How a petition filed in secrecy helped move Oklahoma’s capital from Guthrie to OKC

Ballot initiatives has long been used by Oklahoma voters to address issues bypassed by the Legislature. Yet for more than a decade now, that process has been under fire. In 2023, lawmakers filed at least five bills to tighten access to initiative petitions.

More proposals to change the process are expected next year.

Supporters say ballot initiative process gives the public the opportunity to check their lawmakers. Opponents counter the process is a two-edged sword — giving bad ideas the necessary oxygen to survive.

Still, only a few ballot initiatives have dramatically impacted the state, and one changed the entire face of state government.

That was the case at the turn of the century, just a few years after Oklahoma joined the Union. Then-Gov. Charles Haskell used a ballot initiative as the capstone to a 20-year battle that would move the seat of state government.

How the location of Oklahoma’s capital wound up in the hands of voters

The story of Haskell’s Initiative Petition No. 7 has long been steeped in mystery, more than one broken law and an early range war between Oklahoma City and neighboring Guthrie.

The governor, records show, wanted out of Guthrie. Guthrie, a Republican strong-hold at the time, rankled Haskell, a conservative Democrat. Haskell, along with William H. “Alfalfa Bill” Murray, the speaker of the House, had successfully steered Jim Crow legislation through both Houses of the Legislature.

Guthrie’s Republicans regularly complained about Haskell, and the governor, already sensitive to the editorials of Guthrie’s largest newspaper, the Daily State Capitol, told supporters he’d had enough.

Haskell, with the help of several Oklahoma City business leaders, including The Daily Oklahoman publisher E.K. Gaylord, make their next move — a secret scheme to move the Capitol to Oklahoma City.

Written in 1909 with the support of Haskell and a small group of his supporters, Initiative Petition No. 7 asked voters where they wanted the Capitol located. Voters were given three choices: Guthrie, Oklahoma City or Shawnee.

Gaylord said the petition was written by his attorney, W.A. Ledbetter.

Once finalized, distribution of Ledbetter’s initiative petition began almost immediately. With help from circulation men from his newspaper, Gaylord said the petition was spread across the state and quickly gathered enough signatures to be filed.

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