The Weekly Oklahoma State Capital. (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 19, No. 31, Ed. 1 Saturday, November 23, 1907 Page: 3 of 8
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THE WEEKLY OKLAHOMA STATE CAPITAL
11ADY, NOVEMBE
1907.
GOVERNOR HASKELL'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Fellow Citizens—You huve jujt be©n en- i
tcrtjUtied by hearing one of the grandest
national airs, "Tlw SUr Spanfled ban-
ner," rendered by a band composed «f j
those whom among ail have the tlrst right
to the claim of American citizenship, j
They are by blood descendants from tho
great Cherokee nation. They are hero j
not only to bo blended Into the citizenship
of the new state, but I especially welcome
them from among my Immediate neigh-
bors, not only because they are Cherokee*
but because they are children, not one of
them over 16 years of age. pupil* of the
Will taker Orphans' home, one of the sev-
eral very commendable Institutions of the
Cherokee nation, whose great and good
works are evidenced by the skill and In-
telligence of the members of this band. 1
desired them to be present that yoM of
the western part of the new state might
better learn to know the Indians descend-
ant from these great nations of the east,
and knowing them, respect and honor
th&m as full and equal citizens of the
new state.
THE BUREAUCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
When the sun rose this morning ana its
brilliant rays spitad over our land, 1*.
found forty-ttve sovereign states between
tl.e two great oceans. The sun will set to-
night and its last rays will Ugh; a grander
federation composed of forty-six sover-
eign states, in its course through tiie
day the sun will have lighted the path-
way of a million and a hulf people emerg-
ing fiom the disorder and the discontent
of bureaucratic government, restricted to
the point of helplessness and neglected tj
the .limit of oppression, Into a condition
of liberty and self-government. Bureau-
cratic government at its very best Is lm-
potidlble of perfection or of justice to -he
people. Appointive officers from the day
long prior to King Edward 111 to modern
days of Ethan Alien, The Worst, have
been a failure, and a bright occasional
! star upon the payroll, has always been
' the welcome exception, but never equal to
the (Jesire*) of a free citizenship, but a
' bureaucratic government at Its worst is
: enough to ft. any free people for
r the most enthusiastic appreciation of its
exit. Statehood Is the natural herltago
of the American people; not a condition
'to be obtained as the beggar seeks alms;
but a legal right subject only to condl-
•liens Justifying It, a right obtained at the
' price of blood, shed by our forefathers.
'And wl hin our great Louisiana purchase
[we have an additional right. The great
: Napoleon, autocrat though he may have
■ been, had shown to the people of the
> Louisiana purchase an evidence of a -apirl'
'of freedom and Justice that must have
burned within hie breast, and that spirit
; within the breast of the great emperor
took the form of deiinite language In the
treaty by which the Louisiana area was
i annexed to the original United States, for
In that treaty it was stipulated that the
, citizens within that area and their de-
scendants and those who might Join them
| should be recognized as full and equal
• citizens of the United States, and as rap-
J Idly as portions of that purchase should
bccome reasonably populated, should be
[ entitled to form their sovereign states
and join the federation of states on full
'and equal terms. With this double rijht
to statehood, we are not assembled here to
worship the public officer who ultimately
• conceded us our rights, particularly when
we reflect that long ago from every stand
point of population, wealth and lnteill
gence this area wus enttfled to all the
blessing and privileges of statehood, and
row to thank the public officers in over-
gracious terms who have Anally perform-
ed a long and unjustly deferred duty
would be In the nature of hugging t"
feet of a dilatory deba.er who finally
pays his Just indebtedness.
CONGRESS HAD NO AUTHOR-
ITY TO FIX TERMS.
True Americans agree upon one propo-
sition, namely, the United States stands
uuited as against the world, but there
are subjects on which some of us differ.
There are those who look upon the state
as a mere creature of the federal govern-
ment. and subject to absolute and unre-
stricted domination of the federal govern-
ment, even to the point where Its bound-
ary lines, Its separate existence, may be
wiped away at the will of the federal
government, but the best friends of fed-
eral government, of whom I claim to be
one, make no such pretensions. We rec-
ognize that the several states, of the
union are the indissoluble units of natural
existence from which every power that
the federal government has must be de-
rived. These states are the source of all
power. They originally created the fed-
eral government as a compact, through
which united action and representation
could Lb hud Fully rialUlt'g that unite J
the states would form one pow erf ul,
grand and efficient government for mu-
tual protection and Influence, therefore
they cast their lot together; they framed
the cunstltulon which was the only source
of power Invested In the federal author-
ities. Ihe states mutually agreed between
one another thai this federal constitution,
huvlng been glvon by the states, should
fortver te subject to change, amendment
or alteration by the states, hence if you
are looking for the scource of govern-
ment authority today It Is vested,
not in the agent—the federal au-
thorities—but in three fourths of the
states of the union, and the disposition to
aboiisn state llnc« In a fanciful theory,
merely, and can liave no place, In view
the fact that three-fourths of the
states must consent to any enlargement
of power upon the paj-t of the federal
agency, and although Oklahoma becomes
one of the federation of states long yeara
after the original compact, it enters that
federation with the fullest powers and
privileges enjoyed by any of its sisters of
riper years. Congress had authority to
tlx the date when Oklahoma might enter
Ine union; it had no authority to fix any
terms other than those of absolute equal-
ity. 1 have gone somewhat at length
into this question, because of the agitation
throughout the length and breadth of the
United States today touching various
matters pertaining to this question.
THE CONSTITUTION OF
TI IK UNITED STATES.
From the beginning of free government
charter or a constitution has been
adopted and the controlling Influence of
Uiat government Is the voice of the people
commanding all representatives thereafter
oho sen and serving the public, to obey
the will of the people aj expressed in the
constitution. It is with regret that we
notice a disposition on the part of some
iiigh in authority to look upon the consti-
tution of the United States itself as even
u little thing, to be used when it meets
the wish of its extcutor, and to be con-
strued arm bended when at variance with
hU will. And I say to you, my fellow
citizens, that there Is no more dangerous
practice to be tolerated in any public of-
,1cer, i care not whether he bend it for a
good or for a bad purpose, than to as-
sume the right to construe the constitu-
tion from time to time to meet his own
desires. If the constitution may be bend-
ed for a good purpose to meet the wish
of a righteous executive, It may be
bended tomorrow to suit the wish
of an evil minded one. It is the
principle of an elastic construe-
Jon of the organic law that makes the
principle; one to be condemned and pro-
scribed. If time so changes conditions
tnat a ftate constitution does not men
the Just requirements of tne people, then
present that fact to the people and let
theni change it by their own wil if they
desire. If the constitution of the United
States does not meet the demands of
modern times, then submit tho necessary
amendments to the slates and amend it if
three-fourths of the statej are willing to
do so. I repeat that you can destroy
the principles of a free government for a
good purpose just as quickly as you can
destroy them for an evil purpose. Your
constitution ceases to be the voice of tlie
people when it must yield to the whims of
any officer or .set of officers.
LET THE FEOFLE RULE.
Than, if we are right that tne provisions
of the constitution of the United States
shall be respected until changed by the
states, we are ready to consider the pro-
priety of the changes threatened by indi-
vidual construction. Shall the federal
government authorize the creation of cor-
porations through its powers and influ-
tnccs; shall interstate railroads be grant
ed federal charters to the extent of de-
priving the states of home control to the
extent that that control now exists? In
both particulars we say emphatically, no.
And we would plant our flag on the firs;
protest which would be made. So long
°s we do not elect United States senators
hy direct vote of the people, that long at
least shall the states reserve unto them-
selves the right to protect their people
against the improper encroachments of
corporate wealth and that power that
goes with wealth. There are other rea-
sons. but this one, to my mind, would
be insurmountable so long as It exists.
An illustration of the Inefficiency of fed-
eral control on these questions can best
oo given by calling attention to ttio
practices within the area *hlch Is now
tne state of Oklahoma. Those anxious to
centralize this power to coutrol; in the
federal government, and ad\ ise us to
trust our fortunes and our happiness to
federal control, must blush when they re-
view the conditions under which we havo
lived for years. Our freight rates are
double those In the adjoining states. The
lumber trust, the coal trust and other
like combinations have fattened by unre-
stricted robbery of our people. If federal
control is such a good thing in a state,
why has it proven so utterly Inefficient
in a territory? Let us pray for the res-
ervation within the hands of the people of
ihonia of the right to govern them-
selves to the fullest extent that the teach-
ings of Washington and Jefferson con-
templated, we should have when they cre-
ated and defended the constitution of the
United States. Let the day never come
when the power to protect the people ihall
be concentrated in a small aggregation
of men assembled at ~ur far-off national
capital, where the combined pow< r and
Influence of the corporations of the Uni-
ted States can concentrate their efforts
on this single governing power. The peo-
ple may at times commit an error, but
the people Invariably right their ship,
trim Its sails and launch forth upon a s';a
of justice and equality of flieir own
creation; therefore, let us ever worship
the motto, "Let the people rule," and to
let the people rule you must keep the gov-
ernment close to the people, and free
from centralization. Concentrate the pow-
er of government In the hands of a few
and you give concentrated opposition to
good government the opportunity it has
sought for many generations.
GOVERNMENT A BUSI-
NESS PROPOSITION.
The farmer Is a business man, the
laborer is a business man. Those engaged
in finances, commerce, manufacturing,
mining or transportation, are business
men, each and all. and In the aggregato
they must for stability and prosperity de-
pend upon their government. Clearly then
we agiee that government itseif Is a
business proposition, requiring the appli-
cation of business experience, of business
sense, of business judgment, a^ absolutely
free as possible from petty politics and
political intrigue, no more tie proper sub-
ject of favoritism than is the business of
the bank itself. We have but to look
around us, weigh our own experiences of
reccnt years and the conclusion is inevit-
ably upon us that we have gone through
llmost half a score of years, deluded by
words, simply words! but not blessed by
deeds or action. Fully do we realize that
one, inad with a love for military dis-
play. for the ringing sound of fierce dec-
laration unmindful o fthe value of a
dollar, whether the dollar lie In his private
pocket or the public treasury, naturally
leads our country to the very brink of
commercial destruction. The declarations
have been so emphatic that in the absence
of reflection we are apt to imagine that
something has actually been accomplish-
ed. My credulous friends, If you believe
you have had deeds along with the ava-
lanche of words, I should be glad to see
those deeds enumerated.
IMPRISONMENT OF INDIVIDUALS,
NOT FINES. THE REMEDY.
The last six years has witnessed the
multiplying of trusts and monopolies, of
illegal and burdensome combinations, op-
pressing the people to such an extent as
to make that which existed prior thereto
look insignificant, and yet there has been
during these years no dearth of pleasing
woids and fierce declarations, i^t us
hope for the day when the spectacular
will bo employed less, and honest conduct
of corporate business be assured. This
country with its multitude of interest!,
each one in part dependent upon the
others, has become too great to be the
plaything of the novice in business or
statesmanship. The recent assessment of
a fine of $29,000,000 against one of the
business corporations of our country,
while spectacular to a degree, was more
far-reaching In Its ii effects than the in-
experienced author ever imagined. Aw
a punishment to the offender it was
nothing. The real offender might ulti-
mately escape this tremendous money
■fine. At most, that corporation would
ultimately collect the money from the
people of the country and laugh at the
punishment sought to be Imposed upon
them. To have given the particular offic-
ial who offended again at the laws of the CURRENCY DUE THEM FROM THEIR t
land a penitentiary sentence of a year or EASTERN CORRESPONDENTS. There |
more, would have been real punishment U no Just occasion in this great produc-
whlch he could not have assessed against j mg area of the southwest for auy lucon-
the consumer of the product they market v enience whatever, l^t the eastern banks
but this enormous tine proves a punish- pay our Oklahoma banks what they owe
inent to the people of our eohntry in two them, and should pay In currency on
ways—ftrst. hey contribute to its JMky- {demand, and we can market our product
ment b an Increased price on oil, second
startled the whole financial world; It
said to every man and woman on earth
who has a dollar to invest in the securi-
ties of American property, tliat there Is
power vested In somebody to annihilate
the assets of any business concern in
America, no matter how great that vol-
ume of assets may be, and this fear of
annihilation absolutely destroyed the con-
fidence of the investing public in every
business enterprise of the United States.
They say to themselves, if a 139,000.000
now ready for the buyer, and vastly in-
our own wealth. But the hand of
the dictator is upon them and upon us.
power that has practically controlled
our circulating medium with equal arro-
gance today refuses to pay the obllga-
jns due our banks. And why? Becaube
long drawnout siege on the New York
ock exchange has brought that great
hnanclul center to a point of great need
of currency. It has placed the New York
banker in a frame of mind where he sees
no possibility of letting go the cash *toi.,u
fine may be imposed confiscating the as- in his vaults because of the possibility of
sets of one cqrporatlon today, a dozen j needing money for the stock exchange,
lines may be imposed tomorrow and there [Tnls condition is not unlike the gambler
he no end of destruction of business in-
terests and enterprises. Inspiring confi-
dence In the people is not a question of
the enforcement of criminal law. When a
corporation violates the law that viola-
tion Is necessarily the act of some Indi-
vidual officer of the corporation. We
may punish that offending officer. A
fix e ycarfc* sentence in the penitentiary
would have accomplished more good than
a ^9.000,000 fine and the real offender
would have paid the penalty and public
confidence would not have been strained
In tlx> least. Some other officer wouht
have taken his place, thus the gap would
have been filed and the world would have
moved on and the personal punishment of
the offending officer would have deterred
others from law breaking in the future.
You can look wherever you please for tho
cause of this senseless and uncalled for
panic. You will trace It back to this non-
sensical conduct of a radical and spec-
tacular government.
Y'ou can look for Immediate relief
wherever you please. When you tire of
looking elsewhere you will agree with
me that tho quickest road to financial
relief is close the New York stock ex-
change, and free the currency that It
dominates and turn It Into the channels
of le>;ltimate commerce.
BANKS HONESTLY CONDUCTED.
We are today confronting a condition
In the financial affairs of our country that
fully Justifies me taking a few moments
of your time for consideration. The finan-
ces fully know at all times that the
volu.ne of our currency Is so small com-
pared with the volume of financial trans-
actions that necessarily commercial busi-
ness in our country Is a question of con-
fidence. Our circulating medium is such
a small piutnt of the whole volume oi
financial transactions tliat contldence must
give value to an artificial medium, and
whenever the value of a bank check or
d'.ait is questioned and tho public mind
is doubting or agitated, there is nothing
left iu American commerce but financial
panic and distrv s. Far too often the peo-
ple distrust the bankers, and I regret to
sa ythat fur too often in recent years our
government over-estimates tho patriotism
of our ilonmating bankers and that over-
confidence on the part of our government
permits the great bankers of the country
who u -e in; 1.lied to manipulate or control
our financial plan, to the end tliat that
Influence becomes a source of profit to
them. But, fellow citizens, let nuj dls-
liguiahed. The hanks of our -own state
belong to the class of local business con-
venUrces. They are indlspe'unblo to our
convenience and prosperity. They are
honestly and reliably conducted, and en-
tilled to your confidence and support.
The class of banks that dominates the
plan of finances of our country are certain
of the great Institutions of the financial
centers where by their Ingenuity and In-
fluencing the financial plan profit them-
selves, and In this a minimum amount of
circulating medium affords them the op-
portunity for private gain. As a result
such a condition as we have In finance
today is possible. Contemplate our con-
denying his children the price of a loaf of
bread for fear that his stake upon the
table, no matter how great the amount,
might suffer from the depletion.
CLOSE THE NEW YORK
STOCK EXCHANGE?.
Close the New York stock exchange for
ninety days and turn tho money-now
trembling there for fear it may bo needed
—Into the channels of legitimate com-
merce and you can market more than one
hundred million dollars of American prod-
ucts now waiting for shlpnuf to foreign
shores and place our country on the road
to prosperity which the natura! conditions
of this year entitle us to ride In freedom
and contentment. 1 notice that our presi-
dent eliminates tho expression "In God
We Trust" from tlie proposed Issue of
American coin. We agree that one of two
things In this connection was eminently
proper, either take the control of our
financial system out of tho hands of the
gamblers and the money changers of the
east, or withdraw from the coin of the
realm the name of Almighty God. Rut I
do not insist tliat it' the financial plan of
the United States Is restored at any time
In the future to the control of the people
that It will then be exceedingly proper
to resume to the practice of endorsing on
the coin of the country that sacred ex-
pression. "In God We Trust." BUT
ABOVE ALL THINGS. MY FELLOW
CITIZENS. REM EM HER THIS, THAT
IN RELATION TO THE RANKS OF OK-
LAHOMA YOU MUST EXERCISE GOOD
s HZNSB AND DISCRETION. IF TOO
WERE TO LOSE YOUR HEAD AND
YOUR SENSES AND GO PI-LI, MELL
AFTER THE HANKS OF THE COUN-
TRY THE VERY FACT THAT THE
CIRCULATING MEDIUM OF THE UNI-
TED STATES IS SUCH A SMALL PART
OF THIC TOTAL LEGAL AND G*ECK
CURRENCY OF OUR COUNTRY THAT
DISASTER WOULD HE HOUND TO
FOLLOW NO MATTER HOW HONS8T
EVERY BANK IN THE COUNTRY
MIGHT BE. AND DESTROY CROP
PRICES AND PROPERTY VALUES AS
WELL AS THE BANKS. 1 understand
that there Is some agitation as to the
policy of the state of Oklahoma In rela-
tion to the million dollars cash variously
deposited to the credit of the state. Rest
assured of one thing, that so far as my
own official vote may have influence, I
am In favor of resting on good security
which the state may have, and thus avoid
disturbing the financial condition of our
slate until such time as the gamblers of
Wall street may be able to spare money
enough to pay the west what they owe
ft. I want it to be distinctly understood
that there are many honorable and patri-
otic bankers In the east, but I am only
I contending that the class which lives by
simulation upon governmental privileges
land upon the gambling of stock exchanges
j and inflation and frenzied finance should
i have their methods corrected and their
I opportunities destroyed.
I ON THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
I A few features of our constitution I be-
lieve should have some mention for tho
i influence ui>on the minds of those whose
A GAME OF FINANCE THAT I attention we especially desire. The people
IS IN JURIOUS—RUINOUS. ,nf Oklahoma Territory, and I speak of
THERE IS NO SENSE OR JUSTICE j those who are justly entitled to class
IN THE FINANCIAL STRESS IN THE {themselves among the great element eall-
80UTHWEBT TODAY. OUR STATE j ed "t!,e common people." I do not segre-
AND THE SURROUNDING STATES!'"110 humanity Into classes biased upon
ARE FULL OF PRODUCTIONS OF | difference In wealth and education. I
GREAT VALUE. THE WORLD NEEDS J segregate them only into the class which
OUR PRODUCTS AND AT A GOOD fives upon the fruits of their own honest
PRICE. WE HAVE THE WEALTH, effort on the one hand, and the class that
OUR BANKS HAVE MILLIONS OF I alms to live by graft, greed or monopoly
upon tho other, and I repeat that the
ommon people of Oklahoma do not seek
to oppress anybody, but they are deter-
mined that nobody shall oppress them.
The people can be trusted to deal Justly
with the great jrporatlons of Oklahoma.
WE WANT THESE CORPORATIONS IN
OUR MIDST. WE HAVE SIX THOU-
SAND MILES OF RAILROAD AND WE
WANT SIX THOUSAND MORE.
We have great mining and oil Interests
and we want them extended. We have
some manufacturing Interests, and we
want thom increased many fold to the
nd that our row material may b« made
i source of profit and that we may furnish
labor and create a deuutnd for the com-
und the product of the mill and
ihe factory.
We have commercial Interests, and we
ant them vsstlj expanded.
Oklahoma will protect every dollar of
money Invested within Its Iwrders and
not only In its original volume, but In the
acquisition of reasonable profits; but one
hundred dollars in actual value never dl 1
create an honest million dollar company
in any country. And It should not be
permitted to creatc one In Oklahoma. Let
the people know the true Inward work-
ings of these artificial beings which are
born only with the consent of the people.
Let the peoplo understand what these
companies are doing and what they are
composed of, and the people can be trust-
ed to glvo them every right tliat the
possessor of an honest dollar has any
reason to demand.
THE 2-CENT RAILROAD FARE
Among other provisions of our law as
it has existed since statehood began, is
one that says that railroads shall not
charge In excess of two cents a mile for
transporting passengers. That is tho law
this minute, and 1 sincerely hope thai
every railroad in the state will respect
this law without further effort. There
ta a provision of which any railroad just
aggrieved may avail Itself, namely It
may apply to the'corporation commission
and if it can show -that a two cent fare
reduces such company below a reasonable
earning capacity, the corporation commis-
sion is bound to except that road from
tho provision of the two cent fare for the
t'me being. I mention this in the hope
thai the railroad companies will earn the
dshlp and good will of the people of
Oklahoma by showing from their own
conduct that they are not wilful law-
breakers. it is very possible that one
extreme is Induced by an opposite ex-
treme. The railroad companies want a
fair chance for their life and their ln«
vestment; that they want to stand fair
and square before the courts of Okla-
homa; that they want to feel that Justice
Is not only due them but that they will
receive Justice at the hands of the courts
and the other officers of Oklahoma. And
I want to assure them that such will be
tiie spirit of the governor of Oklahoma.
Hut 1 hope that the railroads will assumo
that official conduct In Oklahoma Is like
unto a court of equity where Justice Is
to be meted out to all and that these
•ahroads expecting Justice In that court
of equity should enter that court with
their own hands clean, and to make them
clean I trust they will begin by obeying
tho laws of Oklahoma. And what Is true
of the passenger fare Is true In a vastly
greater sense of the railroad freight rates,
the furnishing of cars and other conveni-
ences for iranspoi ting freight, and I have
hope, and will continue to hope, that the
managers of these railroads understand
that the degree of carelessness which
public officers have exercised in Okla-
homa In years past has ended. And that
there 13 a now era in governmental affairs
in this state wherein we should have i
new motto, and It should read, "Between
the corporations and the people let there
be peace." A peace of a character, how-
ever, which can only be based upon Jus-
tice to both sides.
LET THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE PREVAIL.
Let the will of the people prevail. By
a majority of more than 18,000 votes the
people of Oklahoma have declared in favor
of state wide prohibition. That Is now
the law In this state, not placed In our
constitution as a political requirement,
nor for merely sentimental purpose^ be-
cause a majority of our people frtllevs
morning's sun rises and forever thereafter
us lcng us this luw shall be the will of
our people, that there will be no one
within our borders disposed to violate
this law because that violation is bound
to meet with, the punishment prescribed
in the luw.
THE FLAG MEANS MORE TO US
THAN TO ANY OTHER STATE.
I have alre-tdy trespassed upon your time
We are here not so much for speech ai
you are assembled to celebrate this day
of Oklahoma's liberty, the duy when we
can raise the flag of our united country
and feel In our hearts the i«ride of Amer-
ican citizenship, and let us remember now,
fellow citizens, that when we gaze upon
these beautiful stars and stripes that it
has for us in Oklahoma every feeling of
pride and sentiment that it has for the
people of any other state in the union,
and more. It means more to oklahoma
than it does to any other state. With ue
Its colors are emblematic of other facts,
it reminds us that ti.e state of oklahoma
THE I I Its | OF ALL THE STATES*
OF THE UNION CARVED OUT OF AN
AREA THE PROPERTY OF THE NA-
TIVE AMERICAN WITHOUT IiAVJ.NO
DRIVEN THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN
OWNERS FROM ITS BORDERS OR
U'JRIEu THEM HBNEATH THE SOD.
The right of conquest may be a legal
right, but God knows It has seldom ever
been an honest source of title, oklahoma
is the exception to the rule, "to the victor
belongs tiie spoils." We are the first state
where the original American, the owners
of the soli, remained In large numbers as
free and equal citizens with their whits
neighbors and took part In the formation
and control of tho state government
These nations that upon the laws of con-
gress have the distinction of being named
as the "civilized tribes," are uniting witu
their white neighbors on the grounds of
legal equality Therefore the added pride
In the flag of our country. We find the
widte stripes emblematic of the White
race, we find the stripes of red emble-
matic of the red race and uniting them
beneath tiie field of azure blue we Join
heart and hand, the red and the white
man, in saying glory, glory! Long live
the state of Oklahoma.
Let us have an administration of worth/
deeds and not of empty words.
J. J. McAlester,
Corporation Commissions.
WERE PEES TOO HIGH?
Special to the State Capital.
Tulsa. I. T., No. 1G—E. R. Kemp a*
urator of the estate of Jack McConnell,
a wealthy young oil man wh j died nine
months ago; today filed a bill of excep-
tions to the fees awarded Lswrenoe ami
Gormley. a law firm of ihi* city, for va-
rious services rendered relative to proper-
ties left to minor children by the de-
ceased. For effecting a compromise to-
fore the department of ihe interior In
the Ernest Clayton lease in the Glenn
pool Lawrence and Gormley were award-
ed a bill of $4,200 when tho property, It
Is claimed Is valued at but $10,000. The
curator chargcs the price of services in
various Instances were far too high, but
the fees were awarded by the federal
that, humanity vslll bo bettered by Having 1 court upon recommendation of tho mater
such a law and by having It enforced, in chancery. Lawrence and Gormley
I stand here today as one of your officers I were attorneys for the administrator of
to assure you that that law wi4 be en-(Interest owing to the prominenca of all
, forced, and I hope that when tomorrow fhe parties concerned.
HASKELL TAKES OATH OF OFFICE AT HIGH NOON;
IMMENSE CROWD WITNESS INAUGURAL CEREMONIES
THE WEDDING
MATED
With Solemn Rite Oklahoma
and Indian Territory Are
Dnited-The State Officers
Inducted Into Office
members of the administration to be,
reached the library a few minutes before
twelve. They were escorted In the side
entrance on the west. The crowd saw
them come and let out a noisy welcome.
CROWD WELCOMES HASKELL
When Mr. Haskell appeared through the
biff doors on the platform a great shout
went up from the thousand of throat
below him. Coming from the darkened in-
011 a woden platform constructed over
the steps at the south entrance.
For an hour before nooa the street -n
fiont of the building was packed. Men.
women and children stood patiently on
the brick pavement waiting for the ar-
rival of the governor's party. The steps,
Which are high above the sidewalk anl
street, were decorated with flags and on
the platform rested two huge bouquets
of chrysanthemums.
Mr. Haskell and escort, and the other
terlor of the building the sun light for a
moment dazzled the govornor-elect. He
quickly lowered Ills head and as he bllnk-
The new state is.
With solemn grandeur the youngest
member of the union was brought Into
being, at ti c'clock yesterday morning,
when the proclamation admitting Okla-
homa and Indian Territory Into the* union
cams hurtling over the wiie from the na-
tional capital. Three hours later the new
etute officers had been sworn In and
the new regime was fairly launched on
its voyage.
The new* of the signing of the consti-
tution and issuing the presidential proc-
lamation was received by a great demon-
stration of enthusiasm. Bells rung,
wlilstlwh blew und people took occasion
to show, the feeling that imbued the
great crowd.
The ceremony Incident to administering
the oath to Governor-elect diaries N.
Haskell and tiie remaining state officers
wad carried out at tiie Carnegie library,
Hon. T. P. Gore,
United States Senator.
plained, would propose marriage on be-
half of Oklahoma to Miss Indian Ter-
ritory.
The "bridgroom" not one whit abashed
took his place in the center of the plat-
form and began his abbreviated wooing
with a knowing nod in the direction of
the spectators.
"I have been asked," he said "to per-
form tiie agreeable duty of proposing the
marriage of Oklahoma to the Indian Ter-
ritory. Permit me to say that nothing
gives me greater pleasure, as the presi-
dent advises us In his proclamation that
the marriage will be strictly legal, wlth-
lltion, or previous
Th
jars old, bi
bridge
is
is
ly
„ .apable of assuming
jail the matrimonial responsibilities of a
talwart youth. Though he was born In
trouble ln tribulation. In the city of
Washington In 18M. his life of 18 years
on the plains has been one of tremendous
LESLIE G. NIBLACK.
Who administered the oath of office
to Governor Haskell.
ed his eyes to shut out the sudden llgnt
he smiled at the moving mass of faces
that stretched for a block below him.
He bowed right and left, apparently de-
lighted with the reception. After a few
moments he stepped hack into the crowd
and Judge Frank Dale, chairman of the
executive committee of the inaugural
ceelbratlon, walked to the front of the
srage.
STATEHOOD PROCLAMATION READ
In a few words he Introduced Charles
Filson, secretary of the territory of Ok-
lahoma, who read the presidential procla-
mation. The crowd received the formal an
nouncement of the creation of the state
with the utmost good will.
MARRIAGE PROPOSED
When the applause had died down
Judge Dale Introduced C. G. Jones, the
Oklahoma City politician, who, he ex-
Hon. Robert L. Owen,
United States Senator.
with the courtship and at first tried to
break up the match. But having failed to
do so, and tired of the loneliness of sin-
gle blessedness, she gracefully surrender-
ed to the inevitable, and has ever since
been in favor of the marriage.
"By authority vested In me by the
high contracting parties, and in obedi-
ence to their request, I now call upon Rev
W. H. Dodson of the First Baptist church
of Guthrie, to perform the rnarriuge ccre-
mon."
THE PROPOSAL ACEPTED
The response, for the blushing bride,
was made by W. A. Durant of Durant,
I. T., a full blood Indian. His formal
acecptance was as follows::
MURDERER ARRAIGNED
John Hopkins Seems to Have Regaon*
ed His Senses
Special to the State Capital.
Lawton, Nov. 18.—John Hopkens wh®
murdered Ills wife by forcing carbolio
acid down her throat and crushing he*
skull was arranged before Justice Arm-
strong today and bound over to answer
the charge of murder. He waived pre-
liminary and did not even ask for an at-
torney. Hopkins is in good health and
his mental condition seems to be normal.
No statement has come from hi ln regard
to the affair since he told Sheriff Ham-
monds that he did not remember any-
thing about what occurred the awful
evening.
Hon. Charles D. Carter.
Congressman Fourth District.
activity, and he has grown to the size of
a giant. Like every well-regulated mas-
culine Individual he has grown ti fed of
being alone, though he was fairly cap-
able of taking care of hlmseif. Strange to
say, on account of his youth and Inex-
perience he Is possessed of an uncon-
querable modesty and he has asked me
to propose marriage with the Indian Ter-
ritory.
A RIVAL FRUSTRATED
"Out of sympathy for the young bach-
elor, I now propose to the Indian Terri-
tory, who I am assured is matriomonlal-
ly Inclined, that the proposal be accepted,
and that the union be consumated hero
and now. It should be understood, how-
ever, that nothing should be said about
the age of the bride. It is a case when
youth and age are to be blended togeth-
er in harmonious union, and that under
the constitution and laws of divorce can
ever be granted. This Is not exactly a
case of love at flr3t eight. A lady by the
name of SaquoytLh, at one time interfered
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Greer, Frank H. The Weekly Oklahoma State Capital. (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 19, No. 31, Ed. 1 Saturday, November 23, 1907, newspaper, November 23, 1907; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metapth352552/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.