The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-04-24
A DEBT TO LOYALTY

DEBT TO LOYALTY
Governor Robertson has called the house
and senate of the Oklahoma Legislature to con-
vene, in extraordinary session, tomorrow (Mon.
day. morning, and to remain in session during
such time period as may be found necessary
to discharge the duties the members of both
bodies owe to the people of Oklahoma
In reassembling the eighth legislature, Gov
ernor Robertson pursued the only logical course
which surrounding conditions admitted of. He
pursued a course which permitted him to dis
charge his duty to the people who elected him
their executive chief, and which places him,
at the same time, in a position where he
can demand that the membership of the house
Of representatives pay the debt which each
and every one of them, as loyal citizen, owes
to the state.
The Republican majority membership of
the house has perfect right to play politics
and do all that can be done, legitimately, to
deliver the state to that party at the next cleo
ton, but that majority membership has not
the right to hamper the government and block
the administration through refusing to provide
the funds required to carry on the states bust
ness.
The conduct of the majority membership
of the house of the eighth general assembly,
in regular session, was disgraceful in the ex-
treme. 1t was conduct which should react
against the party which voted these majority
members into office; it was conduct unbecom-
ing them as men and proving them unworthy,
as officers; it was conduct which was un-
American; it was conduct which was disloyal
to the needs and requirements of the people
of Oklahoma
Governor Robertson's action in calling the
extraordinary session of the legislature, is a
commendable one. 1t was an act consummated
in the interests of all the people of the state
1t was an act of loyalty to the states veal
1t was an act of fearessness, an act which
leaves Governor Robertson standing boldly be-
lore the men and women Of this state as q
man who, despite all his maligners may say,
has the determination to demand of the Repub-
hcan majority members Of the house that they
discharge the duty they owe to their constitu-
ents.
And, in reassembling, it might be we'll for
the individual members of the Republican
house majority, together with individual bo-
shevistic Democratic members, and, also, the
Republican party whip wieders to remember
that the men and women Of Oklahoma not only
expect but demand, at this extraordinary ses-
sion, legitimate legislation, legislation enacted
along the broad lines of non-partisanship.
1t might be well for the obstructonists to
bear in mind that they owe a debt of loyalty
to their constituents, debt of loyalty which
must be paid.
Also, it might be well for them to remember
that every man who offered his life to his
country, either by draft or as volunteer, holds
charge account against the state of Okla
homa, charge account which the debt to loyalty
demands the legislators shall see paid
AT the regular session of the legislature.
that session wherein the house so dsgracefully
adjourned without having completed its labors.
each member of the majority in the face of
all the promises made the people of the state
before the election, proved himself when weighed
in the balance unworthy the trust with which
he had been charged, unworthy the honor which
had been bestowed upon him. In reassem-
bling the legislature, Governor Robertson has
given those fellows another chance. he has
afforded them one more opportunity to make
good, he has rendered them the means whereby
they may pay that debt of loyalty, that debt
which now bears heavy interest added to its
total-an interest accumulated through the
acts and misdeeds committed in the regular
session.
As newspaper which believes that the