The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 4, 1918, Page 5

of the western half of the state, following the land openings and especially following the discovery of oil, the population grew by leaps and bounds.” A dozen years ago there were a million and a half people, and Oklahomans decided that they wanted and deserved separate statehood; The preliminar- ies were arranged and steps were taken in 1906 to elect a convention that should draft a constitu- tion for the new state. At this time the Farmers’ union, organized three years before in the neighboring state of Texas, was a strong factor in Oklahoma. The farmers of Okla- ! homa, like the farmers of Texas, were progressive. They realized the importance of having a good constitution, one that would give the people of the state opportunity to make their voice heard. The Farmers’ union went on record in favor of having the initiative and referendam incorporated in the new state constitution.” Labor men of Okla: homa thought the same way. They had conferences with the farmers, and the net result was that an alliance was formed to work for a progressive in- stitution. " The farmers and labor men did more than meet and pass resolutions. They determined to see that a majority of the delegates elected to the conven- tion should be men who favored the initiative and referendum, men who were opposed to domination of the state by great corporations and men who believed that the government of the state should be administered for the benefit of the many instead of for the benefit of the few. “SKY IS THE LIMIT” IN OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION So the farmers and labor men prepared a ques- tionnaire which was sent to every candidate for elec- tion as delegate to the convention. Candidates were asked to declare, before the election, whether they favored the initiative and referendum and other people’s measures. The Democratic party at this time was the progressive party of Oklahoma, which had long been ruled by a governor appointed by the Republican president. Practically all the Demograts agreed to support the demands of the farmers and workers, and when the election was held they had an overwhelming majority in the con- vention. Republicans, who had adopted an attitude " No. 44. When fire breaks {oose’ ln the oit. flelds the cloud of deme black lmoke can be seen for miles around. frequently brought’ into play anda hote is shot into the tank below the fire llno, whlch atlown a comlderable amwut of the oii to be drawn ofl below fl\e flro aml 5 ‘saved. Thls plctun ‘was taken at a flre ln the cunhlng fields In. Oklahoma. ; .Read about the kind 6f help that Okla- homa farmers and workingmen got from President Theodore Roosevelt and his administration when they were fighting for their new constitution. See if you had the right opinion before about- Roosevelt and his policies. And in the next issue of the Leader read the concluding story about Oklahoma, the story that tells what has happened since 1907, 1t is a story that will set every patriotic American to thinking. of being “on the fence” or of.opeli opposition to a peoples’ constitution, were given only a few mem- “bers. The convention met and drafted a constitution. That constitution had been declared by Viscount’ James Bryce, the distinguished English diplomat and historian, by William Jennings Bryan and other noted men to be the most progressive and forward looking constitution ever written. It contained not only the initiative and referendum bub also provi- . sions against the consolidation of railroad systems for the purpose of securing transportation monop- olies, provisions against the ‘“government by in- junction” that gives employers, with the help of friendly courts, opportunity to throttle working men demanding fair pay. The proposed constitution contained more than these provisions. It contained a provision that reads, almost word for word, like the public owner- ship provision of North Dakota's famous House Bill tion would enable the state to engage in any line of business, except farming, for the public benefit. Nor is there any limit on the people’ s power in this regard. Thig section reads: “The right of the state to engage in any occupa- tion or business for public purposes shall not be denied or prohibited, except that the state shall not engage in agriculture for any other than educational or scientific purposes and for the support of its penal, charitable wand educational institutions'.” P ‘PA GF I‘IVE This provision of the Oklahoma constitu- - When the flre is in one of the tanks a small cannm is TROUBLE AT WASHINGTON 3 4 OVER NEW CONSTITUTION The constitution in its preliminary draft, was ang proved by a large majority of the members of the convention. But befére it could be made effective it must first be approved by the president of the United States and then by vote of the citizens of the new state.- Word began to drift down to Oklahoma that the powers that were- at Washington, D. C., were not overly pleased with the new constltution Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, who was president at this time, | was quoted as saying that what he thought about the new constitution “wasn’t fit to print.” So the convention elected a committee of three to go to Washington, interview the president, and see what his objections were, if any. The committee of three went to Washington. They saw Roosevelt. They couldn’t get much out of him except that he thought .the proposed consti- tution had “too much legislation” in it. Roosevelt referred them to his attorney general, Joseph Bona- parte. Bonaparte made other objections, largely technical. The question of whether a constitution containing provisions for the initiative and refer- endum provided a “republican form of government” was brought up and argued out. But the committee couldn’t get much satisfaction out of Bonaparte, | either. He gave the impression that it was all up to Roosevelt. So the committee addressed a formal lettr to President Roosevelt. They said,ein effect: “Here is the constitution which the convention . intends to adopt. You have said that it contains too much legislation. If you will point out which parts you object to we will eliminate them, provided that you do not sirike out any of the main features, The convention will be held in session for a rea- sonable time, awaiting your suggestions, before final . action is taken, What parts do you think have ‘too much legislation? Tell us and we will see if we can fix it.” THE COLONEL PRANCED IN AND SHOWED HIS TEETH But the committee never received a reply from Roosevelt. The only acknowledgement they ever got was a ten word note from Loeb, secretary to Roosevelt, saying that the letter had been received. But at about this time the committee learned «