Volume 9 , Issue 42

OkieLegacy Centennial Moment

As we do a search of The Daily Oklahoman, for news of Oklahoma Statehood, dated October 20, 1907, Sunday, we found the following bits of information for our OkieLegacy Centennial Moment this weekend, October 20, 2007. One of those frontpage headlines read: Stirring Climax In Statehood Drama. That is the why for this 1907 cartoon on the left.

As the Stirring Climax in Statehood drama continues for this 46th state, Oklahoma, the front page headlines of The Daily Oklahoman blasted in bold print: Declares Over-Confidence Is Endangering Statehood - Avowed Surrender Only part of Plotter's Plan to Thwart People's Will. Alarmed by persistent delay, governor-elect Haskell urged statehood's friends to keep on their guard.

Guthrie, Okla., Oct. 19, 1907 -- "Alarmed at the persistent and unexplained delay by the Clayton-Filson-Burford election board in the certifying of the results of the election and fearing that the avowed surrender of Hunter and the statehood obstructionists is but a ruse to lure the friends of statehood into overconfidence and indifference, C. N. Haskell, the democratic governor-elect of the new state tonight issued a statement in which he urges the friends of statehood to keep up the fight, and warns them that overconfidence is today the greatest danger."

It was reported back then that Mr. Haskell said, "The canvassing board began work Monday morning, October 14, 1907, finished 73 counties by Thursday afternoon, October 17. The canvassing board assured us Thursday that they would draft the form of certificate to be sent to Washington so that we might have an opportunity to inspect it on Friday, October 18 (1907). This was not done, and we are advised that Judge clayton of Indian Territory went home on that date, leaving word that he would return next Monday."

Haskell went on to say, "As to the copy of the constitution, ordinances, etc., which must be sent to the president with the certificate of the vote cast at the election -- these copies will require a week in preparation. We had expected when we met the board october 8 (1907), that these copies would all have been prepared and ready to forward to Washington assuming that everybody knew by September 18 or 19 (1907) that the constitution had been adopted by a vote of the people and that these copies would be needed on october 8. to our surprise, we found that no move had been made to prepare these copies."

"Disappointed at the negligence, we urged that their preparation be immediately =begun so as to occasion as little delay as possible, and this urging was renewed persistently by Judge Dale, Judge Ledbetter, myself and others daily until October 17 (1907), when we finally induced them to have this work begun. Even then, we were only able to secure the appointment of one man to proceed with the work."

Haskell was quoted as saying, "There was not one single word uttered during the canvass of the vote concerning any claim of fraudulent votes, or any evidence of fraud. The only claim of fraud that we have heard in the entire time devoted to this canvass was street gossip emanating from the chairman of the republican state committee, and we know of our own personal knowledge that he didn't examine a single poll book or tally sheet, although he might have done so had he desired to be present and examine the returns."

Haskell exclaimed, "Every one present concurred fairly in the feeling of satisfaction that the election had been honestly and fairly conducted. My conclusion may, or may not be correct, but as I have promised those who have made inquiry by letter and long distance telephone from numerous localities to give them my conclusions, I shall do so. Judging from their manner as well as speech, I believe there was an understanding that the papers necessary to secure statehood, should not reach Washington until some days after the president shall have returned to that city."

It appears from this article that the republicans and democrats, as usual, were doing what they do best... vying for political power! Things haven't changed much, has it?
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