The Harrison Gazette. The Gotebo Gazette. (Gotebo, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, December 13, 1907 Page: 4 of 10
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Ti SIXTIETH GONGBESS
JOSEPH B. CANNON IS ELECTED
SPEAKER FOR THIRD TIME
OKMHOMI SEMT0I5 IRE HOT SEI7E0
John Sharpe Williams Is Declared the
Leader of the Minority—Oid Rules
Are Adopted—President's Message
Received Tuesday
WASHINGTON: V succession ot
brilliant scenes characterized the open-
ing of the sixtieth congress.
The striking scenes of the day were
in the house of representatives where
the formal election of Joseph G. Can-
non, who again became speaker of
that body, and designation by the dem-
ocrats of John Sharp Williams ai
their leader, were occasions for ova-
tions for those gentlemen. The vast
hall of the house uf representatives
rang with the cheers of republicans
and democrats for their leaders, and
the speaker received as warm a recep-
tion from the minority as he did from
his own party.
Committees were appointed by both
houses to inform the president that
congress had met, a id was ready to
receive any message he might wish to
communicate.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3
The house of representatives as-
serabled with but one object, namely,
to listen to the reading of the presi-
dent's message and adjourn. The gal-
leries showed that the interest of the
public was almost as great as on the
opening day.
The speaker announced that he had
. received a communication that ordl-
j narily he would refer to a committee
I after the organization of the housa,
| but he thought it so important he
I would have it read at once. The pa-
j per proved to be a telegram from the
' Oklahoma legislature to the house of
representatives.
"Oklahoma's first state legislature,"
it stated, "just organized, inspired by
the fond reality of local self-govern-
ment, sends greeting to the 60th con-
gress of the greatest nation on earth
and conveys to her sister states a mes-
sage of progress and prosperity and
loyal devotion to the union and the
common good."
( The speaker himself read this mes-
: sage in an Impressive manner, and
! as he concluded, the house broke into
applause. A recess was then taken
until 12:30. On re-convening the
president's secretary appeared with
the message of the resident. It was
laid before the house and its read-
ing was begun by the clerk. Printed
copies of the document were distri-
buted among the members, who made
a close scrutiny of the message while
the reader plodded along, apparently
only for the benefit of the people in
the galleries.
I The annual message of the presi-
dent was received by the senate at
12:13 p. m„ Tuesday, and within a
minute Secretary Bennett had begun
the reading of the document.
Mr. Gore and Mr, Owen, the two
men chosen by primary election to
represent the new state of Oklahoma
in the senate, appeared on the floor
of the senate and occupied the seats
set apart for them for some time, list-
ening to the president's message.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4
WASHINGTON: Nearly a thou-
sand bills were introduced in the sen-
ate and all of them were referred to
committees where they will be taken
up fcr consideration after the new
senators shall be given committee as-
signments. No other business of im-
portance was transacted. Almost all
of these bills were considered in the
last congress, and most of them are
private pension bills.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5
FIVE MIMO IRE DEMI
GREATEST LOSS OF LIFE THAN
ANY MINE EXPLOSION
r
v.
STATE CAPITAL LETTER
BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
MOUTH OF [MINE CLOSES IN WORKMEN
Workmen Are Held in Pitc and Suf-
focated by Gas—Caues of Disaster
Merely Speculative—Coffins Being
Shipped
MONOGAH, W. VA.: Three charred
bodies lying in the improvised morgue,
four badly injured men, and 493 men
imprisoned by tons of coal, rocks and
mine debris in the depths of the hills
surrounding this mining town, with
the chances all against a single one
of them being alive, is the most ac-
curate summary obtainable of the re-
sults of a mine explosion which in all
probability was attended by greater
less of life than any former disaster
in th-^ history of the bituminous coal
mining industry of America.
It is reported that the mine officials: •
have ordered 380 coffins shipped to '
Monogah as soon as possible.
The explosion occurred shortly after i
the full force of 300 men had gone to
work in the two mines affected. These j
mines are Nos. 6 and 8 of the Consoli-
dated Coal company, located on oppo- I
site sides of the west fork of the !
river, at this place, but merged in
their underground workings by a head- 1
ing and on the surface by a great steel
tipple and bridge.
There is much speculation as to the ,
cause of the explosion, but the most
generally accepted theory is that it
resulted from black damp, scientifical-
ly known as methame. It is beJieved
that a miner attempted to set off a
blast which blew out and ignited an
accumulation of this deadly gas, that
this in turn ignited the coal dust, a
highly Inflammable substance found in
greatei ~r less quantities in all West
Virginia mines. However, all explau-
ations of the cause up to this time are
necessarily speculative. Only a thor
ough investigation after the mine is
re-opened will disclose the cause, ii
it ever is ascertained.
IMmcDIATE ACTION ON
SCHOOL APPROPRIATION
In a few days the state legislature
will have enacted the necessary laws
by which the permanent school fund
of five million dollars may be brought
from the treasury of the United States
to the treasury of Oklahoma. United
States Senator Robert L. Owen ha^
notified Governor Haskell that the
f.-'i'eral government is prepared to pay
the money, but would prefer that it
be taken in installments. It is the
purpose of Governor Haskell to place
LOCATING
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
If plans do not miscarry, this legia*
lature will locate all the public Insty/
tutions that the state may need for
years to come. A combination of in*
terests is at work perfecting an organ-
ization whereby such bills as may be
introduced in the legislature shall not
be without the most effective manage*
ment and promotion. There is reaso^
for believing that the stronger organ*
ization will be In the senate, the small*
er body, where decisive results are
purpose oi uovernor ttasKeu iu y — -- , ..
the money as loans with state and | more quickly reached, and where(the
national banks that give approved se- j larger body, the house, would finally,
curity, and thereby relieve the finan- j have to come for recognition.
cial stringency that is blockading bus-! In this organization for the location
iness in the state. 'of public buildings Indian Territory
The safe investment of this money j will be ably represented. A number
is, of course, paramount to everything \ ot Oklahomans will join with ^dtaa
else. The only securities that may btj Territory in playing future politic*
given for loans from this fund are
enumerated in the constitution as fol-
lows: First mortgage upon good and
Improved farm lands within the state
(and in no case shall more than 0
per centum of the reasonable valua-
tion of the lands without improve-
ments be loaned on any tract), Okla-
homa state bonds, county bonds of the
counties of Oklahoma, school district
bonds of the school districts of Okla-
and in seeking certain advantages.
The statement is being made now that
Oklahoma, already having a large
number of public buildings, should
not insist on any considerable recog-
nition in the distribution that is to be
made by this legislature. Indian Ter-
ritory will ask for at least two nor-
mal schools, and an asylum for in-
sane persons, the state penitentiary,
and probably, a juvenile reformatory
Donas OI tile scnooi aistricis oi Unlc*-,"" i I'naHtuiirma
homa, United States bonds; prefer-jand several other minor institutions
ence to be given to the securities in) Unless what seema to be welled
the order named PlaDs miscarry, no attempt may be
the order named. £ serious)y t0 change the loca-
This would present an immediate | , Qf ,he temp0rary capital from
embarrassment to banks in Indian Ter-, . . There mav be much noise
ritory that might wish to get portions
of this fund. It is known to be a fact
that the titles to farm lands in Indian
Territory that may be purchased at
this time are clouded by reason of the
peculiar methods of land buyers in
dealing with the Indian allottees con-
Guthrie. There may be much noise
in the legislature and a great deaf
written in newspapers, but underneath
this demonstration is said to be the
fact that if Guthrie knows what she
is doing she will join hands with In-
dian Territory, and in return for such
assistance as she may be able to give
THREATENED COAL FAMINE
HON. JOSEPH G. CANNON.
New senators and representatives
were sworn in and both houses ad-
journed out of respect to the memory
of members who have died during the
recess of congress.
Proceedings in Senate
The senate convened promptly at
noon. After Vice President Fairbanks
sounded th^ gavel the proceedings
were opened with prayer by the Rev.
Edward Everett Halt, chaplain.
The vice president ordered that the
roll of senators-elect be called alpha-
betically and they were sworn in by
fours, being escorted to the desk by
their colleagues.
Messrs. Robert L. Owen and T. P
Gore of Oklahoma, not having been
elected to the senate by their legisla-
ture, were not received by the senate
and their credentials will not be ac-
cepted until after their formal elec-
tion on December 10.
Amid great applause on tiie republi-
can side Representative Hepburn of
Iowa nominated Joseph G. Cannon ot
Illinois for speaker. Equally demon-
strative were the democrats when
Representative Clayton put in nomina-
tion John Sharp Wi Hams of Missis-
sippi.
Under the form observed by the
senate neither Senator Bankhead nor
Senator Johnson will be sworn in un-
til the deaths of Senators Morgan a .<!
Pettus have been announced and as
the senate adjourned in their honor
neither of their successors were ad
mitted the first day.
Amid thunderous applause, in which
republicans and democrats alike joinea
Speaker Cannon wis escorted down
the center aisle to his chair by a com-
mittee, of which Representative Wil-
liams was chairman. In a brief speech
Mr. Williams said the speakership was
the second highest office in the United
States. He had the honor, he said,
for the third time ,"of not introducing,
but presenting to t!.e congress, the
Honorable Joseph G. Cannon of Illi-
nois. as its speaker.'"
When the applause had subsided
Speaker Cannot spoke for several
minutes.
The oath was then administered by
Representative Bingham of Pennsyl-
vania, "the father of the house," and
in turn the speaker administered the
oath to the members-, who lined up Ir.
front of his desk in groups of 25.
When Oklahoma was called the dem-
ocrats loudly applauded the represen-
tatives from the new state, who towed
their acknowledgements.
The republican and democrat caucus
appointments of boi:*c official: then
were presented aoJ the republican
nominees were elected.
Greets New State
WASHINGTON: The senate was in
session today for an hour and a half,
adjourning at 1:30 o'clock until Mon-
day.
Senator William P. Frye of Maine,
was elected president pro tem of the
I senate, Senator Daniel of Virginia be-
I ing given a complimentary -vote for
i the honor by his democratic col-
| leagues.
The resolutions of Senator Clay and
| Culberson calling on the secretary of
| the treasury for information concern-
| ing the recent bond issue by the gov-
' eminent, were allowed to go over until
next Monday, when they will probably
be the basis of some debate.
Most of the session was taken up by
the introduction of bills.
The house was In session only ten
minutes and transacted no business be-
yond agreeing to make this response to
the greetings of the new state of Ok-
lahoma:
"The house of representatives ac-
knowledges the greeting of the state
of Oklahoma, and requests the speaker
to send her good wishes for her future
progress and greatness."
CONFER WITH GARFIELD
Oklahomans Talk Over Proposed Re-
moval of Restrictions
WASHINGTON: The Oklahoma del-
egation in congress had a conference
with Secretary Garfield, at which
there was an interchange of ideas re-
garding the proposal to remove re-
strictions from Indian lands in Okla-
homa for whjch the delegation staiids
unanimous.
One of the representatives said he
gathered from the remarks of Mr.
Garfield that the secretary might
favor the removal of restrictions from
mixed blood surplus lands and home-
steads, intermarried citizen home-
steads. entire freedmen allotments
and fullblood surplus lands, the last
named under certain departmental su-
pervision. He thought that a bill on
this line might be prepared by the de-
partment and recommended.
CANADA HAS CHAMPION STEER
Enid Has Only About Two Weeks
Supply on Hand
ENID: With hardly enough on hand
to supply the town for two weeks, in
case cold weather should set in. Enid
faces a most critical situation. Coal
dealers declare that it is impossible
to secure a supply of coal.
A movement has been started to
ask the corporation commission fot
relief in case the situation becomes
worse. Many families are without
fuel and calls for relief are made daily
"Two weeks of cold weather and
Enid would be out of coal." says L. W
Lyons, a coal dealer. We have been
unable to secure a supply of coal from
vhe mines.
"The reason given by the operators
for the shortage is the lack of miners
They claim that large numbers of for-
eign workmen have quit and gone into
other business, making the ^output
short.
"I hardly think that application to
the corporation commission will re-
lieve the stringency. The conditions
are beyond the control of the opera-
tors and railroads."
ASKS HASKELL'S APPROVAL
New Plan Proposed for Disposal of
Oklahoma School Lands
GUTHRIE: The Oklahoma schoo'
land lessees adopted resolutions ask-
ing Governor Haskell to fa\or their
plan of disposing of the school lands.
There are 9,000 school land lessees
in Oklahoma, occupying over 1,500,000
acres of state lands reserved for the
school fund. The lessees want legis-
lation for the sale of these lands on
bids, preference right of purchase re-
served to the lessees, and to pay for it
on long time at 4 per cent interest.
They also want a board of appraisers
in each county who will fix the value
of their improvements, including or-
chards and cultivated lands, each
county board to work in some adjoin-
ing county.
STILL AFTER CAPITAL
Peas
and Hay Diet Fattens More
Than American Corn
CHICAGO: Canada has captured
the crowning honor of the Interna-
tional Live Stock exposition, defeat
ing the American breeders on their
own ground. The grand champion-
ship in the steer class goes to a Can-
adian exhibitor, to the surprise and
discomfiture of the native stockmen,
whose proudest beasts were entered
in the class.
Roan King, a Shorthorn calf, se-
lected as the best of the huge herds
of cattle assembled at the stock yards
I is owned by James Leask of Green
' Bank. Ontario, weighs 1,078 pound?
I and was fed on a diet of peas and hay-
instead of the corn which Is the staple
I diet of American fancy kine. The
' Canadian contingent at the show ar«
jubilant over the victory.
When a man and a woman in a train
sit side by side for hours without
& (leaking and look glumly ahead of
th*m. it's a sign they are man and
I tile—Philadelphia Telegraph.
El Reno Citizens Plan Campaign to
Become Seat of Government
EL RENO: That El Reno will be
one of the aspirants for the location
of the 6tate capital is an assured fact
and the different organizations are at
work on the campaign. The citizens
are in favor of the legislature parsing
a measure calling an election some-
time next year, and to immediately
start the construction of a capitol
building, contemplating its completion
about the time of the expiration of the
limitations of the enabling act relative
to location. The enabling act pro-
vides that the capitol shall remain at
Guthrie until 1913. El Reno will con
tlnue her efforts to induce congress
to donate the Fort Reno military res-
ervation of five thousand acres for
state capitol purpose* The city will
then make the state the offer to erect
a five hundred thousand dollar capitol
building. Over one hundred thousand
dcllars has been already pledged in
this city.
The Faxon Law and Enforcement
league cf Faxon has twee organized
and has placed a standing reward of
It; for the arrest and onvtctlon of
each tiolaccr cf the prohibition law in
Faito.
utdiuis wiui me iuu.a.1 —- assistance as she may be aoie 10 give
trary to the rules and regulations of|Indian Territory the latter will stand
the interior department. For that rea- Guthrie Already there is talk
son, Indian Territory banks would find I' raenibers of the republican
it difficult to get any considerable | minorit that senator Harper S. Cun-
amount of gilt-edge farm land raort'| ningham is entirely too friendly wittf
gages in Indian Territory to offer as I mg Qf thp democratjc interests from
security. Indian Territory has Indian Territory. Senator Cunning-
county or school district bonds andiham rppresents the Guthrie district-
probably will not have any in time to ld .g dpslrous above all things that
offer them as security for loans froul Guthrie should be the permanent cap-
this school fund. This would be some- I. j of the 8tate
what unfair to Indian Territory banks. ' ;
as the Oklahoma banks would have DOWN
the best of the situation. U
E. L. Cralle of Norman, former ROUGH RIDERS
! member of the Oklahoma territorial The republican minority <
i council from this district, has sug- choose candidates for the United
! gested a plan that seems to have . States senate proved to be an unhappy
merit. Said he: "I would suggest j day for the Rough Ridei movement
i that the state legislature make it pos- in the new state, ^x-Governor Frank
sible for Indian Territory banks to Frantz who believed that he(had thir
borrow from this fund by giving bond teen of the twenty-thr^e republ c
in some reputable guaranty compan*. members of the legislature firmly
but on condition that within twelve1 pledged to his support or the caucus
| months this guaranty bond be dis- nomination, was defeated 1by iC. G.
placed by state, county, or school dis- Jones of Oklahoma City•
I [rict bonds in the order named. There ris of Wagoner, a late-hour candidate,
j is little doubt that within the next was defeated for the nom nationt on
twelve months much of the enforced the east side of the state b> Clarence
warrant indebtedness of the Indian B. Douglas, editoi °f J^e Muskogee
: Territory municipalities could be re- Phoenix, after Harris ^nd Frantz had
tired bv bond issuer. Under the plan i tried to effect a winning combination.
I have* named the bonds immediately; There was a large number of/eP" "
I would sell at 100 cents on the dollar,, licans In the state, representing all
and might command a premium, so! factions, who overthnjw o
eager would be the Indian Territory Frantz, and incidentally his strongMt
banks to get them for security pur- ally. Chas. Hunter, j"j[ J*®*™1Frantz
poses. This would mean an immediate had any personal dislike for Frantz.
cash basis for all the Indian Territory ; and Hunter but because the latter
municipalities. I believe it would be were controlling patronage etcnot
a good thing for the entire state " by being republicans but throng
8 having been Rough Riders. To this
McCOMB INDICATES opposition to Frantz and Hunter waB
HIS INSURANCE METHODS added something that was far more
Insurance affairs In the state are to disastrous to any hopes that Frantz
be given a thorough overhauling by may have had. It was known that
T. J. McComb, state insurance commis- Frantz and Governor Haskell were
sloner. Mr. McComb has already in- personal enemies. Thomas H. Doyle
dicated his policy by closiug a num- of Perry and J. L. Love, member of
1 ber of mutual companies, and 'lately the corporation commission, went to
began an attack upon a certain kind Senator Harper S. Cunningham, the
' of life insurance companies. "I know night before the republican caucus and
what kind of business a majority of induced Cunningham to believe that
insurance companies in he United they were the personal representa-
States are transacting." fcaid Mr. Mc- lives of Governor Haskell, who woula
Comb, "and I am determined that none cripple any republican in the legisla-
shall fail and defraud Oklahoma ture that gave aid to Frantz. Other
policy-holders if care in my depart- republican members of the legislature
ment can prevent it. Once for all, were led to believe the same thing.
I vish to say that if insurance com- with the final result that Frantz s sup-
panics wish to know what I ^iall re- port melted away like mist. Frantz re-
quire of them, let them read the Okla- leased Cunningham from his pledge of
homa statutes governing the insur- support when the latter told Frantz
ance business. If they cannot or do of his predicament.
not complv, they can save them Governor Haskell denied
selves great embarassment by with- that he had given any person authority
drawing from the state. I shall cer- to make such representations fof
talnlv enforce the laws. him, but regardless of what may have
happened in this particular the resulle
JIM CROW LAW were not displeasing to Governor Has-
EFFECTIVE SOON kell.
Before the next issue of this news REPORX 0N jhE
paper is printed Oklahoma probably; |Ng^NE ASYLUM MATTERS
will have a "jim crow law in full Thp ,as( territorial legislature or-
operation. The basis of this law will (lerpd fhe inmatPS cf the asylum for
probably be the bill introduced by jnsane persons at Norman moved to
Senator "Clint' Graham of Marietta, ^ pQrt gUppiy asylum as soon as the
to whom the honor of framing the mjjitary buildings at the latter place
"jlm crow" law has been generally were mad(. habitable. The state board
conceded by his democratic assocl- Qf agyhim trustees has reported to
ates. because of his active support of 0ovprnor Haskell that the building*
this idea in the constitutional conven- arp jn readineBB, and there seems to
tlon. The corporation commission bfi nothlng r„rther in the way ot i n-
contemplated making an order for sep- ,nedlate removal. The board asks for
arate coaches and separate depot wait- an appr(>prlation of more than $200,000
ing rooms, in anticipation of action by . th cgrp and maintcnance of the
it. _ i l _1 _ a Un <IaoIoI n/1 n* Kati It , ■ ttl&t
— pxueaun ure «ji — present ca-
the law Into effect earlier than could acltv of the a9ylum at Fort Supply
the commission. The law would be —" - """
11,* .win.-. .11 ... for care ana mauntu
the legislature, but desisted when i. (nga|je ,)atlents> and says
was found that the legislature cou! 1 , .it PXpendlture 0f |2r,.000 the
the law Into effect earlier than could . Qf (hp a8V]uin at ;
the commission. The law would be ,^preawd from 600 tc
effective Immediately upon its passage board recommend8 the establishment
and approval. The republican minority < f another asylum to be known
in the legislature has taken the posl agyllin, No 2 at some place In Indian
tlon that It will demand that white Tprrltory An effort may be made to
and negro passengers on railroads and , US€ Df the 0]d Choctaw capitol
at depots be separated In fact as well buij<jjn. at Tuskahoma, or Ihe rant-
as In theory, and that equal advant , ri at vorman may be leased tem-
■" •— _ — . asylum No. 2 at some place
tion that It will demand that white T(,rrltory An effort may be made to
and negro passengers on railroads and . USe of Jlie cjd Choctaw capitol
In fact as well b||y[DK at Tuskahoma, or Ibe raL
*! > tarlum ,t Norman may be leased tem
ages be given to each class. They Jor the accommodation of In-
would oppose even the democratic dUn Territory Insane persons, of
concession of allowing n<"*m nurses wbain about 150 are now in St. Louis
to accompany their employes in white r* ens* oi ft* federal eovem-
compertments. imeat
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Stewart, A. H. The Harrison Gazette. The Gotebo Gazette. (Gotebo, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, December 13, 1907, newspaper, December 13, 1907; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc184673/m1/4/: accessed March 29, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.