Cleveland County Enterprise. (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 20, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 23, 1912 Page: 1 of 8
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CLEVELAND COUNTY ENTERPRISE
VOL. XX
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1912.
NO. 46
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I
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COUNTY CONSOLIDATION
IS TALKJF FARMERS
From McClain County. They
Want to be United With
Cleveland County
Under the law in this state a pro-
vision exists for consolidating coun-
ties, and since the recent IT. S. Su-
preme Court decision a considerable
talk of county consolidations has
deen indulged in in the Indiau Terri-
tory part of the state, whereby such
tax decision of the court there wil1
not remain enough ot taxable wealth
in the counties to support the county
government under the rate of tax
levy permitted by the constitution of
the state.
Several farmers in McClain county
are actually agitating the question
ol the annexation of McClain county
to Cleveland county. An effort was
made by citizens in both counties to
have the constitutional convention in-
clude what is now practically all of
McClain county attached to Cleve-
land county, but the politicians stren-
ously opposed such a move and it
failed, ft was a very unfortunate
thing for the taxpayers in McClain
that it did fail. Whether such a
consolidation can now be effected is
not quite so certain. Much will de-
pend upon the amount of indebted-
ness that will have to he taken care
of in some manner.
Cleveland and McClain counties if
joined together in one county would
not be too large for one county and
the expense of county government
would not necessarily be much more
than half what the cost of the two
county governments is at the present
time. It would make one of the rich-
est and best agricultural counties in
the state and a county in which the
taxes would scarcely be more than
one-half as much s the two counties
are now called upon to pay.
Under the present tax rate it is a
hard mattet to increase the taxable
values, but by lowering the amount
of taxes to pay values would increase
arid more taxable property would
come into the county, and this would
have a tendency towards reducing
the amount of taxes property would
have to bear until a point was reach-
ed where the complaint and kicking
against paying taxes would almost
cease.
As things now stand Cleveland
county taxpayers, who expected to
see taxes reduced mightily after the
(irst ten years of county history, liud
that no such reduction has taken
place, but rather at the end of 22
years discover that the amount of
taxes property is called npon to bear
for county purposes is as great and
even greater than it was ten or fifteen
years ago. The small area of the
county is largely responsible for the
existence of this condition.
In Cleveland county nearly all of
the real estate in the county b-came
taxable within five years. The area
of McClain county is about the same
aB that of Cleveland and much the
same character, hut under the recent
decision of the U. S. Supreme Court,
perhaps fully two-thirds or even
more of the land In that county will
not be taxable for sixteen years
This will throw the expense of county
government on the small per cent of
taxable real estate existing now and
upon the personal property.
The effect is likely to be a van-
quishing of personal property and a
depreciation of the value of taxable
real estate In McClain county. With
the two counties united in one the
question of building and maintaining
bridges across the treacherous South
Canadian would not be so perplexing
a one as at the present time.
Death of Mrs. McFerron
Mrs Mary Agnes McFerron, wife
of Win, McFerron died Sunday after-
noon at ti o'clock after a lingering
Illness with cancer at the age of 47
years, f> months and-8 days.
Mrs McFerron was well and favor-
ably known in Norman having been a
resident of this city for a number of
years. She was a member of the
Bap ist church and was a faithful
worker in the Ladies Aid Society
The funeral services were con 'uct-
ed In Uev. W. T. Scott, of Tulsa, at
tin- residence. III! Smth Muskogee
Ave Tnesdav at 10:30 q. m. Inter-
ment was mad" in the I. O. (). F.
cem etery.
Shi' is snivived by a husband, three
daughters ami three sons.
Col. Roosevelt Astride the (i. O. I'.
Klephnnt. l'reident Tuft Has
Fallen Off
The primaries in Ohio Tuesday
completely unhorsed President Taft
and put Col. Roosevelt safely astride
the G. O. P. Elephant and he will
ride the "critter" into the Chicago
Convention in triumph with the lie-
publican delegates spreading their
garments in the way and sounding
the praises of its dauntless rider.
In olden time a Great Leader, ri-
ding on an ass, entered Old Jerusa-
lem and was received and greeted in
much the same way by the people
that "Col. Teddy" will be received
and tailed as he enters the city of
Chicago on June 18th, hut whether
the same fate awaits him, as awaited
the Leader of Old who triumphantly
made entrance into Jerusalem, will
not be known until the vote of
the people is counted in November.
Out of the 42 delegates from Ohio to
the Republican National Convention
President Taft will not have more
than 10 and such a crashing defeat
in his hou^e state will put him virtu-
ally out of the contest for nomina-
tion.
In the same state primaries the
race between Gov. Harmon and Gov.
Wilson is close, early returns indi-
cating that Gov. Harmon will capt-
ure about two-thirds of the delegates
to the Baltimore convection. If
this should proye true it will have
the effect of making it harder to
guess on the probable nominee of
the Baltimore convention. Had the
Wiilson men won in Ohio, it would
have foreshadowed Wiilson's or Bry-
an's nomination. A real "dark
horse" candidate would seem now to
have entered in the contest at Balti-
more with lessening likelyhood of
Democratic victory in November,
we very much fear. With Wlison or
Bryan as the Democratic standard-
bearer "Col Teddy" woeld be whip-
ped to a "Frazzle" without much
doubt.
A Question
If indeed the Supreme Court of
the United States finds that the Mc-
Cumber amendment making Indian
lands taxable, save as to lands of the
full bloods, is invalid, will the same
court hold as invalid the conveyance
of such lands within the former
restricted period invalid? The act-
ion of the Supreme Court will make
county government, as Indian Terri-
tory part of the state is now divided,
almost an impossibility and it would
seem now that it would be necessary
to eliminate fully one half of the
counties in that part of the state.
If the welfare of the people and
not the polititians had been consid-
ered the counties would have been
made larger in the first place
and not so many county seats estab-
lished.
L. C. Allen Passes Away
Sunday morning the two sons of L
C. Allen arrived in Norman with the
remains of their aged father and
Sunday nfternoon funeral services
were held in the M. E. Church,South,
conducted by Rev. R. J. Smith of Al-
varado, Texas, and the body was in-
terred In I. O. O. F. Cemetery beside
the remains of his wife who had pre-
ceded him to the grave about six
years. Mr. Allen had been in feeble
health for the last four years and
death came not unexpected. He had
reached the ripe age of 81 years at
the time of his death Mr. Allen
made his home in this county for
about 20 years, living on a farm two
unles north west of Norman for sev-
eral years. Later he moved to Nor-
man and erected himself a home on
North Jones Avenue where he re-
sided until the death of his wife.
F. r the past two years he spent most
of his time with his two sons in
Northwest Missouri.
Kenner-PIgg
Louie Renner, son of Mr. and Mrs.
L. Renner and Miss Florence Pigs',
of Norman, were united in marriage
at Purcell Sunday afternoon by Rev.
A. J. French. The bride and groom
were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs.
J. D. Wamack. Mr. and Mrs. Renner i
are very popular young people and '
have a host of friends who wish for I
tb< m much happiness.
THE FRANING OPERA
HOUSE ABSOLUTELY SAFE
Architects Make Very Favor-
able Report. No Cause
for Complaint
For years every time the wind
strips a piece of felt roofing off or
wind blows out a window pane in the
Opera House there have been indi-
viduals in Norman who wou'd start a
talk about the buidling being unsafe
and dangerous and the less the party
may know about the actual condi-
tion of the building the more certain
that party would seem to be of its
unsafe condition. The men who live
in Norman and saw the building
constructed and contractors and
builders who have inspected it never
have entertained an idea as to its
not being safely constructed as to
strength and to carry safely all the
weight of humanity that could get
into the same, and that the passage
ways of escape from the building in
case of fire were re-onahly adequate.
There are four easy exits from the
first floor. From the second floor the
conditions of exit are not so well
provided for and a congestion on
second floor landing would be possible
but hardly probable unless crowd be-
came so badly paric stricken as hard-
ly to be able to get out. of any ordi-
nary structure. Few public buildings
in the state, if any indeed, are bet-
ter equipped for a crowd to escape
from in the case of a panic, than the
Opera House in Norman, and as to
capacity and strength none better.
True, it is not a "beauty and a joy
forever" in many respects', but as to
strength and safety it is much safer
than manv of the more pretentious
public audience rooms in the state.
The following reports are self ex-
planatory and should satisfy the
knockers.
Supplemental Keport
Norman, Okla.. May ltith, 1912.
To the Mayor and Councilmen of
the City of Norman:
We, your committee appointed to
inspect some of the public buildings
of the City of Norman among which
was the r'raning Ouera House, beg
leave to submit the following report
assupplemental and in addition to the
report made by us to you on May 14.
1912,
We found the Franing Opera House
with sufficient means of fire escapes,
but would suggest one on the east on
2 nd. story, but in as much as the
season is now past in which is much
probability of fire and considering the
further fact that there is an agree-
ment that an adjoining building will
be constructed before fall we suggest
that if such building be cons'ructed
before October 1, 1912 trie fire es-
cape to the east be not required, but
if such building be not constructed
by above mentioned date then that
the owner of Opera House building
be required to construct a fire escape
of approved design as required by
law.
Very respectfully submitted,
H. L. Sadler,
City Marshal
Geo. P. L. McKiNNev,
Chief Fire Department.
Oklahoma City, Okla,, 5-11-12
To the Citizens of Norman and
State of Oklahoma:
We, the undersigned made a car<-
ful examinatiun ot the Norman
Opera House on the 11th day of Mas
1912, and find no cause whatever for
the reports of its unsafe condition:
but do find it absolutely safe in all
its construction and bearings. We
find the out side walls straight and
piuuib. We find no s ip, break or
weakness in this construction Wc
find no cracks or breaks in angles of
building where defective or weak-
ness of buildings will tirst make its
appearence. Hy a careful examina-
tion we did not find one indication
of any give, break or slip and do
consider it absolutely safe to the
best of our judgment.
•I. D, Pbidqen'
J. s. Hovn,
W. F. Fi.ooi).
Investigating Committee.
Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Frank M. Alexander will
preach at the Presbyterian church
Sunday. Children's Day exercises
will take the place of the regular
Sabbath school bout at 10 a. in. All
are cordia ly Invited to these services.
Sunday evening Mr Floyd Wester-
velt and wife partook of a cold lunch
for supper, using some boiled ham
and soon after partaking of the
lunch both were taken sick and until
noon Munday, Mr Westervelt's con-
dition was serious Both were pois-
oned but Mrs. Westervelt not so seri-
ously as Mr. Westervelt.
When the Smoke of Battle lias
Cleared Away, Right Will
Prevail
It's pretty blustry weather these
days.
The Hoods came and left devasta-
tion and ruin in their work. The
winds blew, the cyclones swept
through the land destroying proper-
ty and human life.
Great commotions of the physical
forces of earth and sky have fre-
quently wroughgt havoc on earth
and sea and in the sky. Most tragic
are the happenings of present time.
Nut only do these terrible dealings
portray to us the power of the infi-
nite over the finite hut also teach
the sublime fact that, although man
is the cap-stone of God's creation
said to be "monarch of all he sur-
veys" yet he is necessarily subordi-
nate and must yield himself to iis
almighty proccss of an omnipitunt
ruler, who "rides upon the storm and
calms the roaring sea."
There's not only tumultuous scenes
in nature, hut the political upheavals
ot this day are truly phenominal
No such spectacle as is now being
played upon the stage of human act-
ions has ever been remotely attempt-
ed before.
The tactics employed by two of the
leading lights(?) of this country in
their endeavor for political suprem-
acy are of alow and vlugar order and it
can hardiy be said of either, "the foe
is worthy of his steel."
However, the onward march of the
great tide of human sentiment in-
spired by a keen sense of justice
promulgated by patriotic and philan-
thropic men whose chief ambition is
to benefit mankind is destined to
overflow the dismal swamps of
"greed and graft" so deeply rooted
in the minds of some so long in pow-
er as to cause such great men as the
two antagonists referred to should he
to condescend to such dishonorable
means while aspiring to such great
nees. However, gold must lie tried,
must pass through the tire that the
drr e f.a. V con«nmi:l and leave on-
ly the pure metal.
So is it with human affairs. The
Divine ptinciples of Equity and Jus-
tice are destined 10 prevail.
God, omnipitant ruleth and His
edicts shall triumph.
A SrtiscitntEK.
(To be continued.)
Trying to Kill Akin Hill
A strenuous effort is being made to
prevent the people of the state from
being given an opportunity to vote
oti the Akin Bill. The politicians
seem to fear that the people won't
know how to vote on this measure.
Better let the people settle this
proposition now by approving or re-
jecting the work of the politicians.
A bunch of politicians and lawyers in
Oklahoma City seem to be greatly ex-
ercised over the petition tiled asking
for a vote on this measure, afraid
that the signers of the petition may
not be genuine, etc.
No need of being so squamish about
the petitions when it is so self evi-
dent that the people in the state de-
sire an opportunity to vote upon the
proposition, in fact so important a
measure was the creation of so many
state institutions at one time, that
its acceptance or rejection should
have been left for the approval of
the people before the same became
a law in the tirst place. All legis-
lative measures calling for a great
expenditure of state funds should be
referred to the people before bccotn-
in.' laws.
SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS
STATE EQUALIZATION BOARD
What Does Rate Amount to
When Board Can Raise
Property Valuation
Death of Luther Delling
Luther Del I i ny, aged 84 years, died
at his home east of this city Tuesday
evening at 9:110 o'clock.
lie was a civil war veteran and a
member of the G. A. It. Post, lie
leaves a wife, two boys and two girls
to mourn his loss.
Funeral services were conducted by
Rev. J. W. Linton at the residence
yesterday at 3 o'clock, interment
was made iu the 1. ().(). K. cemetery.
Mrs Butler to Remain in Texas
Mrs. Butler of this city received
word from Mrs. .1. (i. Butler last
Monday morning to the effect
that she and family would not
return to Norman as they expected
to do. Her folks thought it hc.-t
for her to remain with h t family
for a time at least, and she ordered
her house hold goods and auto shipped
to t 'liftmi, Texas.
In an opinion handed down
last week the State Supreme
Court with Justice Williams
dissenting, upheld the Board of
F.qualization's right to raise the
value of property in tiie state
under the clause "adjust and
equalize values" in the law.
The Court scums to have taken the
view that under the term "adjust"
the hoar 1 had a right to raise or low-
er values as well as to equalize.
With the board possessing such power,
the clause in the state constitution
limiting the rate of taxation would
seem to be effective only as to rate
and not as to amount of taxes prop-
erty could be encumbered with. With
the power to raise or lower values at
will the board can raise or lower the
amount of taxes property must bear
without regard to rate. F.videntally
the law or the constitution needs
changing so as to limit the power of
the Board of Equalization or the
question ol fixing value on property
should be left wholly to the state
board. As that law now stands, the
same kind of property is valued dif-
ferently by the several assessors In
the several counties and a horizontal
raise by the state board works a
hardship on the owners of all prop-
erty assessed up to full value in the
first instance. In this county some
property has been called upon to pay
taxes upon almost double its value.
There was much property in this
county given in to assessor at prac-
tically its cash value and afterwards
raised by the county and state boards
01* percent.
I ine candies at Mayfield's.
Washington News Letter.
Special to the Enterprise.
Washington, May 21. It has been
thoroughly demonstrated, during the
present session of congress, that the
Indian wards of the United States
government have been getting any-
thing but a "square deal." On the
other hand, it has been shown by com-
petent witnesses that these Indians
have received, and are still receiving
the rawest kind of a raw deal from
the government which is supposed to
have their interest and welfare at
heart
Martin J. Bentley, a farmer from
Oklahoma, told the Senate commit-
tee on Indian affairs recently that
of an appropriation of $2,000 for the
upport of seventy Kickapoo Indians,
$4.) went for supplies, and $1,897 for
salaries to officials and clerks who
bought and distributed those sup[
plies.
In 1911 congress appropriated
*35,000 for the support of the Chey-
r.nes and Arapaboes, of Oklahoma.
Of this sum, $29,3(11,10 went for
salaries to employees of the Indian
department; $3,035.30 went for the
support, travelling expenses, etc.
of these employes, and only $905.22
went to the Indians, in the way of
subsistence, and $108.40 for furniture
and household goods, thus giving
the Indians $l,0ti2,ii2 out of a total
appropriation of $35,000.
A perusal of the report of tne
hearing before the House Committee
on Indian affairs, which comprises
the testimony of the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, giveii as a pasis
for legislation for the Indians, shows
dozens of instances of this kind. The
figures given by this official reveal
the startling fact that of all the
money appropriated for the care of
Indians, about 90 per cent goes to
officials of the Indian office, for sala-
ries, travelling expenses, etc., and
that only about 10 per cent goes to
the Indians.
The Federal records show that for
years past Congress has been asked
to appropriate for the maintainence
of 117,247 Indians, and money has
been paid out for the support of that
number. The Federal Census for 1907
discloses that there are only 75,012
Indians in the State of Oklahoma
thus revealing tha' Congress has
been contributing money annually
for the support of more than 42,000
Indians who do not exist.
It has been shown that while the
Government pays nut more than a
Judge Eagieton Declines to Make
Race. Gives his Reasons
Norman, Okla., May ii, 1912.
Judge W. L. Eagieton,
Norman, Okla.
We, the undersigned democrats ot
Cleveland County, Oklahoma, most
respectfully request that you become
a candidate for State Senator for
this district, and pledge you our sup-
port and influences.
C. H. Bessent, Dr. J. A. Davis,
J. W. Barbour, W. T. Mayfield,
J. F. Gilkey, E. K. Himes, L. P. Bar-
ker, F. J. McGinley, R. C. Berry,
T. E. Clement, F. O. Miller, J. M.
Burch L. L. McCoinb, J. A. Fox,
S. A. Ward, W. R. Jennings, E. A,
Foster, C. A. Richard, W. B. Morter,
W. K. Bobo, J. O. Fox. Tom F. Carey,
J.C. Miuteer, S. T Burch, J. C.
King, W. J. Hess, Walter L. Cap-
shaw, R. L. Risinger, G. M. Clifton
J. F. Denson, L. Lindsay, L. C. GileB,
C. S. Bobo, Albert C. Hirshfield,
I. D. Prldgen, J. F. Paxton, Ira
Wheeler, J. Dowd, T. J. Johnson,
and John Franing.
Norman, Okla., May 17, 1912.
Dr. J. A. Davis, C. II. Bessent et al,
Norman, Okla.
Gentlemen:
I felt greatly flattered and pleased
when Dr. Davis presented to me the
petition signed by you and forty
other leading democrats and leading
business men of Norman and vicin-
ity, asking me to make the race for
the State Senate this year. This com-
ing to me unexpected and unsolicited,
and being signed by the character of
men whose names are to be found
thereon, I felt that I should take
time te consider the question fully
from every standpoint. This I consid-
ered to be due you, and the proper
thing for me to do, because of the im-
portant work which you were calling
upon me to perform. I have consid-
ered the question from every view
point and am fully convinced that
my candidacy is not essential to the
best interests of the locality, and is
not a necessity from a party stand-
point, and therefore haye decided
that it would not be necessary, and
possibly would not be oest for me to
make the race. Personally 1 have no
desire for office, and wLl not be a
candidate for office unless convinced
it was a duty T owed to either my
neighborhood or party. 1 don't feel
that either of these conditions exist.
We want, however, Cleveland County
represented in both branches of the
Slate Legislature by capable, honest
men—men in full sympathy with our
State institutions in district and in
this locality, and it behooves us to
be very choice in our selections of
candidates for these responsible po-
sitions. As a private in the ranks of
militant democracy, I stand ready,
as minuto men of old. to go forth
and do battle for my neighborhood
and for my party at a moment's call.
In other word9, I stand ready at any
time to aid the good people of Nor-
man and yicinity both in the selec-
tion of proper men for the Legis-
lature, and after their nomination,
to contribute my mite toward their
election.
Thanking you for your suggested
preference in this matter, I remain,
Most truly yours,
W. L. Eagieton.
Born—To Mr. and Mrs. Floyd E.
Westervelt, a 9 pound girl Monday.
Mrs, James Kelley, of Denison,
Texas, left Monday for her home, af-
ter a few days visit with Mrs. J. I.
Baker and other friends.
Rev. Mitchell, of Carrier Mills,
111., state evangelist, who attended
the Southern Baptist Convention in
Oklahoma City last week, was the
guest of Dr. and Mrs. S. H. Gallier in
Norman Sunday afternoon and night.
million dollars annually for salaries
to employees and ollicials of the
Indian department, the condition of
the Indians in Oklahoma has grown
gradually more desperate, until
today they are in a state of poverty
closely bordering on destitution.
Asa result of these disclosures
Senator Owen has introduced a bill
in the Senate for the abolishment of
the Indian office. Commissioner Val-
entine, of the Indian office, admits
that the best thing that could be
done for Indians would lie to abolish
the Indian offices.
The administration of the Indian
trusteeship is one of the darkest
blots on the Republican aduiinis
tratlou of the last sixteen year.s
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Fox, J. O. Cleveland County Enterprise. (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 20, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 23, 1912, newspaper, May 23, 1912; Norman, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc108348/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.