1907 - Oklahoma Issues Up To the Voters
From the St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, dated September 15, 1907, Tuesday: "Territories Ballot on Charter, Prohibition and State Ticket."
Three Parties In Field
Interest in Election Centers on Frantz-Haskell Contest for Governor, Special Dispatch to the Globe-Democrat, Guthrie, Okla., September 15 – The territories of Oklahoma and Indian Territory, to whom Congress gave joint statehood during its last session, will vote together for the first time Tuesday on the proposed state constitution, state-wide prohibition, which becomes a portion of the constitution if adopted, and the election of a full state ticket, five members of the State Supreme Court, all district judges, five members of Congress, a State Legislature, which will elect two United States senators and all county and township officers.
As regards the constitution itself, the voters have two eminent, although dissenting opinions to guide them. Mr. Bryan of Nebraska says “It is the last constitution ever written.” Mr. Taft of Ohio says, “If I were a resident of the new state I would vote against it.”
Believed Charter Will Carry
The general opinion is, however, that the constitution will be ratified. It is not love for the constitution will that will bring about that result, but the desire for statehood, especially among the people of Indian Territory, who thus far have enjoyed no kind of government whatever. Many Republicans, who share Mr. Taft’s views, will vote to the contrary in order to get statehood, while there is an army of Republicans who will “hit it with all their might,” believing they will give, Mr. Roosevelt all the moral and substantial support possible in case he should decide to withhold his approval. With these Republicans, too, is a strong body of Democrats, living mostly in Oklahoma territory, who will vote against the constitution – some because of fear of high taxation, and still others for political reasons fearing the Indian Territory wing of the Democracy will dominate in state affairs.
Every prohibitionist will vote for the constitution and unless the signs fall this vote would be sufficient to ratify the document. If state-wide prohibition carries, then it becomes an integral part of that constitution. C. N. Haskell of Muskogee, the Democratic nominee for governor, has stated often in his speeches that he will vote for prohibition. This has lined up for him the temperance workers, almost to a man, including the ministry. Gov. Frantz, the Republican nominee, stated publicly that if prohibition carries, he will see to it, if elected, that the law is enforced.
Centers on Gubernatorial Fight
Although there are three state tickets nominated – Republican, Democrat and Socialist – yet practically everybody on the ticket has been lost sight of in the main fight between Haskell and Frantz. It has been a bitter campaign. Frantz, the present territorial governor of Oklahoma was a rough rider with Roosevelt in Cuba and represents the Roosevelt policies in his race for the state governorship.
It has a been a campaign of charges and counter charges, and to substantiate these men of national reputation have come from other states to participate in the campaign. Judge Sheets, former attorney general of Ohio, spent a week in the state making speeches against Haskell, and the Democrats induced Judge Monnett, who was Sheets predecessor in office, to answer Sheets and support Haskell. Mr. Bryan of Nebraska, indorsed Haskell, as did also Champ Clark of Missouri, Jeff Davis of Arkansas and Congressman Hamilton of Iowa.
Participating with Gov. Frantz in his campaign and sending him indorsements and assistance by public addresses have been Secretary Taft, Secretary Garfield, Congressman Landis, Senator Long and Congressman Murdock of Kansas. Judge Sheets of Ohio, ex-Senator Mason, ex-congressman Dennis Flynn, and Senator Curtis of Kansas. As a rule with the single exception of Judge Sheets, these speakers for Frantz have spoken on national issues and against the constitution; the Democrats have asked their speakers to indorse the constitution and their members for governor, more especially because the latter has been bitterly attacked on his record as a corporation attorney and promoter in Ohio.
The legislature, to be chosen, will consist of forty-four senators and 109 representatives. The Democrats in the Constitutional Convention made the legislative districts, and every indication is that they will carry both houses; only a landside could give the assembly to the Republicans. The latter charge not only a political gerrymander by the Democrats, but also a sectional gerrymander in favor of the Indian Territory portion and the southern portion of the state, placing the control in the hands of the Southern Democracy, and they claim it is just as great a gerrymander against the Northern Democrat as it is against the Republican.
The election of two United States senators depends upon the Legislature. The Democrats nominated their senatorial candidates by state primary, the winners being Col. Robert L. Owen of Muskogee, a part-blood Cherokee Indian, and Judge Thomas P. Gore of Lawton, known as “the blind orator of Oklahoma.” The Republicans have named no candidates, although should they control the Legislature, it is known that Bird S. McGuire present delegate in Congress, former Delegate Dennis T. Flynn, Col. Jake Admire of Enid, and ex-Gov. Tom Ferguson, Muskogee and James A. Harris of Wagoner would contest for the honor on the Indian Territory side. Murray Must Act To Make Election Legal.
Special Dispatch to the Globe-Democrat.
Guthrie, Okla., September 15 – The latest legal opinion is that Tuesday’s election on the constitution and for state officers will be invalidated unless President William H. Murray of the Constitutional Convention issues a proclamation before tomorrow night adjourning the convention sine die. The convention adjourned to reconvene at the call of President Murray, who was instructed by resolution to make final adjournment by proclamation if no neccessity for reconvening occurred. Murray has as yet taken no action.
Another important political matter developed today in that a clause in the federal constitution may bar Col. Robert L. Owen of Muskogee, Democratic candidate for United States senator, from taking his seat if elected. Paragraph 2 of section 3, article of the constitution, says: “No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained the age of 30 years and been nine years a citizen of the United States.”
Col. Owen has only been a citizen of the United States five years. In March, 1904, the Congress of the United States passed an act making the citizens of the five civilized tribes citizens of the United States. Previous to that time these Indians had none of the rights of citizenship except in their respective nations. Col. Owen is a part Cherokee Indian.
Democrat Makes Large Claims
Special Dispatch to the Globe-Democrat, Tulsa, I.T., September 15 – That Jas. S. Davenport, Democratic candidate for Congress from the Third District, will be elected by a majority of at least 3000 on Tuesday, is the claim of L. M. Nichols, Davenport’s manager.
| View or Add Comments (0 Comments)
| Receive
updates ( subscribers) |
Unsubscribe
