THE CHICKASAW NEWS 29Nov1906:
Guthrie - The constitutional convention has taken a decided stand against the presence and work of lobbyists, of which there are a host here and planning to arrive this week.
The convention Friday (23Nov1906)passed a resolution asking for the apprehension and conviction of all lobbyists. The actioncame as a bombshell to the liquor and railroad interests. Later they pointed out that it will also operate against the anti-saloon, suffrage, and county seat lobbyists.
After hearing an address by Judge Henry Shephard of South McAlister, urging the sale of the segregated lands, surface seperate from the mineral rights, and the sale of town sites to the persons now settled there. The convention authorized a committee to draft a memorial to congress in the matter.
The sentiment seemed to be favorable to state ownership of the mineral rights at least, and possibly to stae ownership of the fee in the lands.
"Thirty thousand people are now living on them," said Judge Shepard. "If these people are not protected in their improvements, they will be turned into the world penniless."
R.L. Williams, in making the motion for the committee, said that the railways were looking on the mineral lands with greedy eyes, plotting the accomplishment of a monoply.
At the farmers' union caucus it was decided to act within the parties. The protest of the party leaders had been great at the inner organization of the 50 farmer delegates. They will act as farmer' union groups in each party, however.
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Guthrie---The constitutional convention adjourned Friday evening (23Nov1906) until Monday when President Murry completed his announcments of committee appointments and the full machinery of the convention was set in motion. The committee on rules was named, however, before adjournment, and is as follows, with Chairman Murray as ex-officio member:Hays of Chickasha, King of Newkirk, Pittman of Enid, Sandlin of Prague, Johnson of Perry, and Hopkins of Muskogee.
The following appointments were also announced and confirmed:
Postmaster - S.O. Daws
Mail Carrier - Jno. M. Day
Chief official stenographers and reporters - A.R. Taylor and L.A. Applizer
Committee stenographers - G.E. Stork, Harry Stoneman
Messenger - James Thomas
Minute clerk - O.D. Harper
Journal clerk - E.C. Patten
Enrollment and Engrossing clerk - R.E.L. Baghy
Door keepers - J.A. McClain, M. Clark
Cloakroom Attendants - J.O. Williams, C.O. Meeks
Ushers - J.M. Miller, J.N. Murray
Day Watchmen - Mike O'Brien
Night Watchmen - Con Harrington
Secretary to President - L.T. Russell
Pages - Lon Smith, Geo. Kelly, Frank Burke, Harold Hays, Ed Gault, Robert E. Jackson, Walter Beadles.
Thursday's (22Nov1906) session was called to order at 10 o'clock a.m. and the rool call showed all delegates present except seven. Delegate W.C. Hughes of Oklahoma City was sworn in at his sick bed by Chairman Murray.
The convention went into a committee of the whole and additional committees were provided for and following is the full list of committees recomended and adapted: Rules and Regulations, 7 members; preamble and bill of Rights, 11 members; federal relations, 9 members; judicial departments, 15 members; legislative department, 15 members; executive department, 15 members; suffrage, 15 members; education, 15 members; agriculture, 15 members; immigration, 15 members; crimes and punishment, 9 members; private corporations, 15 members; railroads and public service corporations, 15 members; revenue and taxation, 15 members; municipal corporations, 15 members; public insittutions and state buildings, 15 members; road and internal improvements, 15 members; privileges and elections, 15 members; enrolling and engrossing, 7 members; salaries and public officers, 11 members; mines and mining, 15 members; labor and arbitration, 15 members; banks and banking, 9 members; homestead and exemptions, 11 members; state relations, 9 members; counties and county boundries, 15 members; state and school lands, 15 members; legislative apportionment, 15 members; judicial apportionment, 15 members; printing and reporting, 7 members; liquor traffic, 15 members; manufacturing and commerce, 11 members; ordinances, 9 members; county organization and government, 9 members; accounts and expenses, 9 members; compilation and arrangement, 11 members; state militia, 9 members; general provisions, 9 members. Geological survey, impeachment and removal from office, insurance schedule, public debt and public works, public health and sanitation, and a special committee of nine members to hear and determine wgatever election contests may come before the convention.
C.N. Haskell, who never passes up th opportunity to inject a little humor into to the the proceedings, moved as an amendment that the impeachment and removal committee be numbered 23, and that the labor and arbitration committee be changed from that number to No. 40 on the list.
Thursdays (22Nov1906) session was featured by the voting down of a resolution to invite Col. Henry Watterson, editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal, to visit and address the convention, and the hard fight required to carry a resolution inviting Senator Joe Bailey of Texas. The Bailey resolution carried by a vote of 46 to 33. The convention then reconsidered its action in the Watterson case and voted to extend the invitation.
The following invitations were by unanimous vote of the convention: President Roosevelt, Col. Moore, president of the National Good Roads Association; O.B. Colquitt, railroad commissioner of Texas; Senator R.M. LaFollette of Wisconsin; Congressman John Sharp Williams of Mississippi; William J. Bryan of Nebraska; Senator Ben Tillman of South Carolina; and all the United States senators who are now visiting Indian Territory investigating the segregated coal land conditions. There were many cries of "No" when the invitation of Senator Bailey was read, and it escaped slaughter only by a majority of thirteen votes. Senator LaFollette is requested to speak on railway regulations. Delegate Hausen of Coweta protested against the invitation to Watterson because he bolted Bryan in 1896. The Watterson invitation carried with it one to Senator Ben Tillman of South Carolina.
Organization.
The first real fight of the convention was disposed of the evening before the convention opened,(19Nov1906) in the selection of "Alfalfa Bill" Murray of Tishomingo for president, by the democratic caucus. His principal opponents were W.C. Hughes of Oklahoma City, and Pete Hanraty of South McAlester. The Hughes forces threw their support to Hanraty finally, but to no avail. Mr. Murray had 60 votes to 26 for Hanraty.
The republican minority gave Phillip Hopkins of Muskogee the honor of the nomination for president.
Peter Hanraty was named for vice president, and John Young of Lawton, secretary.
After his election had been announced, Mr. Murray made a brief speech of acceptance, saying that the nineteenth had always been his lucky day and that he had never failed in anything on that day. He also refered to the fact that he had been married on that day.
His speech declared strongly against corporations and for seperate coaches and schools.
A very elaborate reception and ball was given in honor of the delagates at the Elks club rooms with Governor Frantz leading the grand march.The rooms were beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the reception was very largely attended, in spite of the inclement weather. A buffet luncheon was served at 9:30 o'clock and dancing began at 10:30.
The convention formally opened at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday, November 20, With Delagate H.S. Johnson of Perry in the chair.
In calling the convention to order, Mr. Johnston made a brief address very befitting the occasion, and following that, on a motion by W.J. Caudill of Granite, seconded by R.L. Williams of Durant. Delegate J.S. King was made temporary chairman and was escorted to the platform by Delegate Williams of Durant, Rose of Blackwell, and Caudill of Granite. In accepting the honor Mr. King delivered a brief address. On motion of Luke Roberts of Olustee, John M. Young of Lawton was named secretery of the temporary organization.
Governor Frank Frantz entered the hall at this moment and was called to the platform by the demand for a speech. He responded briefly, saying:
"I am proud to stand before this constitutional convention. I desire to assure you of a hearty welcome from the territory and of the hearty co-operation of the territorial officers. I wish you all a very successful convention."
Chief Justice Burford was sent for and the oath of office was administered tothe delagates.
The convention then proceeded to the election of permenant officers with the result agreed to in the democratic caucus of the previous day. Mr. Murray for president received ?7 votes to 11 for Hopkins. The latter voted for Murray.
Other officers elected were: W.A. Durant, sergeant-at-arms, and D.C. Oates of Alva, assistant sergeant-at-arms.
The convention unanimously adopted the resolution presented by Henry E. Asp of Guthrie, seconded by Harrison of Indian Territory, asking for a committee of ten to be named by the president to confer with the disbursing officers of the convention, to ascertain how far short will fall the congressional appropriation in the enabling act for defraying the expenses of the constitutional delegate election, with the end in view of presenting a memorial to congress for more funds. It is believed that an additional $50,000 will be necessary.
Second Days Session
The feature of Wednesdays (21Nov1906) session of the constitutional convention was a warm fight for states rights. The incident originated in the introducion of a resolution by Delegate Baker of Wewoka, providing, that in order to comply with section three of the enabling act, the convention proceed to declare on behalf of the people of the new state that they accept the constitution of the United States as the supreme and paramount law of the state of Oklahoma.
Judge Ledbetter of Ardmore was immediately upon his feet after the reading of the resolution with a vigorous protest, and moved to strike out the words "supreme and paramount". He said: "The federal congress in proscribing the conditions and limitations under which the constitutional convention of Oklahoma should act, went farther than in the history of any other state. I want to resent the action of congress in placing such limitations upon us. Let us assert our rights as a sovereign state. We have been limited, and wrongfully so, by the provisions of the enabling act. Therefore we are compelled to go into the union of states with heads bowed by reasons of the limitations placed upon us by the United States government. I differ from Mr. Baker, who contends that the constitution of the United States is the paramount law of the state. It is the supreme law of the United States, but in no respect is it the supreme law in the state."
Delegate Henshaw of Madill and others suported Ledbetters contention., a large number however, contending that the federal constitution should be recognised as the supreme law in the state, because no state is empowered to exceed its authority and is strictly under its provisions.
The warm discussion that was in progress, and was threatening to become even warmer was clogged by the motion made by Kornegay of Vinita, to leave the matter to a committee of three to draft a resolution covering the subject.
The election of a second vice president and a reading clerk was the main business of the afternoon session. The men placed in nomination for the second vice presidency were F.E. Herring of Elk City, and A.H. Ellis of Garfield County. The latter won over Herring by a vote of 51 to 30.
R.L. Williams of Altus was elected reading clerk, and in defeating W.W. Vandevier of Coweta, for this place, the convention let go of it last opportunity to recognise the newspaper fraternity in the organization of the body.
Owen Watts whose father is mayor of Salisaw, and Albert Greenwood of Guthrie, were appointed pages by President Murray, both appointments being confirmed by the convention. Greenwood was the only appointment awarded to the republican minority.