The Norman Transcript (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 19, Ed. 1 Sunday, February 12, 1922 Page: 2 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
THE NORMAN TRANSCRIPT—NORMAN, OKLAHOMA
THE NORMAN TRANSCRIPT hard surfaced roads needed
Published by Transcript-Enterprise Publishing Co,
215 East Main Street
Norman, Oklahoma
STRENGTH IN SECRECY OF KLAN
ll the Kit Klux Klan i- a good thing fur a town
and community and is functioning lawfully, why
thi' mask? This is a question often asked when
the name of the Kit Is lux Klan is mentioned.
From what we have been able to gather front)
printed reports, it .-cms that the strength of tltej
Klan lies in its secrecy, lhe mask itself conceals
no threat against the law-ahulinu; man in this or
any other town so long as the organization i- con-
trolled bv men of the type identified as members
in Norman. Masked or not, in lite dark or in the
open dav, these men could not become outlaws—
they are not that kind.
Apparently, up to the present, tile local organ-
ization is dominated by substantial, capable and
trust worth) citi/eus of this community, as far as
the Transcript has been able to learn. \\ e can-
not conceive of them donning mask- and becom-
ing outlaws. Their statement in Thursday's is-
sue of the Transcript makes their position clear
along this line. They are opposed, tlie> say, to
mob violence in any manner, and are pledged to
uphold and defend the law
(iood men. sometimes, become so irritated ovet
certain conditions that tliev conscientiously and
without thought of wrong doing, seek to accom-
plish that for the well-being of the community
which the law cannot accomplish.
Mobs moved by sudden impulse, not controlled
by reason, swayed by passion and lust for blood
should have no place among civilized people.
But—
There is a wide difference, however, between
a wild uncontrollable mob, driven by a desire for
revenge, and a small body of men carrying out a
decision calmly and soberly arrived at after thor-
ough discussion. That is not mob action. Prop-
erh hedged about b\ reason and judgment and
sincerity of purpose, such a decision may be fully
as just and reasonable as any verdict of any court.
There are moral offenses smelling to the heav-
ens which the law cannot touch. I here are
breaches of the written law which the constituted
authorities cannot cope with. There are a horde
of moral lepers who would pollute the social at-
mosphere of this community. There are repro-
bates and diabolical scoundrels who lurk behind
the bush and with the foul tongue of slander tar-
nish the name of woman. These conditions exist
in this and every other community, yet in the
broad sense of the term do not come within the
law's reach.
Then, as we understand it, the Kit Klux Klan
is a sort of a court of inquiry looking into the un-
desirable conditions of the community. It also
appears to be a drawn jury passing on the guilt
or innocencv of the conditions, and lastly, it ap-
pears to be a deputy enforcement < fficer co-op-
erating with the duly qualified officers of the
community in enforcing the law.
If the Klan's cause is right, lawful and ju>t. it
will grow and llourish amidst the onslaught oi all
opposing forces. If its cause it unrighteous, un-
lawful and unjust it will perish under the scrutin-
ized eye of "Him who doeth all things well.
. o
It's funnv how it so often depends on whose
ox is beittjf gored.
Ninety-odd blocks of additional •pavement wi
be something to brag about next year.
Members of the I.ions club took it upon tliem-j
.-elver, .-nine time ago to inaugurate a campaign in j
favor of hard surfaced mads in Cleveland count) .
T.verv member, it is said, went on record as
favoring such a movement, but from uinu cause
tVie interest died soon after the child was born.
At any rate I.ions arc not talking very much about
their legitimate child.
Then the chamber of commerce came along and
said that hard surfaced roads would be a good
thing for Norman and Cleveland county. At 'he
annual meeting of tile organization Feb. 17. K. A.
Singletary, chairman of the highway deartment
if tile < (klahoma City chamber of commerce, was
persuaded to attend the meeting and explain in
detail all the steps necessary in putting on a cam-
oaign for hard surfaced roads. He was given
i warm reception, many cheers went up during
he course of his remarks, and he received per-
oiial congratulations and heart) thanks from
nany of the members present.
Huh— ,
It seems now that the chamber of commerce
ias forsaken its adopted child and left it to "root
log or die. "
If ( leveland county is to vote for the construc-
tion of hard surfaced roads at any given time it
night to be conceded that the proper time is now.l
There are flianv men and teams in the county
hat are available now. These men need the
work. Main of them have 110 other prospects of
itaking a living unless public improvement of
nne kind is undertaken now. If hard surfaced
«ids are constructed in this county the labor
would be furnished largely by the farmers, and
would thus remain in the county.
No one will deny the fact that we need these
roads. That point is settled. Thev why wait?
Why not plan to put a bond issue over while the
people are favorable to the proposition? A mil-
lion dollars invested in good roads in Cleveland
county within the next twelve months would mean
he salvation of the county from the standpoint of
hard times.
The federal government will match dollar for
illar the amount the county would raise through
a bond issue. So it looks live a proposition that
should demand immediate attention, and it is to
be hoped that the I.ions club will pass the buck
to the chamber of commerce into whose hands
the issue must either live or die.
The best is none too good for Norman.
The flow
wisdom.
of words is not always a sign of
Norman is no longer in the village class, folks
-let's build a citv.
A chance to work is all that some men are
asking. Give them a job if you have any work
that ought to be done.
•SAFETY FIRST"
Nothing good or beautiful was ever accomplish-
ed without the cry of impossible from the pessi-
mist.
SUNDAY SPORTS
The American people will nev er tolerate a des-
ecration of the Sabbath. The\ will never see otir
Sunday turned into a merely holiday of celebra-
tion, as is done in some parts of Europe. lhe
love of religion is too firmly imbedded in the
American nature for such a move to meet with
any success. But there are millions who belie , i
that it is possible to worship Cod and to honoi
llim in 11 is great out of doors as well as in the
four walls of the church. Many believe that tin
man or woman who is confined for day- in factory
or office, is entitled to some outiug on the out
day at his disposal. He believes that sport which
does not disturb his Neighbor, which is not oper-
ated for profit, but is merely relaxation tor the
weary man, should be permitted.
He may be right, but we must not permit such
a plea to carry us too far—to break dow n the bars
and obliterate the holy character of the day set
aside as the Sabbath of rest.
W hen our forefathers canu to this land, they
came with a Bible in one hand and a gun in the
other. Religious persecutions sent must of them
to seek, in the wilderness, that right to worship
God which they were denied in another land. And
if they brofight some severe notions of religion
and morality, it was because they were of a stern
fiber, a sober nature, people who had swung to an
extreme because they had seen the evils of the
other extreme exemplified.
God sits upon His throne, and is just as in-
terested in the people of America as lie was in Ilis
own chosen people of Israel, but the time has pass-
ed when He will "wink at our ignorance." He ex-
pects obedience to His laws, and it may be assured
that there is a large following in America who w ill
see that the laws arc obeyed, even it extreme
measures have to be adopted.
Extremists in either direction will be had for
our country.
The sanitation and health e< iniiiitU < h.i ie
quested the business men in m opn.iu with tin
city authorities in keeping the streets and alleys
clean. Splendid suggestion and a reasonable re-
quest, and Norman business men will surely
acquiesce.
W hen it comes to town building the ill. >ril;
of the citizens of Norman believe in " min- Vr
the gas,'' although there an still a few who an
everlastingly tr in. to et their lu'-i 11 I •• ..<•
"Safety First" signs should be placed at the
city's busiest street intersections in order to safe-
guard the life of the people. At the Rotary meet-
ing last Monday it was pointed out that an ef-
fort should be taken to protect the lives of Sunday
school children who attend church at the Pres-
byterian and Christian churches. These churches
arc located on the corners of Main street and
\\ ebster avenue, and perhaps carry the heav-
iest traffic of any other streets and evenues in
the city.
It has been suggested that 'the city pass a
"boulevard ordinance" similar to the one now in
force in Oklahoma City. This ordinance provides
that all vehicles must come to a standstill before
crossing the main streets and boulevards. Okla-
homa I itv police say that the ordinance has re-
sulted in a great reduction in the number of
automobile accidents in that city.
It is not necessary to have these "stop signs"
placd at the intersection of all streets and ave-
nues in Norman, but it certainly would be wise
lo have such an ordinance in force at all inter-1tra<lc liy ,tak'1,'s s:! . llway "om
your rival. 1 he only business gum
THE MAN WHO
"PEPPED-UP" HIS
HOME TOWN j
'i
"Thi- biggest liar l.o<! ever made is the j
m.iu who says lit- k self made The father j
ami mother ari l so. iety he rubbed elbows
with made him what he is."
Thus speaks Tom Witten, of
Trenton, Missouri, writing in the
Kansas City Star. Witten, it i-
said, is a merchant who "built a 'ire
under a sleeping* glow plodding
community of six thousand inhabit
ants, awakened it to its short com-
ings and brought a "brotherhood of
farmer and city man."
Witten is a hardware ilealcr and
civic builder combined. The Bible
is his code of ethics in salesmanship
and life. A merchant should not be
a leach on his community, says Wit-
ten. The way to prosper is to real-
ize that what helps the trade terri-
tory helps you. Mere gain on the
part of a member or business insti-
tution is not an asset—it is the ser-
vice that each one renders to his fel
low men, business associates and the
community that counts.
The History of Trenton
Commenting on Trenton the Star
says:
"Trenton, up to seven years ago,
was like any other small town sur-
rounded by a fanning community.
There was little co-operation in its
home life. Each merchant strove
to outdo the Other in his fight to
rake in the sheckels. The farmer
wasn't considered except as a grow-
ef of the necessities of life and a
"drop in" once in a. while to buy a
few odds and ends. He had no in-
terest hi the town, and he wasn t
consulted about it.
"Then came the awakening. A
chamber of comit^rce was organiz-
ed in Trenton. The farmer, once
the outcast, was invited. He be-
came a member an office holder,
and was appointed to commutes
Trenton was "sold" to him. It was
his town. The mythical boundary
line separating the city from the
rural districts was discarded—and it
all came about through the efforts
of this man Witten.
The Right Kind of Boosters.
"Today, if anyone travels through
the farming sections arouna Tren-
ton and asks any "tiller of the soil"
what kind of a town Trenton is, he
will get the reply, "The best town
the map." Today- when a dele
gation of visitors from some sister
city enters Trenton, Mr. Farmer,
Mrs. Farnur and all the little Far-
mers, decked out in their best, with
lunch baskets filled, will be seen on
their way to town to greet the
visitors.
Mr. Witten deserves most of the
credit for ♦nis* change, but he dosen't
want it. He says be just showed his
fellow citizens "the light"' and thev
did the rest. The results? Let Mr.
Witten tell you.
"It used to be that you could find
the mail order house catalog beside
the Bible in two-thirds of the
homes," hq laughed. "Now it's a
different story. The mail order
house would have to quit business if
all trade territories were like Trent-
on. We are neighbors. We have no
farmers. They arc business men
like the rest of us, and all boosters."
"Riches do not make a happy
home or a good business. \\ e've got
to co-operate and pull together tor
the good of our community. The
merchants must get the farmers in-
terested in his town and do a little
good each day at some cost to him-
self.
"It's bad business to try to build
DONT
KMOW
$URl* Yoo 8tT
I know You. You're
The old sh*rk that
USED To WIN ALL
MY WA6ES; BUT ive
9UIT 6AMBUM' po'
"HE
CtP
ON-CM
SYsTe*
FA we*,
1 urns of Main street.
We should never get in too bit
life.
I lie attention of the city commissioners is
called tn the condition of Main street and Peters
avenue where these streets cross. Those holes
arc growing larger every day, and repairs shoukl
he made without further delay.
BUILD YOUR HOME NOW
wi'l
ha\ e
I <let ready for spring!
| With the first warm days of spring y<
| <\ant ti lie in your own home where \ou c;
, everythiin! just a- you want.
j hardens, with fresh vegetables for the table:
(lower beds, trees and grassy plots to beautify the
1 place; a sand pi.e for kiddies to plav on—that's a
; real home!
Ihiihling a home requires no big outlav of ready
: money. If you own a building site or have saved
( enough niotie) for one, there are a number of
places where you can get quite a sum toward
building your home—enough, anyway, to make
an initial payment with the opportunity of pav-
ing the balance like paying rent;
lUiild vour home nowl
, 1 worth having is what you uet by de-
a nurry to sa\c veioping lite resources of your com-
munity. When it fails to do that,
it has 110 right 10 exist.
"I have read many works oil sales-
manship and ethics, hut the best I
ha\ 1 ever read is a hook my mother
gave me when I was 11 years old
and that was neglected by me lor
thirty-five years. Then I found two
hundred marked passages in it.
Sortie people call it the Bible.
"If yon don't put a little indivi-
duality into your business; if you
don't yet a little bit o[ pleasure out
oi \otir work; if you don't get out
and mingle with your fellowmen,
your neighbors and their children'
you'll grow stale and your business
will take wings. If you want to
amount io something as a business
j man forgei the scramble for money.
The eagle on the American dollar
should be replaced by the stork.
The eagle does nothing but scream;
the stork delivers the goods."
Iht\ a load of wood from a farmer and therein-
help tlu man who is trying to help himself.
PLANT A TREE
Nothing adds to the attractiveness of a home or
a town hum", than beautiful shade trees, and noth-
ing will enhance the value of propertv more
• liiickK 1.01 >k at the towns on the prairie that
have no shade trees, I'hey look lonesome and
'e- "iatc ' hey are unattractive and uninviting. |
Norman lias the reputation of being the best
shaded town for its -i/c in Oklahoma, but the
toe n is growing and more trees should lie set
out. Some tiees have died. lliese need to be
replaced.
Lit even citizen plant a tree where one is"
lived. 1 It is little and ! ti ;• well spent.
BITS OF FUN
Lady oi the House- "You say you
liaven't hud anything to eat today."
Tramp "Lady, th- only thing
I've su altered today i* ;,n in :lt
Mrs
will be
again.
Mrs.
A Long Separation
Gawler.—1 expect your bal \
much larger when I see Iter
4
s; .trp—I hope so.
CODE OF ETHICS
FOR JOURNALISTS |
i ai . . r . f vamm „}
'"Astfing a standard based upon
truth, sincerity, thoroughness, jus-
tice, mercy kindliness and moderation
the Oregon State Editorial Associa-
tion adopted recently at a meeting a
code of ethics intended ,to be a
guide to the profession of journal-
ism in the state.
The rode was prepared* by Dean
Colin Dyinent, oi" the University of
Oregon, at the direction of the asso-
ciation and was unanimously approv-
ed by a representative gathering of
Oregon editors and publishers who
pledged themselves to adhere to its
precepts.
Thee arc seven sections to the
code and they go in detail into all
practices and relationships of journal-
ism. The first is headed "Sincerity
and Truth" and declared for accur-
acy in editorial, advertisement, arti-
cle or news story.
"Care, Competency, Thoroughness"
is the caption of the seccond section
which includes among its deqlara-
tions the following: "By study and
inquiry and obbservation, we will
constantly aim to improve ourselves
so that our writings may be more
authentic, and of greater perspective
'.land t«. bar such advertising which
j I tin publisher ha9 reason to believe
will deceive the reader.
"We will not advertise our own
newspaper or its circulation boast-
fully or otherwise in terms not in
harmony with the clauses of this
code of ethics-" is another provision
of this section which concludes with
the following: "We will not mal;r?
our printing facilities available for
the production of advertising which
we lylievc to be socially harmful or
fraudulent in its intent."
iFamous Sayings of Lincoln}
| it will be the best act of your lfe.'
1 11 No man is good en
"Work- work, work."
' Hold Oil with a hull-dog grip " | "No man is good enoegh tn gov-
"It's all in the one word, THQR- cm another man without that oth-
the last, the bcM
er man s consent.
"A man has no time to spend in
quarrels. If any man erases to at-
tack me 1 never remember the past
against him."
"The importance for man and
beast of tho prescribed weekly
upcrfluity of what rest, the sacred rights of Christian
! soldiers and sailors, ."re becoming
OUG1L"
"Freedom
hope on earth."
"Nothing valuable can be lost by
taking time."
"Calling a. sheep's tail a leg does-
n't make it so."
"Wealth is a
we don't need."
'Many have got into a HABIT of | deference to the best sentiments of
being dissatisfied." 11 Christian divine will, demand that
Sunday labor be reduced to the
| measure of strict necessity."
j "I desire to see the time when
then
an ob-
Therc
the
relies
oil, of the
itioned in
the
upon
the
Son's Pulchritudc
Lather "Well, now thai you've
seen iny son, which side of the house
do you think he resembles?"
Lniend- "H'm; of course- his full j
beauty is not yet developed, but j
surely ycu do not suggest that he , ay
look like the : ide ol a house! ' thi
and more conducive t
good."
Protection, within
rights of individuals
public documents, re \
effect on "good -toric
editorial policies "is a principle ii
eluded in the section devoted t
'Justice, ' M.ercy. lvindlim ' i h;
section also declared against inakin
"privileged utterance" a cloak fa
unjust attack, or spiteful venting, <
carelessness in investigation
cases of parties or persons.
Avoid Hasty Conclusions.
"We will endeavor to avoid the in
justice that springs from hasty con-
clusion in editorial or reportorial or
interpretative practice" i a princi-
ple laid down in section 4. devoted
to "Moderation, Conservatism, Pro-
portion." This section al-o provide
against distortion of news by im-
proper emphasis, skillful arrange-
ments or by devices of typography
or rhetoric.
The section declaring against
partisanship and propaganda sets
forth the following; "We will not
permit unless in exceptional eases,
the publishing of news and ditorial
matter not prepared 1 y ourselves or
our stai/s, believing that original
matter U the best answer to the peril
of propaganda."
"No man who is not in t-thical ad-
■ atlee of the average of iii> com-
munity should be in the profession
of journalism." is a declaration in
the section devoted to "Public Serv-
ice alld Socia 1 Policy." "\\e w ill
keep our w ritings and our public i-
tions free from unrcfinement, ex-
cept so far a^ we may sincerely be-
lieve publication o! sordid details
to be for the social good," ays one
article of this section.
Advertising Statidaids.
On advertising and circulation the
code pledges the Orgon newspapet-
nien to co-operate with tliu-■ special
Disenthrall ourselve
shall save ourselves."
"When you can't remove
stacle, plough around it."
"Discourage litigation.
will still be business enough.
"God bless my mother.
or hope to be I owe to her."
sure you put your l et in the
social i right place, then stand firm."
"Winn vou have written a wrath-
ful letter—put it in the stove."
"Suspicion and jealousy never
■ id help any man in any situation. '
"Never get between the woman's
skillet and the man's axhelve."
"Shakespeare was the best judge
of human nature that ever wrote.
"It is better only sometimes t<>
right than at all times to be wrong."
"If men never began to drink they
would never become drunkard-.
"Don't shoot too high aim low
and the common people wiill under-
stand."
"I do not think much of ,i man
who is not wiser today than he was
} rsterday."
"Gold is good in its place; but
loving, brave, patriotic men are bet-
ter than gold "
"Would you undertake to disprove
a proposition in Luclid by calling
Kuciid a liar?"
"I am like the boy that stumped
his toe: hurt too much to laugh and
too big to cry."
"Meet face to face and converse
together—the best way to etiacc
unpleasant feeling."
"I want it said of me that I
plucked a thistle and planted a
flower where 1 thought a flower
would grow."
I et not him wlu is homeless puM
down the house of another, but let
him labor diligently to build one for
himself."
"Vou may fool all of the people
some of the time and ome of the
people ill oi the time, but you can
not loed all ot the people all of the
time."
"If al lthat has been said in praise
of woman were applied to the women
of America, it would not do them
justice. God bliss the women of
America."
" lhe Lord must love the common
people that's why lie made o many
education- by it- means morality,
sobriety, enterprise and integrity,
hall become much more general
1 am ] than at present, and should be grat-
! ified to have it in my power to eon-
tribute something to the advancc-
' incut of niv me'1 sure winch might
| have a tendency to accelerate the
j happy period."
"And when the victory shall be
jcompliti—when there shall be neith-
! er a slave nor a drunkard on earth—
| l.ow proud the title of the land, which
1 mav truly claim to be the birthplace
j and the cradle of i «#th those rcsolu-
I lions that shall ha• e endi J in that
•etoryl How nobly distinguished
iat people, who shall have planted,
ud nnrtered to maturity, both the
al freedom of their
political and moi
species!"
"The dogmas
are inadequate
present."
"Capital has it
f the quiet past
to the stormy
rights
ncies whose busine
ethical standards
it is to raise
advertising.
| of them."
I ' keep that temperance
pledge and
whoch are
as worthy « f protection, as any rights
nor is it denied that there is. and
probably always will le, a relaton
between labor and capital producing
mutual benefits. No men living arj
more worthy to be trusted than those
who t"il up £rom poverty none lew
inclined to take or touch aught
which they have not honestly earn-
ed."
"My boy. never try to be Presi-
dent! If you do, you never will be."
"There is no grievance that is a
fit obect of redress by mob law."
"I*aith in God is indispensable to
successful statesmanship."
"Come what will, I will keep my
faith with friend and foe."
"That some are rich shows that
others may become rich."
"Public opinion ill this country is
everything."
"Is a man to blame for having a
pair of cowardly legs?"
"I know I am right because I
Know liberty is right."
"Let us to\e faith that tight
makes might."
"Don't swap horses in crossing a
stVeam."
"I can bear censure- but not in-
sult."
"We cannot escape history."
"Ui\e the bo^s a chance."
♦
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Norman Transcript (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 19, Ed. 1 Sunday, February 12, 1922, newspaper, February 12, 1922; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc114544/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.