The Farmers Union Advocate (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 12, 1910 Page: 5 of 8
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THE FARMERS UNION ADVOCATE.
CRAWFORD'S REPORT ON ST. LOUIS CONVENTION.
I have just returned from St. Louis where 1 attended the big
Farmers' Convention. To attempt to give an adequate description
of the convention and the things did there would require the pen
ot' someone more familiar in reporting on meetings of that character.
Will pay, however, that while the meeting was not as large as many
anticipated it would be ,vct all things considered it was a great
meeting. 1 do not refer when 1 speak of its greatness to the many
great speeches that were made for as a matter of fact when consid-
ering the good done in meetings of that character the speeches oft
times are of minor importance. Some of the orators invited were
not present and some were. 1 want to make note particularly of the
speechc. delivered by Jams L. Wilson, Scretary of Agriculture, and
that of Samuel Gum pern, President of the Federation of Labor. Not
only not did both of these gentlemen discuss the great economic questions
agitating the minds of the American people today from a broad and
intelligent standpoint, hot impressed the minds of all their hearers
with the fact that the re arc great economic wrongs existing and that
there is a way that they ean be remedied. Each of those gentlemen
agreed that the only peaceful, sure and certain way to remedy such
evils was by -a thorough organization of the peop'.e who are directly
interested in having them remedied and by united and co-operative
action after a full understanding as to what should be done.
Particularly did Secretary Wilson impress upon the farmers
the fact that they were main burden bearers, and the reason why
they had no recognition in the legislative halls of the nation, as well
as the slate, was because of their lack of organization aiid their
lethargy in all public movements. Also Secretary Wilson emphat-
ically denied that the present cost of high living was attributable
to the present high price of farm products, in fact he contended that
the prices of farm products were not as high as they ought to be
when the cost of production was taken into consideration, which
he said should by the only rule for estimating the price of anything.
Your readers should take notice that this has been the conten-
tion of the Farmers' Union people at all times, namely that the
actual cost of reduction should be the real measure of value on
any given product. Hence we find Secretary Wilson strongly en-
dorses our position on that question.
President Gompcrs discussed the same question from a laborer's
standpoint, and the conclusions of the two men when closely fol-
lowed were found to be identical. A great many other speeches
were made including that notable one made bv your humble seranvt.
who had the honor of following Presdent Taft, and of course the
opportunity as well as the ability to improve upon the speech of Mr.
'I aft. I can not now give the names of all the speakers but cannot
forego to mentionthe the very able speech of T. J. Brooks, of Tenn.,
( ongressman Cantril, of Ky.. as well as that of ex-Governor Folk,
of Mo. There were many others who discussed great economic
questions from a broad and intellectual standpoint. It is hardly
necessary for me to mention the speech of President Taft in this con-
nection in so much as it has been printed in full in all the g'reat
dailies. His subject was "Conservation" that .and nothing mora.
He did not even refer to the fact that there were any organized
farmers or laborers in this nation.
My observation, however, was that the greatest work aecanip-
lished by the great convention were the plans put on foot which
will without doubt be successful in bringing under one head all of
the great agricultural organizations in the United States. 1 was for
over twenty-four hours almost constantly engaged with a joint
committee appointed by the aFrmers' Union and the American So-
ciety of Equity in arranging to bring about this much desired co-
olation. Tin work was net finished, however, when 1 had to leave,
but in my mind there is no doubt whatever but the consolidation
will be effected.
Another important phase of the meeting was, that with but
very I w exceptions, tile <'elegates there were honifide farmers and
laborers. Indeed i< was particularly remarked that the usual arm/
of fixers and trimmers which gather at all meetings of this character
were few and far between.
It has been feared by sonic and prayed for by others that a new
party would be organized and launched at this meeting, it is proper
1o sayithat about the hotel corridors there was considerable dis-
cussion pro and con upon that question but it seemed to be quite a
conccncensous of opinion that nineteen hundred and ten was too
early to take such a step if indeed it will be necessary to do so at all,
li.ail." bel cvc and earnestly urge that such a step wil be necessary
not later than ninelcen hundred and twelve, others believe that the
tremendous strength and interest now shown by those who belousr to
the ranks of creative industrv will serve the purpose of bringing
about all necessary reform, ethers believe 'hat reform cannot cci.ie
without a new alinement; as for myself, I am inclined to believe
that the latter idea is the correct ine, yet 1 believe it s too early to
enuage in work of that kind and v. fact I V"lieve tb«t the tim. will
never come, or should never come, that the farmers' and laborers'
organizations, as organizations, should ever allow themselves to be
Mvallowed up by any political party old or new. In conclusion I
wish to say that I believe the St. Louis convention was well worth
its cost if for no other purpase than that of bringing together the
men from every Mrt of the nation lots ratted in Mgrkllturni organi-
sation and agricultural | ir;uits from the Atlantic to he Pacific,
from every state and terrtory, there were some there and the earnest
it.quiry seemed to be, what is the best that we should do, and how
best to do it?
Now Brethren, the one thing for us all to do is to chise up our
ranks and prepare for the conflict which in my estimation can only
be decided one way, and that, the overthrow of organized greed in
America.
W. J. CRAWFORD.
V/HY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR THE CAPITAL BILL ON THE
11TH 0* JUNE.
First, because the bill appropriating six hundred thousand
dollars of the taxpayers' money to start with.
Second, that the receipts of the money from the sale of the lots
instead of going to reimburse the tax payers for the six hundred
thousand dollars, can, if the commission will, be all used up by
the commissioner to buy land, salaries and other expenses.
Third, One of the .glorious provisions is for the creationof more
state officers at a salary of four thousand dollars per annum and
expenses. e
Fourth. That these three new state officers are authrorized to
employ an unlimited number of clerks, stenographers, architect",
superintendents, ag-ents, etc., and to pay them any salary they see
fit.
. This money which they spend eodmes out of the general fund
in the treasury, placed there by the taxpayrs who willingly pay
tliier taxes without injunction*, grumbling or cursing.
Sixth. Theses commissioner ean yet a contract for the tale cap-
ital building for any .'.mount just as their generous w ill direct them,
("if conrc they may b subjects o.' the inspection of the hegislat'i.-n
that shall be elected and meet some years after their work is doje.
1 ke the Pennsylvanit capital building.
Seventh. There is absolutely no limit on the amount for which
they may contract. °
Eighth. They can make a contract for five million dollars and
the help they cao get in-certain localities with other means they can
employ, they can elect a legislature that wil approve their contracts.
• •Ninth. The pubile press generally designates this as tli J.'riniu
of 1910, therefore, we ought to commit that crime.
Tenth. We should not under any circumstances be opposed to in-
creasing the burdens of taxation neither the piling up of a bonded
indebtedness of the slate.
Eleventh. We should always vote for tui\ bill or proposition
submitted to us by grafters, boodlers, against the interests of the
state.
Twelfth. We should vote for and uphold any snap judgment or
scheme which shuts out all rights and privileges of nil other cities
or localities that may have asprations to enter the race for the cap-
ital.
Thirteenth. We should vote for it just to have the glorious priv-
ilege of liavng an opportunty of nercasng the burden of taxation up-
on the working people of the state.
Fourteenth. We should vote for it because the bill was de-
veloped in the heart and mind of an oil trust attorney who is gen-
erous enough to believe that the burdns of taxation should be in-
erased upon the industrial people whether the oil trust pays any
taxes or not.
Fifteenth. We should vote for the bil because the Enabling Act
provided that "we shall not appropriate any public moneys of the
state for the erection of buidlngs for capital purposes during suem
period," until after 1913.
Sixteenth. Wre should vote for the capital proposition to show
our contempt for the delegates to the Constitutional Convention who
took and oath to support the constituion of he United States and to
conform their action to the Enabling Act.
Seventeenth. We should vote for the capital amendment to show
our disrespect for the manhood and pathiutism of uor state and the
obligations we are under to our national government, all because
just a few real estate agents and their attorneys for the graft that
is in it, demandustodot.
Eighteenth. We should vote for the capital amendment on the
11th of June to show to the world our willing servitude to boodlers,
grafters and looters of public enterprises, who have na respect for
moral and intellectual manhood, whose only god is the dollar and
tliier code nd rule of action is to get money at any price.
S. O. DAWS.
Afton, Okla., April 30, 1910.
Editor Advocate:
Thinking maybe that your readers would be interested in knowing
how we are progressing in our campaign against the proposed railroad
amendment and the proposed capital removal scheme, I will say that I
left Guthrie on the Slitli inst., and run up to Carney in Lincoln county,
where Bro. Roebuck met me and took me out in the country three miles,
where we held a meeting of the farmers. On account of shortness ol
lime, the meeting was not large, hut many were there from some dis-
tance to that it was a representative meeting. I have to say that the
farmers of Lincoln county are already aroused to a considerable extent
on both of the proposition, and those present assured me that as far as
the farmer vote goes that it wi'.l he almost solid against both of the
propositions to be voted on June 11. They view both of the schemes as
potential of far reaching graft, and both eminating, as they do, from
the same coterie of looters, can have no standing among the farmers.
I went on to Tulsa where 1 met J. Luther Langston, Secretary of
the Federation of Labor, for Oklahoma. We found that Senator Yeager
had advertised the meeting well. In truth, we had expected he would,
as he is one of those men who do things with all his might when he
goes at it. We spoke from a platform dray-wagon on the corner of the
street, to an audience of from three to five hundred, and if there is any
one in or around Tulsa that favors turning our state over to the tender
mercies of the railroad exploiters, or violating our contract when we
adopted the state Constitution as provided for in the Enabling Act,
we did not find them. From every class of people we met it was the
same tiling; a hearty indorsement of the position we took.
We left Tulsa on the 28th, for Sapulpa, and there met our first
set-back in the form of the redoubtable "Alfalfa Bill," yet wo have no
fault to find with Bill about this. He did not know that a trio of
live w ires in the shape of Langston and Crawford were loose in the land,
and he and his friends had "got there Eli," and had appropriated to
themselves the ears of the Sspulpaites. We know that another live wire,
known as Kate Barnard, had convened a large meeting of the Charity
Workers, at Muskogee, so \ve hi) the road for Muskogee trusting to our
check to get our names in the pot, as it were, and get to speak to some
of Kate's people. Well, to cut a long story short, we were met with
open arms, and Langston swears that he heard the people say that we
made the two speoches that were made before the Convention. Anyhow,
we got there on the proposition of distributing some literature, and
getting next to some people who will help us in our work.
On the 29th wo left for Vinita, and there it developed that our
advertising agent had gotten his wires crossed somehow, yet nothing
daunted we went to nosing around for an opening, and found that the
editor of the Leader was also a live wire in opposition to the Dorsey
Carter bill. We also run on to Jim Davenport, ex-Congressman, and
he got busy and helped us to get up a good meeting in Vinita; and also
'phoned up to Afton and got up a good meeting there. Well, all there
is to it, we find practically everybody up here w ith us on both proposi-
tions. Our meetings at every point have been enthusiastic. Wc leave
in a few minutes for St. Louis; will write you from that place as things
develop. As ever,
W. J. CRAWFORD.
If you are a farmer or loborer and have not the money at present
to pay for The Advocate, and ean pay within one year,Cut This Out,
Sign, and mail to us at once.
Date.
.19.
TO THE FARMERS UNION ADVOCATE
GENTLEMEN:—Please put me on your list for
THE FARMERS UNION ADVOCATE
for which subscription I will make payment at the hegular rates of
subscription,>not later than the end of First Year's Subscription.
Witness..
Signed *
K. R. No P. 0.
Solicitor.
.Agents wanted in every county and local union to handlo the
Farmers' Union Advocate, And make reports of union work. Write
us at or.ee for terms .blanks and territory.
Subscribe for the Farmers' Union Advocate and help us make it
the best paper in the state.
POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT.
With your permission, I take
this opportunity of announcing to
you that I am a candidate for the
nomination for the office of State
Auditor at the Democratic Prim-
aries to lie held on August 2, 1910.
Our party has honored me in tin:
past and it owes mc nothing. I n
fortunately for myself, about the
time we became a State, 1. was
taken seriously ill and during iu,
present incutnbeney in the office of
Secretary of State, I have suffered
much from sickness; but, strange
as it may seem, that was the least
of my troubles and cares, for dur-
ing the time that I was eontiut'd to
my bed, hovering between life
and death my enemies spent that
period in maligning my character.
I have been a resident of your State for so long a time that i
feel that nearly every voter therein knows of me, even if he does
not know me personally, and I have the fullest confidence in thu
citizenship of our State and feel satisfied that every man is entitled
to a fair deal; and in my private, as well as public life, this, I have
endeavored to do toward all and at all times.
I have fully recovered my health and am nblo to servo the peo-
ple faithfully, impartially and honestly, and I desire to again be
honored by the Democratic party of the State in my ambition to
obtain the office of the State Auditor.
I shall feel very grateful to you if you can give me your support,
and in return I will assure you that my conduct as a public officer
shall be as creditable in the future as I think it has bceri in the past.
Very respectfully your friend,
BILL CROSS,
Secretary of State.
I hereby announce that I am a
candidate for Lieutenant Govern-
or, subject to the action of Demo-
cratic Primary August 2nd., 191 J.
My Motto, "A square deal to ail,
special privileges to none, make
Corporations domesticate, and set-
tle their differences in the State
Courts with Oklahoma Citizens.
The laws that we must live under
arc good enough for them.
Yours for an Economical Admin-
istration.
I' J YEAGER.
FOR REPRESENTATIYE.
I hereby announce that I am a candidate for Representative in
Congress for Second Congrcssior. District of Oklahoma, subject to the
approval of the Democrat voters of said district at the Primary election
to be held August, 1910. JOHN J. GERLACH,
to be held August, 2nd 1910.
FOR CORPORATION COMMISSIONER.
I hereby announce my candidacy for Corporation Commissioner,
upon the following platform: "Restore two cent passenger fare and
cheaper freight rates. Encourage capital, but make Standard Oil and
the Corporations give the people a square deal."
Yours for the people,
JOE STRAIN.
HON. J. L. PASCHAL, ONE OF THE STRONG MEMBERS OF
THE FIRST AND SECOND LEGISLATURES, FROM
ROGER MILLS COUNTY, ANNOUNCES HIS
CANDIDACY FOR CHAIRMAN OF THE
STATE BOARD OF AGRI-
CULTURE.
I hereby announce my candidacy for the office of President of the
State Board of Agriculture, subject to the Democratic Primary, August
2d, 1910.
Acting upon tiie theory that the same argument will apply in tho
f lection of a President of our State Board of Agriculture as applies in
the election of a judge of our courts, the Legislature, in creating this
office, provided that it should be filled by a practical farmer. My oc-
cupation being that of farming, and the study I have given to the sub-
ject of Agriculture, qualities me, 1 believe, for this position. I believe
that the general prosperity of the citizenship of Oklahoma depends in a
large measure upon the progress and advancement made by those who
gain a livelihood by agricultural pursuits, and if honored with the nom-
ination and election to this position my best efforts will be directed to-
ward advancing, in every way possible, the agricultural interests of our
state. Respectfully submitted,
J. L. PASCHAL.
I hereby announce that I am a candidate for Judge of the Tenth
Judicial District of Oklahoma, subject to the action of the Demo-
cratic Primary election August 2, 1910.
S. A. CORDELL,
Chandler, Oklahoma.
I hereby announce that I am a candidate for Judge of the
Superior Court of Logan County, on the Republican ticket, subject
to the will of the people at the primaries, August 2 1910.
S. S. LAWRENCE.
Guthrie, Okla.
I hereby announce that I am a candidate or re-election to the
office of District Judge of Hughes County, Oklahoma, subject to the
Democratic Primary August 2, 1910.
• . E. F. MESSENGER,
Holdenville, Oklahoma.
I hereby announce that f am a candidate for Representative of
Washita County, subject to the Democratic Primary August 2, 1910.
THOMAS MASON,
Chanute, Okla.
IT IS
INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS
Pamphlet Will Be Distributed
Throughout Stat/8 Telling Elec
tors How to Act Intelligentlj
on Capital Question—Should Bi
Carefully Studied
Secretary Linn, of (he state electlm
board, in having printed 360,000 co^lex
of a pamphlet upon the proposed stat«
capital location bill which the law re-
quires him to have distributed to th«
voters of the state.
Tills pamphlet contains the official
ballot title on this proposition with In-
structions to tho voter, a full copy of
the proposed bill, hte arguments of the
cltliens of Guthrie and of Shawnee, and
of lion. C':it*pbci! Russell against tho
Mil, and W. A Ledbetter for the same.
Under the provisions of the Initiative
law, It is the duty of the state election
board to distribute through the county
election boards, to the precinct Inspec-
tors In every election precinct of the
state, sufficient copies of this pamphlet
to provide one for every voter in the
precinct.
It Is the duty of the precinct Inspector,
within five days after receiving said
psmphlet. to can a public meeting of
the electors In his precinct and distribute
to them copies of the pamphlet.
This procedure under tho initiative
and referendum law is new to the peo-
ple and very few know anything about
the provisions. Every voter in the staJo
should watch for the public meeting to
be held In his precinct In order that he
may secure official copies of the ballot
title, the bill and the arguments. If he
is not able to be at the meeting he
should call upon his precinct inspector
for one of the pamphlets and see that
his neighbors do likewise.
GAIN A VICTOR!
Holding that the possil.le invalidity
of the proposed amendment frunished
no excuse for the secretary's failure
to file the petitions, the Hupreme court
yesterday, in an opinion by Justice
Hayes, granted the writ of mandamus
usked by Dr. John ThreadgiU, of Ok-
lahoma City, and Henry Braun, of
Guthrie, representing the petitioners,
to compel Secretary of &tate Bill Cross
to llle the initiative petitions for a
proposed local option amendment to
the constitution of the state presented
to him some time ago.
The filings were really held up by
Governor Haskell's refusal to bo pres-
ent, as required by law, on the ground
that the proposed amendment would
be in violation of the enabling act
and the treaties with the Indian tribes,
but the suit is brought against Cross
alone.
The court refuses to consider the
questions as to the validity of the
amendment raised by attorneys for
the secretary of state holding
that his duties are purely min-
isterial in the matter and that the law
is mandatory. When Initiative peti-
tions are presented to tfce secretary, It
is his duty to file them. It is also held
that if tho question of validity were
taken into consideration, it could be
raised only by a person directly af-
fected by tho alleged invalid act.
A strict lino is drawn in regard to
the division of power among the de-
partments of government and it is
held that the duty of determining what
laws shall or shall not be enacted rests
upon neither the executive nor the Ju-
dicial department In regard to the
claim that great expense would be In-
curred unnecessarily if this amend-
ment were adopted and then found to
be invalid, the court states that the
same argument could be applied with
equal, If not greater, force to enjoin-
ing the enactment of an invalid law by
a legislature, as legislative bodies fre-
quently spend much time on laws
which they believe to be valid of which
the courts may later take the opposite
view, but no court would 011 that ac-
count endeavor to restrain action on
such a law in advance of its passage
According to the court's ruling, the
the prohibition question will be re-
submitted to the people of Oklahoma
in the general election in November, if
Governor Haskell does not call a spe-
cial election to vote on the question.
The syllabus of the court says; "In
a mandamus proceeding to compel the
secretary of state to perform the pure-
ly ministerial duty imposed upon him
by statute and the constitution, to file
initiative petition for the submission
of an amendment to the vote of the
people, respondent will not be permit-
ted as a part of his defense, to ques-
tion the validity of the proposed am-
endment on the ground that it is vio-
lative of an act of congress • • * and
for that reason will be void if adopt-
ed."
It is generally understood that sec-
retary Cross, in refusing to receive the
initiative petition, acted upon the sug-
gestion of Governor Haskell. The pe-
tition provides for local option in cit-
ies of the first class, and Governos
Haskell declared. when the petition
was offered, that it would be invalid
because of the provisions of the en-
abling act regarding prohibition.
That IS year old tramp who may rival
Weston now should be a world beater
when he'* as old as the aged hiker.
"A Chicago novelUt has been sent to
an asylum, so far. after all, her booHa
were symptoms," says the Philadelphia
Public Ledger. Likely as not. however,
the asylum Incident will prove a first rate
ad for the novel.
If our wives made our clothes, "put
up" their own fruit and vegetables, did
their own sewing, made their own soap
and candles and did other things which
mother used to do—If «*e kept a few pigs,
milked a cow. sawed our own wood as
father used to do. there would be leas
C iplalnt about high prices. The chief
trouble Is that we all want to live "at
tha top of the heap" and then growl
about the expense ol U.
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Armstrong, J. K. The Farmers Union Advocate (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 12, 1910, newspaper, May 12, 1910; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc98659/m1/5/: accessed May 2, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.