Oklahoma State Register. (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 18, 1907 Page: 1 of 8
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rilLT KSDAY,
A 1'K I L
GUT UK. I K, OK LA.,
#1.00 P KII
SIXTEENTH
YKA K
v i:a i;
N< . 12
WHAT WILL WE '89ers DO APRIL 22 THE EIGHTEENTH ANNIVERSARY^, OF OKLAHOMA?
Constitutional Convention Will Only
Die Natural Death By Election.
The constitutional convention, after a three days recess ses-
sion, made another recess adjournment Thursday night after 12
o'clock. Most of the members had left Wednesday, and there
was not left Thursday morning- enough to warrant the calling of
the roll.
The recess was taken indefinately. Although the excuse is
that it is for the reason that parchment cannot be secured this side
of New York to inscribe the amendments on, the real intention is
to continue the session until election day. Said President Murray:
" The constitutional convention will not adjourn i-ntil it dies a
CllIC to Mvsteriou* have been such tliat I would not want
Geary Murder j to oppose him if he decided to be a can-
Facts brought out during the inquest said Mr. Smith "but other-
over the remains of Forrest Welborn, wise I expect to get into the fi«ht.
who was found lying by the roadsiie
near Valley View school house, near
Geary, Monday morning, does away
with the suicide theory. The jury
No announcement hes been made
to his successor.
Mr. Smith has been able and con-
scientious in the performance of his
empanneled rendered the following ver- as assistant attorney general,
! ana his leave taking of his superior is
injstrange cmtrast to Cnas. W;st, who 1
was hired in certain cases, which is en- j
tirely credit ible to Smith. Mr. Smi'h's
resignation is due to no presure from !
within but to plans he has formed for ]
th * future in which he did not desire to
embu rass the administration of Gov-
Tlie Thing RepublicaiKShould
Do \\ Should Not Do.
diet:
" We the jury find that Forrest Wel-
born came to his death by a gun shot
wound fired by the hands of parties un-
known. "
Before leaving Geary for his hom ,
Welborn ate a hearty meal at a res-
taurant and in conversation with the
cook displayed the best of humor.
The mysterious part of the shooting JjhnScOthom
is that when found the over and under
........ . . , . , coat were buttoned up over the braast,
natural death by limitation on election day. There is no knowing an(J not & bul)et h)|e coutlj be found ,„ | The announcement of John
what changes may take place before that. We did the same thing
in the Sequoyah convention."
The story is that they've got to kill a sheep to get the sheep
skin.
For District Judge.
W. 3cot-
I either, but a bullet hole was found in horn as republican candidate for judge
the vest and that was not even pow- j of this district will please a host of ad-
'der burned, which would h ive been the mirers not only here at home but al1
I case had the d^-ad man fired the fatal over the new state of Oklahoma John
1 ghot I Scothorn is as well known as any man
The convention, in its present session, made several necessary j The Smith & wesson revolver found ' in Oklahoma. As assistant United
changes. A new election ordinance was drafted to comply with by the side of the body CLntained three States district attorney for many years
the opinion of Judge Burtord. Provisions are made in the new loaded shells and two recently dis- he has been in every portijn of the ter-
counties for temporary commissioners and county clerks. [charged she Is Coroner 1*itzgerald, litory. It is a high compliment to him
i ■ , i . ... ! who is a remitable nhvsician and sur- that with all the changes of office there
A section was added providing that in case the first legislature wno is a repuujoie pnyscidn anu u 8 no,ain«f hi*
, . , , . - . . , , geon, says he is positive that the has n^vtr b^en a charge against his
dul not equalize the indebtedness of the divided counties the mat- wounJ was made by a larger caliber private or official character. Twice in
ter can be carried before the supreme court. bullet than the ones contained in the th? going out and coming in of the
An amendment was adopted that the section legalizing the i revolver found by the side of the body. chief of his department he has been ap-
Outstanding state indebtedness shall not be construed to legalize | From the position of the body the pointed by the Justice Department in
illegal warrants jury is of the opinion that it w*s placed , Washington a* United States district
' j there by the party or parties who com- J attorney.
Mr. Scothorn is not only given credit
by the legal fraternity of Oklahoma of
Mandatory primary clause for the constitution was adopted by I m;tte(j the murder
a vote of 88 for and lo against and 14 absent. J Two men arrjVed in Geary and if
The provision admitting dentists to practice was changed so as what they surmise is true the guilty
to cure a defect that would have kept about one hundred and fifty
from being admitted in the Indian Territory who are not graduates
but are registered.
party will be arrested in a short time
The first statement made that young
Welborn had been drinking heavily,
was untrue. Two young girls, Ethel
being an able lawyer but of being of
the judicial temperament—well balanc
ed, reasonable generous to a fault. He
has no prejudices and holds no malice.
Though a federal prosecuting officer.
The county of Moman was changed to Creek. This change ' johnson and Maggie Wiedel, who had handling cases in all the court districts
was asked for on the ground that all the other Five Tribes had j been with Welborn for several hours, in the territory, he has increased rath-
counties nanled after them, but the real reason is said to be that ! sa'd he was not' under the influence of j pr than decreased nis friendships year
Moman Pruitt, who is a Cruse partisan for governor, has been
making himself quite obnoxious to Delegate Haskell, who then
got revenge.
The attempt to raise the tax levy for common schools was de-
feated. The constitution provides but for a five mill levy, while
the experience in Oklahoma has been that it was frequently neces-
sary to make a 20 null levy. 1 he argument that won against the
raise is thai the constitution provides for property assessment at
its full value and that this will raise the necessary fund. However
the present territorial law provides for a full cash valuation, but
it is impossible to carry out the provision, and it is implied that it j intendment Beckham, of the Ft. S
will be equally so in the future. I and W. and President VV. H.Can-
An attempt to inquire into the manner in which the three mile j tiff of the New York, Chicago and
strip on the north of Beckham county was transferred to Roger \ St. Louis railway.
Mills, was promptly squelched by President Murray, who d<-cl ired j It was givrn out that at the
meeting a new b >ard of directors
liquor when he parted with them, and
that he was as jolly as they had ever
seen him.
Port Smith Officials on
Tour of Inspection.
The official of the Fort Smith
road, on a tour of inspection, held
a meeting in the city Monday.
The personnel of the party was:
President A. C. Duston, General
Manager Crine, General Stiper-
emphatically that " There is no change in what the convention did
on county boundaries, notwithstanding what the newspapers said.''
The members were generally satisfied vith the constitution,
after a recess reflection, neither have they found, thev declare,
any violent criticisms from their consiituents on their return home,
or sufficient fault finding by the territorial press.
aftter year, holding the personal friend-
ship of even those whom he prosecuted.
This is because he never makes his of-
ficial duties a personal or partisan mat-
ter. John Scothorn belongs to no fac-
tion and no locality and if nominated
and elected as a judge of the eleventh
judicial district would make a judge
the people would be proud of.
was elected, but
given out The officials were
highly pleased with the growth
and improvement of Guthrie,
Waters-Pierce Appeal
The Waters-Pierce Oil company, of
St. Louis, has given notice that it will
appeal to the United States supreme
court in the case wherein A. B. De-
Selms, of Orlando, was given judgment
against for $16,000.
The judgment was affirmed by the
Oklahoma supreme court at its last
session. DeSelms wife and two child-
ren were burned to death and his house
burned down as the resnlt of an explo-
sion of coal oil which had become mixed
with gasoline in the tanks. The oil
company was held responsible by the
Oklahoma courts.
The Prohibitionists
Are Preparing
x The leaders of the prohibition move-
ment in Oklahoma and Indian Territory
are formulating their plan of campaign
for the coming election. Rev. E. M.
Sweet, secretary of the Indian church
federation said:
" Of course we expect to carry the
state for prohibition by an overwhelm-
ing majority, but we are going deeper.
We are interesting ourselves in the
character and attitude of every candi-
date for office from the township to the
head of the state ticket where official
duties are in any way connected with
the making or enforcing of laws. We
shall oppose every candidate who is not
for prohibition."
Rev. Mr Sweet is supporting C. N.
Haskell, of Muskogee, jor the demo-
cratic gubernatorial nomination. "Has-
kell has been our strong ally in the
convenrion," he said, and has made our
enemies his enemies by his advocacy of
our cause."
An Oklahoma
School Blow
The new Oklahoma constitution pro-
vides that in school districts taxes for
common schools Bhall not exceed fivo
Oklahoma Booth at
Jamestown Exposition.
The Oklahoma booth at the James-
town exposition, will, it is asserted, be
one of the finest to be seen in the Gen-
tries taxpayers find difficulty in keep- era, States. Exhibit building. Every
mg out of debt with an annual six j an(j stone uge(j jn the construction take place twice daily, afternoon
of the booth will come from the mines and night. Among the free at-
mills, except that three fifths of those
voting may imdose an additional levy
of five mills, making a maximum of ten
mills, In most Oklahoma school dis-
Eav les To have Spring
Festival—A Good
Time Coming.
The Fagles of this city have
made all arrangements for the
holding of a spring Festival for
six days and nights, commencing
Monday, April 29th. They have
n > names were contracted with the Great Cosmo-
politan Shows to bring their en-
tire train load of attractions for
that week. This company is said
to be one of the largest companies
in America. They travel in their
own special train of 22 cars, c arrv-
ing their own electric lightplants
have eighteen High Class Attrac-
tions and some free acts which
The constitutional convention having shown its intention of
holding a recess adjournment untill the day of election, there is no
longer any excuse for the republican organization to wait and see
what thev will do before begining an active campaign.
There is a widespread suspicion that everything is not as it
should be in the masterly inactivity of the committee at Oklahoma
City. \\ hatever the intention of the controling spirits of organi-
zation, thev are not only hopelessly demoralizing the lepubiican
party, but creating a universal reputation for iniquitous incompe-
tency, which is the joy of their enemies and the grief of their
friends.
Th^re is a feeling abroad that there is a motive behind the
motive of this distructive inactivity. Many sinister and danger-
ous guesses are being made about the color of the rat in the wood
pile. This feeling of distrust is becoming so strong that if the
committee does not soon call a state convention any group of
men in any part of the territory are liable to step to the front and do
so in the name of the people.
The desire of honest republicans to bring this state into the
republican ranks of the nation is no light matter. They are will-
ing to go into the fight with a vengeance, win or lose, and at least
have the pleasure of an honest effort.
They want the matter of how this fight shall be waged decided.
They want unanimity of action, not a double cross within a cross.
Either there should be no ticket placed in the field and the consti-
tution should be fought from hell to breakfast, or else the consti-
tution should be accepted with all its sins and a strong ticket placed
in the field to give the people an opportunity to select better men
to execute the constitution than those who made it.
This hesitency and half heartedness is criminal to the party
and to the people who desire statehood and desire the republican
pany to administer its affairs. If the gentlemen in charge have
no faith of a victory let them give way to those who have.
A republican victory at the state election is not hopeless.
There ar democrats—some of them members of the constitutional
convention—who think that the republican party can even carry
the legislature, not in spite of the gerrymander but because of it.
Have the republican leaders forgotten the great iuterests at
stake whether this state is brought in republican or democratic?
Are they forgetting that the democrats by their activity are ma-
king democrats and the republicans by their inactivity are losing
republicans?
There is nothing left but for the republicans to go into the
fight for all they are worth, with the faith of ennquorots. If the
present leaders of the party desire to step aside they can be sub-
stituted from the unknown ranks of the people, and, with a new-
found Cromwell, whip the democrats to a standstill on their own
ground. And when the fight begins one half of the democrats
will capitulate and ceme over on the republican side. For the
uemocrats have troubles of their own, and there is much wailing
and gnashing of teeth at home.
months school term on a 20 mill lew.
The fear is felt that the limitation in
the constitution would practically close
many of the rural schools in the new
state.
Delegate Sandlin asked that the
maximum levy in the constitution be
changed to 20 mills. He said that the
demand was universal in Oklahoma.
"The common schools are the bul-
wark of the state," he said, "and the
people should not be restrained from
maintaining them. I arc sure that com-
munities will not attempt to tax them-
selves for more school funds th an they
need."
" If this change is adopted we will
all have to c >me back for thirty days,'
remarked President Murry, shaking his
head in approval.
Delegate Chambers, of Atoka, said
his county was afraid of high taxes,
and suggested that the constitution
could be amended when the people
wanted more money for schools. Leahy
of Pawhuska called attention to the
clause in the constitution to the effect
that property may be taxed at its full
value, instead of about one third as at
present. This would raise the income.
The Oklahoma laws now require prop-
erty to be taxed at its full value, but
it is ignored," said Sandlin, who called
attention to the fact that opposition
was coming from tne east side of the
state.
Delegate Littlejohn, of Busby, I. T ,
moved that Sandlin's motion be tabled,
and the motion was seconded quickly.
"All in favor vote aye, those oppssed
—motion tabled; next order of busi-
ness," exclaimed President Murray as
his gavel fell with much clatter.
1 tractions is Prof. Chas. Strahl, the
and forests of the new state. It will ,
be an "Oklahoma Booth" in every' , . , ,
sense of the word. wor,ds hlBhtst of a11 h'gh dlvers.
The granite blocks used in the base j who dives from a lofty ladder
comes from Granite, Okla., while the ( one hundred and sixteen feet high
alternate blocks of marble will be the | jnto a net below. Two bands fur-
contribution of some of the eastern njsh music throuf,hout the da
counties such as Leflore, McCurtain and ,
Sequoyah. There will be slabs of oolite, | an. tvening.
and limestone from various portions of 1 o make the Festival interest-
ing to the young people, the
the state. The wood has been selected
from the hardwoods of the new state,
and both dressed and undressed will be
used in finishing the booth.
This booth will be 75 feet long and 25
feet wide with a total heght of about
20 feet. It will contain the varied re-
sources of the state. The fruit and
grains of Olahoma are already in the
hands of the Oklahoma State Board of
Agriculture. The fruit being preserved
in jars, while an unlimited quantity of
fresh fruits is in cold storage. The ex-
hibit from the Indian country is yet to
be assembled.
This booth will be finished and the
exhibit installed by May 1st, and very
shortly thereafter the Oklahoma state
building will be completed and ready
for occupaton, and the plans for enter-
tainment will be given to the public.
Would Get Busy
For Nomination.
Don Carlos Smith, assistant attor-
ney general of Oklahoma for five years
past, has resigned his position and will
make the race for the republican nomi-
nation for attorney general at the first
election if Attorney general Cromwell
does not decide to get into the race.
Eagles are going to elect a Queen
of the Festival. The young lady
receiving the largest number of
votes will have the honor of be-
ing crowned Queen of the Car-
nival and presented with a large
handsome diamond ring, now on
display in Whites Jewelry win-
dow. The five ladies receiving
the next highest number of votes
will each be presented with a
Solid Gold Brooch. These bro-
oches are on display 111 Douglas
Jewelry Store. The contest is
open to all young ladies. Votes
will be but the small sum of one
cent each and are on sale at all
drug stores. The voting contest
will close on Friday, May 3rd at
eight p. m.
Coal Rate Reduced.
In the decision rendered at
Washington the interstate com-
merce commission holds that the
'My relations with Judge Cromwell St. Louis and San Francisco rail-
road company and the St. Louis,
j San Francisco and Texas railroad
! company has been charging un-
lawful rates on cement plaster
I from Ouannah, Tex., to Kansas
j City and St. Louis. The Texas
! Cement Plaster company in a
complaint filed with the commis-
sion alleged that the railroads
named were discriminating in ra-
es on plaster in favor of cement
plants at Cement, Ok.t that from
Quannah to Kansas City and St.
Louis, rates of thirteen and eigh-
teen cents respectively were main-
tained, while from Cement, Ok.
to those points, the rates were
eight cents and ten cents respec-
tively.
The commission holds that the
difference in distance is not such
as to justify the difference in
rates and that the rates from Ce-
ment are discriminatory. The
complaining company, the com-
mission decides, is entitlep to re-
cover from the carriers named
8121,55 with interest from August
28, 190O, as reparation for unjust
and unreasonable charges on cer-
tain specified shipments.
In the case of W. B. Johnston
against the St. Lonis and San
Francisco, Denver Enid and Gulf,
Missouri, Kansas and Texas and
Fort Smith and Western railroad
companies, invowing the rates
charged from various points in
Indian territory to Enid, Ok., the
commission holds that the rates
to the ton on coal in carloads of
$2.10 for lump and $1.50 for slack
fiom the San Bois district, Indian
Territory, to Enid, over the Fort
Smith and Western and Denver
Enid and Gulf roads, are exces-
sive and unreasonable and should
not exceed fi.85 for lump and
J51.35 for slack.
The commission also held that
the rates to the ton on coal, car-
oads, of $1,95 for lump and 81 50
forslackfrom Henrietta district
Indian Territory, to Enid over the
St. Louis and San Francisco road,
are excessive and unreasonable
and should not exceed 81 50 for
lump and $[.25 for slack.
The commission today set May
7 for a hearing in Washington on
the complaints of the Muskogee
Commercial club and the Musko-
gee Traffic club against the
"Katy'' railroad. These com-
plainants allege unjust discrimi-
nation against Muskogee in cot-
ton shipment
Billingsly-Robb
Indictments Quashed.
Though on motion of United
States District Attorney John
Embry, the two indictments re-
turned against Charles E. Billing-
sley and J. C. Robb, of Wichita,
Kan., president and vice-pres-
ident of the defunct Capitol Na-
tional bank of Guthrie, were
quashed by Judge Burford in court
at Stillwater, because of insuffi-
cient evidence, several other in-
dictments by a former grand jury
are pending. A change of venue
was taken from Logan county to
this county and the cases are 3et
for trial before Judge Hainer.
One of the indictments dis-
missed was against Billingsley,
charging a false entry of St,oOo
to his individual credit, and the
other was a joint indictment
against Robb and Billingsley*
charging a false entry of $19,000
to Robb's credit.
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Golobie, John. Oklahoma State Register. (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 18, 1907, newspaper, April 18, 1907; Guthrie, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc112544/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.