1900s revisited

GUTHRIE – A history lesson has begun at the legislative session here.

Robert Davis, a historian with the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, talked of the first legislative session that happened here at the temple, Jan. 5, 1909.

The large room seen now was then split in half, with the Senate meeting on one side and the House on the other. It represented the first time in state history when both bodies met at the same time to do the work of the state. Two sessions were held here in 1909 and 1910 before the state capital was moved to Oklahoma City permanently.

An impersonator of President Theodore Roosevelt made an appearance at the session, talking of when Oklahoma became the first state accepted into the
United States in the 20^th century and is the 46^th star on the American flag.

High school students also presented issues of the day when
Oklahoma became a state. Women are not to vote, one student said. Another noted that child labor is encouraged. Prohibition is a matter of states’ rights, a third said of 1907. “Most Oklahomans will vote dry as long as they can stumble to the polls,” he said.

- Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau

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