which /
shall call the attention OF the leg
islature during the present session,
and which | hope to count among
the early accomplishments OF the