Cushing Independent. (Cushing, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 2, 1908 Page: 2 of 10
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PRIMARY L/IW CONSIDERED
8ENATE CONSIDERS MANNER OF
NOMINATING CANDIDATES
NOMINEES NOT TO FRAME PLATFORMS
Use of Money in Campaigns is Safe-
guarded and a Limit Put on the
Amount t he Various Candidates
Shall Expend to Secure Election
The senate Wednesday refused to
stand for the LaFoIlette primary
election law, now in force In Wiscon-
sin, under which the candidates nom-
inated for office by any political par-
ty write the party platform. That
plan was embodied In the Davis pri-
mary election bill, as reported out by
the committee on privileges and elec-
tions, but as u substitute for ft a new
section was adopted providing for a
mass convention to be held at each
precinct at 2 o'clock on the day of
the primary, with the precinct com-
mitteeman presiding, to elect dele-
gates to a county convention to be
held on the following Saturday for
the purpose of drawing up a county
platform. This county convention
also elects delegates to state and
district conventions for the same
purpose, and either this convention
or the precinct mass meeting may in-
struct delegates in regard to the plat-
form.
That particular section was the
bone of contention throughout almost
the entire day's session. When it
was first reached in the considera-
tion of the bill, Senator William3 of-
fered a substitute, taken from the
Missouri law, of the same general pur-
port, but differing in detail. Vigor-
ous oposition by Stewart and Smith
to both the Williams substitute and
the original section resulted in the
committal of the section to a special
committee composed of Smith, Davis,
Taylor and Williams, which was given
until 2 o'clock to report.
When the committee reported it
brought in the substitute which was
later adopted, leaving all platforms
to be drafted by conventions. Two
substitutes were then offered for it.
One by Brazen, requiring the calling
of conventions 30 days before the
primary, was quickly voted down. An-
other proposed by Roddie, retaining
the original section but providing as
an alternative that the state commit-
tee might call a delegate convention
in which case tho candidates should
not meet, was lost.
In connection with the same bill a
lively fight came up over the ques-
tion of whether safeguarding provi-
sions regarding the use of money
should be included in this bill or left
to the general election bill, the deci-
sion Anally being in favor of the for-
er course, a new article offered by
Thomas being made the basis or tut
consideration.
Tho bill was recommended for
adoption by the committee of the
whole just before adjournment. An
effort was made to postpone the ex-
pense question until the general elec-
tion bill should be considered, and a
motion to that effect was made by
Stafford and lost. Senator Stewart
was one of the most vigorous oppo-
nents, stating that in the southern
part of the state practically all ot
the fight was at the primary and that
the election following was "a tame af-
fair."
The provisions adopted In regard to
expenses were those which had been
prepared for the general election bill.
Practically the only flght was over
the question of advertising. The mat-
ter arose on a motion by Roddie to
prohibit candidates from advertising
but he accepted a substitute by Thom-
as, requiring all political advertise-
ments to carry at the head a line
stating by whom they were Inserted
and the price paid. That proposition
was defeated as practically putting
a ban on the use of newsaper pub-
licity.
The primary expenses allowed for
the candidates for the various offices
are as follows: United States sena-
tor or governor, $2,500; other state
officers. $1,500; corporation commis-
sioner or supreme court. $1,000; con-
gress. $800; state senator or repre-
sentative, whero from more than one
county. $250; county officer, $200; dis-
trict within counties, $160; mayor in
cities of 15.000. $200; other officers
In same cities, $150; mayor in citie9
of 3,000 to 15,000, $100; other offi-
cers. $6; mayor in cities of less than
3.000, $6: other officers, $5. Senator
Smith sought to cut down the allow-
ance for senators from $250 to $150,
but was defeated on the ground that
It would not allow sufficient traveling
expenses for senators In large dis-
tricts.
Senator tltewart's bill for an indus-
trial school was passed on final read-
ing. A favorable report was made
by the comuimittee on municipal cor-
porations on the Williams bill pen-
sioning firemen.
Rader Appointed Sheriff
NEWKIRK: After balloting for a
week upon apllcations for appoint-
ment as sheriff of Kay county to suc-
ceed Syl G. Ford, who was recently
killed by a train, two members of the
board united on Robert Rader, t>f
Newkirk, and he was chosen. Ed-
ward Hopton, who waB nominated by
the democrats of the county for sher-
iff three years ago, was an applicant
! .* the place.
COLLEGE FOR GIRLS
Senator Stewart Introduces Bill for
Industrial School
The Eenate In committee of the
whole Tuesday passed Senator Stew-
art's bill creating an industrial insti-
tute and college for girls, which is to
give instruction in industrial arts, the
English language and the various
branches of mathematical, physical,
natural and economical sciences. Girls
between the ages of 12 and 35 years
are to be admitted. The school is to
be governed by a board of 10 regents
to be appointed by the governor.
The bringing u or this bill precip-
itated a lively fight on the general
subject of public Institutions and the
advisability of taking them up one at
a time or in an omnibus bill. Senator
Agee led the fight for the latter plan
and movpd the appointment of a com-
mittee of five, with Senator Stewart as
chairman, to formulate such a bill.
His motion precipitated a general de-
bate on tho public building question.
Stanford favored Agee's motion, but
wanted to go still further and have
the committee appointed now and re-
port to the next legislature.
Senator Mathews declared that
there was no need at all for additional
educational institutions at this time,
and declared that the proposed school
If established, would be practically
only a hi" > school for its particular
locality, : • he asserted some of the
present state educational institutions
are.
The only change made in the bill
was one to make It clear that only
white girls should be eligible for en-
trance. Blair and Taylor sought to
secure the insertion of a provision
whereby the town making the bes?t
financial offer for it. other things be-
ing eoual. should be given the school,
but Senator Stewart, the author of
the bill, insisted that if that provi-
sion were put in the legislature might
as well locate it at Oklahoma City.
The senate passed finally the Rod-
die gambling bill and the Stafford
bill, organizing the office of the
state examiner and inspector. One
new bill was introduced, by Redwine,
making it a contempt for corporations
to violate the orders of the corpora-
tion commission.
The senate has recommended for
adoption a bill, introduced by Senator
Roddie, prohibiting gamblinng. The
operation of a gambling table or de-
vice is made a felony punishable by
imprisonment for two to four years.
To watch the operation of a gambling
game is made an offense to which a
fine of $25 to $50 is attached, while
the man who participates in a gamb-
ling game may be fined $10 to $50 and
Jailed 10 to 30 days.
During Its consideration of Frank-
lin's bill for the labor commissioner's
department, the senate took another
step in the direction of economy by
cutting out the position of factory in-
spector and providing that the labor
commissioner himself shall be ex-of-
ficlo factory inspector. The change
was made on motion of Senator Staf-
ford. who stated that there were prac-
tically no factories in the state at tn«.
present time and that in all probabil-
ity there would not be enough for
several years to make the office of in-
spector a necessity.
Senator Franklin, the author of the
bill, opposed the change, making a
comparison with the Inspection
clause provided for in the department
of agriculture, but the Stafford amend-
ment was carried over his protest.
The bill as originally drawn pro-
vided for a statistician, the factory in-
spector and an assistant, but all of
these features are now eliminated
and the work left to be done by the
commissioner of labor and his assist-
ant. Another change requires omy
one insector of all factories a year in-
stead of two.
The need for a factory inspector is
materially lessened by the fact that
there lias been cut from the list of
places which he was required to in-
spect by the original bill mercantile
establishments, gins, mills, elevators,
warehouses, freight depots, baker
shops, hotels, restaurants, bowling al-
leys, theaters and concert houses. The
bill was left pending at adjournment.
Another bill considered Tuesday but
not acted on finally was that of Da-
vis providing for primary elections,
specifying that primary nominations
be made by all parties on the sec-
ond Tuesday in August, 1908, and bi-
ennially thereafter.
DON'T FEAR WITHDRAWAL
Oklahoma Commission Expects Tele-
graph Companies to Stay
GUTHRIE: No credence is given by
officials of the corporation commission
to the reports that the. telegraph com-
panies would withdraw from Okla-
homa because of rulings obnoxious to
them made by the corporation com-
mission. Assistant Attorney General
George Henshaw, counsel for the cor-
poration conimision, characterized the
report as absurd.
"As for the commission's proposed
order." he said, "requiring telegraph
companies to charge only 25 cents
for a message of ten words and 2
cents for each additional word as a
KiAy rate, and one cent at night, I wii
say that Missouri, Georgia, Ohio, Vir-
ginia, South Carolina and other states
now have the same Bort of a schedule
in effect. The telegraph companies
have made no move to get out of those
states and 1 see no reason to suppose
that they will in Oklahoma."
TO MI SUE
SENATE MAY HAVE STATE RE-
TAIN SCHOOL LAND
ASKS APPRAISEMENT WITH INFORMATION
Consideration of Bill Indefinitely
Postponed—Senators, From East
Side Want Time to Study the Sit-
uation More Fully
That any bill for the sale of the
school lands will meet with determin-
ed opposition in the Benate was made
evident Friday during the debate on
the Durant bill from the house, pro-
viding for the reappraisement of the
school lands in accordance with the
request of the governor, which open-
ed up the entire range of the school
land question for discussion.
The bill provided for the extension
of leases expiring before April 15 of
this year to January 1, 1909. The
members of the school land board had
taken the position that new leases
could not be made without extending
them for three years and asked this
law as a temporary expedient.
The senate added a new section,
providing for a complete appraise^
ment, including the securing of statis-
tical information, which caused most
of the debate. The section, drafted
by Senator Redwine, provides that
it shall be the duty of the commis-
sioners of the land office 'to cause
the making of an appraisement of
educational and public building lands
with a full description, including tn*
number of acre3 in cultivation on
each quarter; the amount of corn,
cotton and other crops raised in ij6ri,
the cash value with improvements,
the value of the improvements, their
description and kind, the number of
years the improvements have been
on the land, the name of the lessee
and if sub-leased the price such lea-
see pays per acre.
The appraisement is also to con-
tain a list of all land- suitable for
townslte purposes and whether or not
it is now used for such purpose; it
so, the kind and character of build-
ings thereon. It is also to contain a
complete geographical and statistical
report by counties 'and such add.l-
tlonal information as may be required
by the commissioners of the land of-
fice.
The adoption of that section seem-
ed, however, to turn some of the sen-
ators who had originally favored tue
bill against It, and .a, motion for in-
definite postponement was made. As
a substitute for that motion another
was put through providing for a
postponement to give the senators
from the east side, who professed
their ignqrance of the whole matter,
a chance to obtain the desired in-
formation.
The house Friday passed a bill «y
Senator Stafford regulating the office
of the state examiner and inspector,
after the adoption of several amend-
ments. The most important cuange
was that eliminating from the sen-
ate bill the provision authorizing the
governor to suspend any official un-
der fire previous to the examination
of his accounts or until protecting
security might be obtained.
Another amendment strikes out the
provision that allowed the inspectors
to name other deputies in addition
to those specifically mentioned.
The part of section one requiring
payment for examinations to be made
out of contingent county funds was
stricken out. To section three was
added the provision that no county
officer shall be required to discard
any books in use at the time of tue
passage of the bill, although the duty
of the inspector is to prescribe a uni-
form system of book-keeping for all
county treasurers.
The penalty attaching to a refusal
to permit the examiner to inspect the
books is added to by making the con-
victed violators subject to both a
fine of $1,000 and imprisonment in the
county jail for not more than one
year. The senate bill merely pre-
scribes either of these penalties.
The words "not to exceed" were In-
serted in the section which provides
a salary of $1,800 for two deputies
and $900 for one stenographer and
one clerk, to preclude the possibility
of a succeeding legislature changing
the appropriation without receiving
the loan.
The morning session was consumed
with a discussion of the mllitanr bin,
which was left pending. Numerous
amendments were offered. One by
McCalla was adopted. It provides an
honorable discharge for any member
of the militia removing from the
place of enlistment.
The Whitehurst bill, appropriating
$12,400 for election supplies was fin-
ally passed.
The committee on school lands re-
ported favorably the Fisher bill pre-
scribing rules for the disposition of
the lands.
A feature of the morning session
was the address of Professor Charles
F. Gould of the state university on
the mineral wealth of Oklahoma.
The McCalla bill fixing the domicile
of corporations was recalled from
the governor to fix minor defects.
The senate passed the Ashby res-
olution from the house authorizing
the board of health to rellcense phy-
sicians whose certificates have been
taken away by unfair meana.
DRIVE AT NEWSPAPERS
State Senators Give the Editors a
Hard Rap
During the discussion of th9 Davis
election bill in the eenate Thursday,
an amendment was passed that will
virtually prohibit candidates fr jm us-
ing newspapers to further their can-
didacy and shows the newspaper men
have but few friends in that b^dy.
The resolution which was introduced
by Senator Thomas is as follows:
"Every newspaper, journal maga-
zine or other publication, accepting
and printing political advertisements
of or for any candidate or candidates
for any nomination for political office
shall publish, together with such po-
litical advertisement at the top
thereof the name of the person, firm,
association or corporation ordering
said advertisement printed, and the
price charged or to be charged there-
for; provided, that if such article or
political advertisement is printed
free, then said notice printed there-
with shall so state. The manager of
any newspaper, journal, magazine or
other publication failing to comply
with the .provisions of this section
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."
Following the adoption of this
amendment Senator Stafford made
an attempt to amend the section
which limits the amount a candidate
is allowed to expend in furthering
his candidacy, so as to exclude tne
amount spent for newspaper advertis-
ing from the list. Tne section which
he sought to amend fixes the amount
candidates may expend as follows:
For United States senator or gover-
nor, $2,500; other state officers, $1,-
500; supreme judge or corporation
commissioner, $1,000; congressman,
$800; district judge, $500; state sen-
ator and flotorial representative,
$250; other county officers $200. The
amendment was lost.
The bill, when placed on final pas-
sage, received 41 votes with none op-
posing, the highest vote that any bill
has yet received in the senate.
The Williams bill, providing for a
medical examining board, was also
passed on third reading, making three
Important bills disposed of during the
day.
The Thomas bill, regulating county
seat elections, was under considera-
tion long enough to demonstrate that
there would be fierce and determin-
ed opposition to the plans to bring in
men from outside the county to act
as election inspectors. Senator Blair
was particularly vigorous in his op-
position, characterizing the plan as
a revival of carpet-bag rule. As a re-
sult of the fight made on it, the final
disposition of the bill was allowed to
go over until another day.
A long step In advance of any ex-
isting legislation is taken by the Eg-
german-Redwine-Davis anti-trust bill,
passed by the senate Thursday, when
it attempts to place under control
the state any private business which
is of a quasi-public nature, or any
firm or corporation which by virtue of
the character of its business enjoys
a virtual monopoly.
It was admitted by the authors of
the bill that the provision was an ex-
periment, and it was characterized
by Senator Cunningham, of Guthrie,
as a dangerous experiment, but all
of the other senators seemed anxious
to try it, taking the position that it
would accomplish much good if it suc-
ceeded. Senator Russell declared
that a condition now confronted the
people which made experiments of
the sort absolutely necessary. He
expressed a conviction that most of
the experiments would be failures,
but insisted that the promising ones
should be tried. He declared it as
his belief that if all of them failed it
would be necessary to fall back on
government ownership.
In addition to criminal proceedings
the bill provides for receivership pro-
ceedings against any corporation vio-
lating the provisions of the act, and
the appointment of masters in chan-
cery to take testimony. The penalty
for violation is a fine of not less than
$50 nor more than $10,000. Immun-
ity is granted to witnesses who testi-
fy as to violations of the act, as is
required by the constitution. Strin-
gent antl-dlscrlmlnation provisions
are included.
The bill of Representative Jones
of Oklahoma county authorising tne
lease to the State Pair association of
a quarter section of land near Okla-
homa City, was the pivot on which
things spun "round and round" in
the house Thursday. The eventual
disposition of the measure was in its
reference to the legal advisory com-
mittee to determine its constitutional-
ity, which was attacked by Speaker
Murray, who claimed that the legisla-
ture oannot lease the land, as pro-
posed by the bill, that power being
given solely to the state school land
commission.
The speaker found a turning in the
lane, which, according to Mr. Putnam,
of Oklahoma county, led always to
the blocking of legislation affecting
Oklahoma City, when he withdrew
the proposed Instructions which he
insisted should be tacked to the bill
before It was recommitted.
J'l want to say he(re," said the
speaker, "that I hope to see, before
thts session has adjourned, an appro-
priation for two state fairs with the
matter turned over to the agricul-
tural board, and I hope the fair for
the west side will be secured by Okla-
homa City. That's how I feel about
it" He was applauded.
TELEPHONE INVESTIGATION.
Corporation Commission Learns,
Workings of Companies.
GUTHRIE: The investigation ofj
the telephone and telegraph lines or
Oklahoma by the corporation com-'
mission reveals one fact that shows
the telephone companies, at least, are
imbued with the same spirit that has
made Oklahoma remarkable through-
out the entire country—that of ac-
complishing what would seem to ordi-
nary mortals almost impossible. The
Investigation shows that the new state
is not excelled by any of the older
states in equipment and efficiency of
service, and in most respects excels
the older commonwealths.
The Pioneer Telephone and Tele-
graph company, which is 'the largest
in the state, is receiving the greater
share of attention, both 'by the com-
mission and the press of the state.
In a recent hearing before the cor-
poration commission the company
made a complete showing of their
business. This was largely voluntary
on their part, and the frank and open
manner in which they gave all the
assistance and light they could on
the subject made a favorable impres-
sion on the commission and public
generally.
In the annual report recently made
public, President Nims shows t-h^it
at the close of business December
31st, 1907, 'the aggregate assets were
$4,249,625.57, of which *3,853,625.57
represent the actual value of toll lines
and exchanges throughout the state.
The groas receipts for the year, 1907.
were $1,125,388.30, against which
there was a gross expenditure of
$935,968.37, leaving a revenue balance
of $189,419.93, or a profit of nearly
7 1-2 per cent on the investment. Of
Yhis the stockholders received six per
cent in dividends and the balance was
retained tor reserve fund. This show-
ing wa3 a revelation both to the com-
mission and the people, as it was
generally believed that the telephone-
companies were making large profits.
From the statement of the Pioneer
company, aside from the facfc that the
investment is considered safe, tne
stockholders are only receiving what
they consider a small return for their
money, and they contend that they
must earn as much as ten per cent in
order to secure the money necessary
to make "the extensions that the de-
velopment of the territory is demand-
ing.
The result of the present investiga-
tion is anxiously awaited by the com-
pany as many contemplated improve-
ments and extensions will depend on
the finding of the commission. One
of the officers in a recent interview
said he feared nothing from the in-
vestigation, and the rules adopted
would be a basis upon which future
■business would be conducted.
18 STATE DISPENSARY AGENT
Oklahoma Governor Appoints Robert
E. Lozier of Blackwell
GUTHRIE: Robert E. Lozier of
Blackwell has been appointed state
dispensary agemt for Oklahoma by
Governor Haskell. The appointment
was made with the approval of the
Anti-Saloon League of Oklahoma.
Twenty men were in the race for the
place. It pays a maximum salary ot
$2,500 a year.
Mr. Lozier is a native of Missouri
and was a resident of Carrolton, I lo„
for a number of year3. For six
years he was a member of the demo-
cratic state committee of Missouri.
He bad the strongest indorsements of
any candidate. He presented letters
from United States Senator Stone,,
and Congressman Champ Clark, three
exf-ffovernors of Missouri, including
David R. Francis, and others, coz-
ier is a successful business man of
Blackwell, managed the fight for the
Anti-Saloon League in Kay county,
and had the support in his candidacy
of all the prohibitionists of his coun-
ty. He is a delegate to the next dem-
ocratic national convention at Denver
from the first district.
The governor also appointed four
district inspectors, who will check up
local agencfes and perform other
duties that may be assigned by the
legislature. They are Rev. J. J.
Thompson, ex-superintendent of the
Oklahoma Anti-Saloon League, of Ok-
lahoma City; F. F. Cain, until recent-
ly editor of the Taloga Advocate at
Taloga; O. H. P. Brewer of Braggs,
a member of the constitutional con-
vention and for five years member or
the Cherokee board of education, and
Sam Stone ot Durant, a druggist of
that city. All these Inspectors are
prominent prohibitionists In their
own localities.
Mr. Lozier Is unable to state just
when the state dispensary will be
opened. "The place Is new to me and
I will have to get my work outlined.
The agency will be opened, however,,
at the earliest possible date," he
said. As soon as the state dispensary
is established and in worKing order
the local agencies will be located
throughout the state.
Governor Haskell stated that, In
the appointment of the state dispen-
sary agent, John A. Shepler, of Paw-
nee waived his claim on the position
owning to the warm personal friend-
ship that had existed between him
and Lozier in Missouri and Oklahoma
for twenty-five years.
A petition has reached Governor
Haskell from Le Flore county asking
that a county seat election be called
for that county, and an additional pe-
tition from Spiro that its name be
placed upon the ballot aB an appli-
cant for the permanent county seaL
Poteau is the prssent county seat.
awr_
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Holland, Al. H. Cushing Independent. (Cushing, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 2, 1908, newspaper, April 2, 1908; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc274296/m1/2/: accessed March 29, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.