Oklahoma State Register. (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 23, 1908 Page: 1 of 8
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I
Oklahoma
Register.
SEVENTEENTH YEAR NO. 2(5
GUTHRIE, OKLA., THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1908.
$1.00 P)V YEAR
The building of Guthrie's Convention Hall should be above susp'cion—A reliable construction superintendent would cure maiV sins
Argument Submitted by the Committee Rep-
resenting the Petitioners for the Sale
of the Public Lands
State Question No. 5 (Initiative Pe-
tition No. 1) is a bill for tlie sale of
all the school and public lands of the
state. Sections 13 and 33 are the
building lands, which must be sold be-
fore we can construct buildings in the
pastern part of the state. Sections 16
and 36 are the common school lands;
then there are certain "indemnity
lands" taken in lieu of these sections
for these two purposes. The remain-
ing lands are the college lands as
named in section one of the act. W
are obliged to meet certain requiri
ments of the enabling act both as to
the use of these funds and as to rights
of the lessees. This bill gives justice
to the lessees, as required by the en-
abling act, and justice to the school
or other funds and the public by com-
pelling every tract of land to be sold
at public auction to the highest and
best bidder, giving the lessee the right
to buy at the highest bid, or refusing
and letting the highest bidder take tne
land. It serves two particular poli-
cies, the one to sell the land in small
tracts to actual settlers; the other to
take the state out of a positio i of
landlord by selling the land to citizens
for homes. Section two of this bill
guarantees the fund to the several in-
stitutions for which they were tilt-
ed by the United States. Section
three, under the several sub-headings,
prevents any person, except lessees,
which is necessary untfer the enabling
act, owning more than 160 acres from
buying this land. It compels residence
for two years on all lands unimproved.
It requires a person living out of the
state to move to the state and make
settlement on the land. It does not
run the risk of selling land for agri-
cultural purposes in large bodies un-
der the name of "grazing lands" by
providing for an increased acreage af-
ter 1915 to 320 acres; and still further
increase to a section after 1020,
which two dates all the land capable
of producing a farm home will have
been taken, leaving then only grrzing
lands to be sold.
It provides for the sale of th*:ae
lands with a cash payment of 10 per
cent with deferred payment on bal-
ance for forty years at 5 per cent in-
terest, with privilege of paying out at
the end of five years. This is surely
the homeless farmer's opportunity.
All lands are taxable from date of pur-
chase. It is estimated that about one
million acres of these lands have valu-
able improvements upon them by les-
sees, the other 2,300,000 acres are un-
improved and will be opened for new.
bona fide settlers i.nd home seekers,
as it requires actual residence for two
years with construction of farm im-
provements. The lands now occupied
in la-.- -e bodies will navj to be turned
loose by the lessee, except one qvarter
section he is permitted to buy; and
he is prohibited from specu'ftiug up-
on his excess holdings under Section
3 (c). Where lessees have placed im-
provements upon lands in god faith
in excess of one quarter section, he
Is permitted, under this bill, to let
some member of his family of age buy
an additional quarter at the highest
bid, but this right <s only guaranteed
to thue who hive heretofore Improved
their land in good faith, and tills
quarter will be deeded to this mem-
ber of his family for a home, not to
'"a is sometimes argued that to re-
tain these lands would reap a gre.Jter
price to the state, but it must 1)0 re-
membered that the loss In taxation
and the loss of the soil from lack of
care under a tenant system would, m
the end, be a greater loss than this
enhanced value. The settlement of
the Carollnas, 200 years ago, an t u
cultivation of those lands when the
preservation of the soil by terracing,
draining, ditching and the rotation of
crops was unknown has exhausted
them so that it requires an expendi-
ture of $10,000,000 annually for the
purchase of fertilizers to put into the
soils of those states. Ten million dol-
lars drained annually upon the re-
sources of those Stated is a loss for
which any enhanced value cannot
compensate. A tenant system contin-
ued in force In Okluhoma would cause
the loss of our soils and a drainage
upon our resources in the years to
come not to be regained by the state's
retaining these lands for a higher
price. None of these lands at pres
ent are paying exceeding 5 p?r cent
upon the aggregate value of ■ ? land,
while under this bill t> per cor.' in-
terest will be paid upon the value, and
in addition thereto, the land taxed for
the support of schoors, state, county
and township government, and the
principal which, when collected by the
state, can be reloaned upon interest.
It s easy enough to figure that, should
the state retain these lands for an
enhanced value, the loss in taxation
and by washing and neglect of a tenant
system would, far greater exceed the
gain in the price of lands, calculating
in connection therewith tue great ex-
pense Incident to leasing and renting
and collecting rentals. The retention
of these lands also has a baneful ef-
fect upon public policies of the .tate
by keeping the question in politics.
Their sale removes them from politi-
cal campaigns and permits the set-
tlement between candidates and be-
tween parties of issues that may ariie
for future settlement without being
affected by the school land policies or
party declarations upon thy lease ov
sale of these lands.
The state will be compelled to con-
struct additional normal schools,
build a penitentiary and a branch, an
orphan asylum, a reform school and
several other institutions which
should be established, but cannot do
so until these lands are sold. Since
Sections 13 and 33 can be used only
for building purposes, under the grant
to the state from the United States
government, it is certainly wise for
the state to sell the lands for the
purpose of obtaining a building fund
rather than to issue bonds and pa
interest thereon.
It is sometimes arptied that a quar-
ter section of land is too small a sale,
but any farmer knows that the farmer
who cannot produce a living out of a
quarter section of land will grow
poorer hiring hands and cultivating
more than a quarter.
Your committee shall proceed upon
the assumption that the people of Ok-
lahoma are intelligent; that they are
capable of self government, and of
formulating governmental policies.
Their action in the past has demon-
strated this beyqnd all doubt; there-
fore, from every consideration of pub-
lic policy which should govern our
state for the future—the principle that
the state should not become landlord,
that small home owners should be en-
couraged; that, with our wise laws to
encourage and assist agriculture and
the protection of soil, recognizing that
it is more economical to preserve oar
rich soils than to attempt to restoie
our resources after they are washed
and wasted away; together with the
great benefits to many school districts
and townships to be derived in great-
er taxable values for the support of
government and maintenance of
schools, together with the principles,
details and limitations of the bill it-
self, providing that none except the
homeless can buy these lands, leaves
this question with but one side and
that is, that these lands should be
sold to serve a sound public policy,
the encouragement of the home build-
er, and the conservation of our re-
sources. Respectfully submitted,
WM. H. MURRAY,
Chairman.
• HENRY 9. JOHNSTON.
John Golobie,
B. F. HARRISON,
H. M. WILLIAMS,
J. H. JOHNSTON,
Committee representing the petitions
for the sale of the public lands.
MAYO It WILL SET TOUCH
TO FIRST NATURAL GAS.
Preparations continue for the big
celebration of the advent of natural
gas. This epoch making event for the
capital city is to be maira an occasion
of merriment and festivity and the
general populace will be asked to
turn out and assist in making it an
occasion that shall not soyn be for-
gotten.
According to tentative arrange-
ments fliayor Barnes is to light the
gas stream as it comes pouring into
the big pipe. An address will follow
in which the advantages of the new
fuel and light supply will be touched
made known the name of the young
man's family, which is reputed to be
one of the* most respected in the
southern city. The body will probably
be buried immediately.
With his handsome long black mus-
tache uncurled and his hair shambled,
James Leudy, double slayer, took the
stand before the coroner's jury and in
testimony broken at many intervals
by hlfs declaration that he could not
remember material circumstances
around the shooting, gave the indica-
tion that the "unwritten law" will
form the defense of the crime, and
that insanity will fuinish the grounds
for evidence.
The unwritten law will form a
upon. There is also talk of a parade, ' strong defense for the killing of
and two bands will furnish music.
Manager Dibbens states that ar-
rangements are already on foot to se-
cure a very low rate for those using
the gas for manufacturing purposes.
The fact that the supply is practically
inexhaustible will open up a wonder-
ful field for Guthrie as a manufactur-
ing center. The gas comes from the
famous Sapulpa fit Id, the same that is
Woods, and insanity will be the prob-
able plea in defense against the slay-
ing of the wife.
On the stand Leudy told a vivid
story of the conflicting passions that
wrought his slight frame as he looked
through the window of his wife's room
and saw the man pref'
wife take his place in the home.
"I bought the gun in Oklahoma
now being used at Oklahoma City. The city,' he testified, "as I was coming
same rates will be charged here as at \ over here. I first hid it near a tank
that place. !at the Rock Island depot, then I got
Already an immense amount of
saving by means of the Innovation
cau readily be seen. For instance, the
present rate for artificial gas is $1.10
per thousand cubic feet. The rate for
the natural gas will be only 25 cents
for domestic use, a jact which will
mean the saving of thousands of dol-
it and hid it a second time in a barn
back of the house.
"I followed Woods to the house, and
saw him go inside. Then I went
around and looked through the win-
dow and watched him for about an
hour. Finally I went and told the of-
ficers. I don't know just what I said
lars to local consumers within the to them, but they didn't do anything
"Then I went back again and got
the gun. I went to the window and
started to shoot them as they 'ay 'n
bed. Then my nerve failed me and I
couldn't kill them like that. Finally
at daylight I went into the house with
the intention of ending it.
After that 1 only remember that
I shot. I don't remember going back
a second time and killing my wife."
next twelve months.
In view of these and other facts, it
is. deemed eminently fitting that a
proper celebration ue had when the
new gas is turned into the mains.
There have been fears expressed
that danger might result from a mix-
ture of the natural anil artificial gas,
as explosions have been known to
result from the mixture of gasses.
Persons who are informed on the sub-
ject state that there will be absolutely
no danger. The supply of artificial
gas will be very low in the mans
when the natural gas Is turned on,
and besides, this particular mixture
is harmless, so far as bringing about
dangerous conditions.
The local gas plant will be shut
lown at once. Manager Dibbens
states that he bad not yet decided as
to what disposition he would finally
make of the old plans. It will be sold
as soon as possible, however, and al-
ready parties are known to be dicker-
ng for its location in other cities.
A number of business men have
been seen in regarft. to the proposed
celebration, and all are enthusiastic
aver the idea.
CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY WORK
With a view to better organization
in church work, the Christian church
has divided the state imo eleven mis
sloary districts, and will begin a ser-
ies of meetings in each district. Guth-
rie is in district No. 2. composed of
Pawnee, Payne, Logan and Osage
counties, with Rev. Vlrtes Williams of
Stillwater, president, and Rev. J. F
ChoH'.er of Guthrie, tmisumr.
UNWRITTEN LAW PLEA
OF HOME DEFENDER.
Claims No Knowledge of hilling of
Wife—Body of Victim Dis-
owned by Mother.
El Reno, July 21.—Slain in grossest
violation of the sanctity of another
man's home, the man known locally a,
W. T. Woods, or "Slim," and sup ;.> ed
to have been Charles McClain of Pen-
sacola, Fla., has been disowned by 1 is
mother in the gulf coast town, who
has wired the county officials here to
bury the remains at the expense of
*.he county rather than to ship it to
the former home of the young man for
interment. Officers here have not
HASKELL'S I! ffiT'S POSITIONS
01 TOE 010 IIJERESIS
BRYAN 01 I)S FORCED DOWN
The Lle.vds Quoted (i to t Yesterday,
but Later went 5 to I.
New York.—Insurance brokers, act-
ing as agents for Lloyds of I^ondon,
did a lively business in the Bryan in-
surance policies of election bets again
to-day. Much of the business came
from the West, which had just learned
through the publication of the morn-
ing papers, of the high odds given by
the London insurance brokers. Many
policies were also written for mem-
bers of the race track coterie and for
men who in former political cam-
paigns have acted as betting commis-
sioners. Eight or ten insurance firms
are reported to be acting as intermed-
iaries between the Lloyds and the bet-
tors.
While yesterday the 6dds ranged be-
tween 8V2 and 5% to one against
Bryan, the best price obtainable to-
day was 6 to 1. This was the price
in the early dealing. The premium
advanced, and the odds receded after
a few policies. The orders in most
cases came through brokerage houses.
Speculators in Kansas City and St.
Louis also applied ror and obtained
some of the anti-Bryan insurance.
In the early afternoon the force of
the Western Bryan money forced the
odds down to 5 to 1. This price re-
mained firm .until the close. A con-
servative insurance broker estimated
the amount of policies written to-day
at $125,000.
BEWARE OF CIRCUS GAMBLERS!
Citizens, and especially farmers, should beware of Circus gamblers, fol-
lowing Ha gen bach's Circus Thursday. In other cities citizens have been
fleeced by "sure thing" men. Read the following from (lie Beatrice, Nebras-
ka, Express:
BEATS GAMBLERS AT THEIR OWN GAME.
Harry Dolcn, a Beatrice boy, lias the distinction of being one of Hie
very few residents of Ibis vicinity who went up against the wheel of for-
tune at the Hagcnbuch-Wallace shows last Saturday and returned re
money than he started in with, and the funny thing about it is that he owes
iiis good fortune to his sprinting ability and not to luck.
Harry was employed as a capper by the dealer of the game and when
Interest lagged lie would step up, play his money, make a good winning and
walk away. This would have a tendency to cause some, sucker to dive into
Ills jeans for a greenback and try and double Ills own pile.. The result was
a foregone conclusion. The sucker Invariably lost a good sized roll.
Dolen was compelled to leave Ills coat with the dealer as security. Occa-
sionally lie was asked to hand over his winnings, but after observing how
rank the game was and how flagrantly the innocents were skinned, lie de-
cided to hang onto 11 part of his fake good fortune. Having $35 in his pos-
session, lie played $10 of It and made an excuse to leave the tent to see a
friend. The dealer became suspicions and warned the doorkeeper to stop
Dolen, but Harry was a little too swift. He started 011 a run with hat in
one hand and $25 in the other, and followed bji a brickbat and the curses
of the gamblers. The brick struck him In the side, but he kept on running,
finally reaching home in safety, out of breath and $25 to th egood. He
says It Is the easiest money he has earned for some time.
One other capper succeeded in hiding away $H, but these two are the
only men so far known in Beatrice who beat the gamblers at their own game.
The position of Governor Haskell as given by the chief executive in a
formal statement on suits brought by the attorney general Is as follows:
First: The attorney general is the law officer for the executive depart-
ment, without any power or authority to begin any suit. If the attorney
general should be advised that there are any violations of the law, it is hin
duty to report these facts to the governor, and bring the suit only after the
governor directs. Up to date, in every case where the attorney general asked
permission to brfng a suit, the governor has issued the order; but in many
instances the attorney general has brought suits without consulting the
governor, and the governor knew nothing about them until he saw them in
the newspapers.
The cases heretofore brought to prevent the Standard Oil Company from
laying gas pipe lines, including the one the morning statehood was pro-
claimed, were brought by order of the governor himself, and in the first
case, the attorney general being absent, the governor directed another at-
torney to represent the state and bring the suit. The position of the gov-
ernor in this case is based on the provisions of the constitution and laws
of Oklahoma, which place the supreme executiveauthority in the hands of
the governor.
The two cases started by the attorney general against the Prairie Oil
and Gas Company while the governor was attending the Denver convention
were brought without the attorney general making auy statement to or re-
quest of the governor.
The governor's position as to these two cases is that he is having the
facts examined into, and if there is a violation of law, he will have the cases
prosecuted;. otherwise, he will have them dismissed. The attorney general
has never made any report 'to the governor or submitted any statement of
facts concerning either of these cases np to this date, although the governor
has been home from Denver a whole week.
Since then James Kirkwood has made an investigation of the conditions
in the oil regions, by special appointment of Governor Haskell, but his
report has not been made public. *', 4 £■ kit
WEST'S POSITION.
Attorney General West was in the oil regions, and the following in the
Bartlesville Enteprise is given as his position:
Charles West, attorney general of Oklahoma, hold a very interesting ses-
sion with the oil producers of this section of Oklahoma in the office of A. F.
Vandeventer today. Mr. West came here to hear what the producers had to
say about his cases to prevent the Prairie Oil Company from building pipe
lines in this state until it takes out a domestic charter. What he heard
today was not calculated to encourage him in bis suit, but the conference
ended with him strong in his belief that he can make the oil producers his
allies in his fight. He said he came here to listen to the oil producers, but
he was forced to do all the talking during the conference and the producers,
with one exception, left the conference very much dissatisfied.
Mr. West contendB that Governor Haskell has 110 right to Interfere in
a suit brought by the attorney general and he is willing to test this conten-
tion in the courts. He quoted John Fiske, an authority on civil government,
who says that his authority does not exceed that of any other state officer
elected by the people.
"I told the governor early in this fight," said Mr. West, "that I would
prosecute the Prairie Oil Company if it attempted to build lines in this state
without taking out a charter. I told this to Mr. Johnson of this city when
he and a committee called on me some time ago. 1 also told it to Mr. Shea
and Mr. Curl when they called on the governor and 011 me later. I told Mr.
O'Neil of the Prairie that I would not allow him to build these pipe lines.
I thought the matter was settled, but the Prairie began work and I insti-
tuted the suit. I do not like to hold ligijtly any contention raised by Gov-
ernor Haskell, but he is entirely off on the theory that he can control suits
which I may see fit to Institute."
Mr. West seemed proud of the fact that he had kept his promise to the
governor, oil producers and Mr. O'Neil in the matter of instituting the suits.
He appeared very well satisfied with his action. During the conference he
discussed plans he has for future action which he made the oil men promise
they would not reveal. These will develop later. Apparently he has tiled
to give frank and fair answers to every question asked of him. lie seemed
to want to prove to the producers that he could benefit them if they would
assist him. lie got no pledges for assistance except from W. S. Ravdure.
Mr. Raydure was alone in believing that the attorney general can bring any
relief to this field. The other producers were very much opposed to the
state officer, and made it plain by their questions.
Mr. West believes that the Prairie Oil Company can be forced to domes-
ticate and that it can be forced to take all the oil of this field. He did not
care to have his plans of bringing about these changes made public. He was
unable to say what would happen to the producers during the time he is
working on his plans.
The producers who were present were thoroughly opposed to the plans
of the attorney general as outlined. He announced that he Intended remain-
ing in Bartlesville until he had convinced them that he was right The indi-
cations are that he will become a permanent resident.
Hainer Speaks in Guthrie
Judge R. T. Hainer will speak in (iutlirle Monday, July 87th, 011 the cor-
ner of Division and Cleveland.
He promises to make a hot speech.
He Is miming for the nomination for congress against Blrt McGuIre.
MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO COM-
MET MURDER
Bad Man Starts Trouble for a Drink
of Whiskey
Shattuck, Okla.—Bill Armstrong, a
notorious police court character, who
claims Wichita as his home, made
three attempts to commit murder last
night in flften minutes, and held up
a train load of passengers at the point
of agun.
Armstrong quarreled with a passen-
ger who had whiskey, and who refus-
ing to let Armstrong have any. He
fired a shot at the man, who escaped
by fleeing through the waiting room
of the station.
J. M. Hull, city marshal, entered
the car where Armstrong was keep-
ing the passengers at the point of his
revolver, and arrested him. He se-
cured the pistol from Armstrong and
was taking him to jail, when the pris-
oner knocked him down and again se-
cured the revolver. He beat Hull with
the butt of the revolver, mashing his
face and head almost to a pulp.
Desperate Fight.
Joe PettuB, former police officer,
seized Armstrong, and C. W, Clark at
the same time struck the prisoner
over the head with a club. Armstrong
attempted to shoot Pettus, pushing
the revolver into his face until his
teeth were broken. He could not fire
the revolver, however, as Pettus had
his thumb under the hammer. Arm-
strong was flnallv overcome and was
placed In jail. Later he was taken
to Grand.
Hull is in a precarious condition.
His jaw Is broken, one eye Is out and
his skull Is fractured. He may die.
Armstrong was sober at the time. He
claims to be from Wichita and was
employed as a laborer with the Santa
Fe construction gang.
There was considerable talk of
lynching and Sheriff Cupp and Deputy
JIutchlnson hurried the prisoner to
Grand. Hull was taken to the Nortn-
western sanitarium, where It is said
he has small chance of recovery. He
is an old and experienced officer.
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Golobie, John. Oklahoma State Register. (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 23, 1908, newspaper, July 23, 1908; Guthrie, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc112607/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.