Lawton Constitution-Democrat (Lawton, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 23, 1908 Page: 1 of 8
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A Larger Circulation Than Any Other Ttouo comanche County Jfebujpaper* C*
THE WEATKEB i'OKECAST.
For Southwest Oklahoma—Tonight,
and Thursday partly cloudy.
LAWTON CONSTITUTION-DEMOCRAT
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR COMANCHE COCNTY A>B THE (ITT OF LAWTON.
PO IOC GET Tor* PAPER!
If yon do not get your paper by 6:30
p. m., phone 76 and It will b« eest to
yon.
SIXTH YEAR NO 51
WEEKLY EDITION
LAWTON,OKLA., THURSDAY. APRIL S3, 190fi
OoiiholUlftt ton of nlltbe lfmorrfttlc n w np*prr t hot h ave evf be« n prlrt«*d In Lawton
l>eui<K-rat. JefTr rtonlnn, Pout, Knterprlae. Htat.|I>vmo(-rat and Cnn tltui on
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL
COLLEGE LOCATED AT LAWTON
Representative J. Roy V. imams Introduces
a Bill in the Legislature Providing for a
District School to Be Located Here
IN HEART OF NEW COUNTRY
Many Contests Arc in for the Location of ihe \arious Stale In-
stitutions; the Nev Country Has Not Been Recognized Here-
tofore; Lawton the Veal Place for the Scoool
Guthrie, April 2. — Representative
J. Roy Williams introduced a bill in
the house today providing for a dis-
trict agricultural and mechanical col-
lege to be located at Lawton. It is to
be a branch of the state Agricultural
and Mechanical college at Stillwater.
It is probable that the congress of ihe
United States will make appropriation
•within the next two years for district
agricultural schools and the legisla-
ture is contemplating the establish-
ment of one of such schools in each
of the supreme court judicial districts
of the state. Mr. Williams' bill seeks
to locate the institution for the fourth
supreme court judicial district at Law
ton and directs the commissioner of
the land office to set aside and with-
hold from sale a quarter section of
the public building lands for that pur-
pose or to exchange a quarter section
of the public building lands for a
quarter section of equal value belong-
ing to any other fund and set the same
apart for the proposed school.
The bill carries an appropriation of
$50,000 fcr the erection of the build.ug
and an appropriation of $5,000 to pur-
chase the furnishings.
Mr. Williams has raised the point
that there is not a state institution
south of the "Choctaw" and west of
the "Santa Fe" railroads in Oklahoma.
This area comprises one fourth of the
state, Lawton the largest city in this
territory is situated in a magnificent
country, with splendid railway fatal-
ities and t eautiful environments and
Comanche county's representative in-
sists that there is not another such a
city within all of the broad confines
of the new state.
A strong argument is presented in
behalf of locating an institution at
lawton in the fact that Kiowa and
Comanche county has not participated
in the location of the present state
institutions not having been opened
to settlement when they were estab-
lished. It is on the same footing as
that portion of the state forme."•■'v
known as the Indian Territory with
the exception in its favor that it has
try was opened to settlement nearly
seven years ago.
Agricultural education is the most
important department of educational
work. The biggest problem before
the American people is to educate the
been contributing to the support of
the state institutions since the coun-
girls and boys back to the farm in-
stead of educating them away from
ihe homestead.
The Oklahoma constitution requires
that agriculture be taught in the pub-
lic schools and it will only be a few
years until th*1 new state will lead all
of the states in the union in this im-
portant branch of educational work.
The contest between the enterpris-
ing cities and towns of the state fo
state institutions is going to be son
thing fierce. Those in the j'j.ubi of
legislation to be located are a peni-
tentiary, another insane asylum,three
additional normal schools, an indus-
trial school, school for the blind,
school for the deaf, a girl industrial
school and five UlstrlCt agricultural
colleges.
Chickasha wants the girls industrial
8choll, Duncan would like one oi the
normal schools and lawton will be
satisfied with the district agricultur-
al college. The city is the center of
a broad expanse of rolling prairie
traversed by many indulating streams
the great agricultural region of the
southwest where trains mixed with
the soil count for so much in increas-
ing the materia! wealth and prosper-
ity of the state. The citizens of the
state rather admire the dash, the en-
ergy and the enterprise of Lawton.
It is the greatest city of its age in the
new state and its progress and devel-
opment has furnished an inspiration
for many of the older cities and towns.
A district agricultural school at Law-
ton it seems is in the nature a befit-
ting thing in the location of the new
state institutions.
Oklahoma Jeweler*.
Oklahoma City. Okla., April 22.—
Jewelers and opticians of the new
state are arriving in Oklahoma City
today to take part in a joint conven-
tion of the two state bodies, which
will be held here during the next two
days.
Adjourns Legislature.
Albany, N. Y., April 22. — The
present session of the New York leg-
islature wll finally adjourn tomorrow,
in accordance with th" senate reso-
lution. which was concurred in by the
house. "he principal feature of th**
session now closirg has been thy 3ght
for and against the passage of the
bill abolishing ra^-e-track gambling,
in which Governor Hughe* took a
prominent part.
Mrs. Braitsch returned yesterday to
Wichita. Kavsas. after an extended
visit with Mio. L. A. Chase.
TEACHERS MEET
HERE SATURDAY
Hate Planned an Attractive and En-
tercsting Program.—Teachers
From Other Counties Coming.
The teachers of Comanche county
will hold their regular quarterly as-
sociation at the high school building
in Lawton Saturday, April 25th.
The committee has arranged a most
attractive program for this meeting.
The feature of which will be address-
es morning and afternoon on live top-
ics on education by Dr. Byron W
lg oi' the Pittsburg school of ora-
f ^ry.
fp.ny teachers from neighboring
counties who have heard of Mr.
King's wonderful ability as a lecturer
and teacher have signified their in-
tention of being present. It is hoped
that every teacher in the county may
be present at this meting.
School patrons are specially re-
quested to be present and to partici-
pate in the program to the end that
parents and teachers may come to a
better understanding on educational
matters of interest.
Dr. King will deliver lectures at
the opera house o nFriday and Satur-
day evenings.
MOST IMPORTANT ACT
FOR WELFARE OF PEOPLE
Guthrie, Okla., April 22. — Without
a dissenting vote from the democrats
in either house, the legislature this
week finally fulfilled democracy's
pledge to the people by enacting a law
that puts in practical operation the
principles of the initiative and referen-
dum as provided for in the state consti
tution. The measure was known as
house bill No. 174 and was introduced
by Speaker Murray. The bill as final-
ly passed by both houses was present-
ed to Governor Haskell by Speaker
Murray and Senator Henry S. Johnson
on April 16. From the time the bill
was presented until the governor had
affixed his signature was less than six-
ty seconds. In signing the governor
used two pens, one of which was pres-
sened to Murray and the other to John
son.
"I consider this the most important
act, in its final effect on the welfare
of our people, that the legislature
could enact,' declared Governor Has-
kell. "I never expect to affix my signa-
ture to an instrument that will prove
of greater benefit to the people of any
state or community."
Under the act, as is provided in the
constitution, any law passed by the
legislature must be submitted to the
people for their approval before it
goes into efTect, when a petition
signed by five per cent of the legal
voters of the state is presented, ask-
ing for a referendum vote on the
same. To Initiative a new law it Is
necessary for eight per cent of the
voters to sign a petition asking for
the submission of the law to a vote
of the people. Ample provision is
made to protect from fraud in the
preparation of the petitions. No per-
son is allowed,, under the law, to
sign the name of any other person to
| such a petition. All signers must af-
Ifix their own signatures.
ENID WAVE WILL II ECO ME
REPUBLICAN MORNING PAPER
IK 1). Campbell of Lima, Ohio. Has
ftought the Paper—H. P.
Crouse to Be Editor.
Enid, Ok..April 22.—A deal was con-
summated today by which D. D. Camp-
bell of Lima, O., becomes the owner
of the Enid Wave. The i^litics of the
paper will be changed to republican
and It will be a morning paper. H. P.
Crouse late of the Enid Eagle will be
the editor and Mr. Campbell will han-
dle the business end of the paper. It
is also reported that a portion of the
defunct Oklahoma City Post plant has
been purchased as the Wave plant is
inadequate for the publication of a
modern morning paper/This leaves but
one democratic paper In the county,
the Weekly Democrat.
Minister Wi To Talkee.
Washington, April 22. — Dr. Wu
Ting-Fang, Chinese mini.t-. to the
United States, Mexico and Peru, will
begin a speaking tour to light with
an address before the Asiatic ;«r.roci-
ation in New York. Tomorrow he
will go to Boston and will address ihe
Merchants' club on the Jjbject of
"The Commercial Development of
China." After his Boston visit he
will return to New York to speak
before the Civic Forum in Carnegie
Hall.
Dr. Wu has persistently refused to
discuss the troubles existing between
his nation and Japan and it is not
likely that he will make and refer-
ence to the subject in the speeches.
All reference to the Tatsu Maru inci-
rent is also avoided by the witty and
scholarly Chinese diplomat, but the
twinkle tn his eyes when the subject
is broached bespeaks an inward satis-
faction at the termination of the trou-
ble.
Dixie Barters in Session.
Columbia, 8. C., April 22. — Nearly
every financial institution in the state
is represented among the delegates
here today for the eighth anual con-
vention of the South Carolina Bankers'
association. The meeting begins to-
night with a social function, followed
by business sessions tomorrow and
Friday. The annual banquet will be
held Friday evening. Visiting bank-
ers report prosperous conditions all
over the state.
Make Money.
I want an agent in every town In
Comnache county to write crop insur-
ance. Call or write at once for con-
tract and supples. J. E. Siders, 405
Fifth Street, Lawton, Okla. 4-22 w It
Walter Completes Catholic Church.
Walter, Okla., April 22.—The new
Catholic church here has just been
completed. There are about twenty-
five families in the congregation, and
the new building is one of the finest
places of worship in this section.
Hospital Aid Society.
All ladies interested in organizing a
hospital aid society please meet
promptly at three p. in., Saturday, Apr.
25 at the Lav/ton Hospital, corner of
First and C Avenue. This is a worthy
cause in which we should all be will-
ing to take our part. 4-22 d 3t
Canadian Teacher*.
Vancouver, B. C., April 22. —
Hundreds of British Columbian peda-
gogues are in Vancouver for the 11th
anual convention of the Provincial
Teachers' Institute, which opened this
morning for a session of three days.
Several prominent educators of this
and other provinces will address the
convention.
THE OCR WAY
Cafe De Laze
What Is good we hive
What we have Is geed.
F; H. BEA8LEY, Prop.
MURDER
IN FIRST
DEGREE
The Wife Murderer is
Found Guilty
WILL PROB'LY HANG
Prisoner Will Be Placed in Soli-
tary Confinement in
Death Cell
Found guilt} oi 'uni« r in the first
degree, the negro Frank Ford will
probably pay the peualtv. for the mur-
der of Ills wife. Ia>t June, while she
was sleeping with her babe on her
arm. ut their home near Manitou, by
hanging by the neck until he is dead.
The jury returned a verdict yester-
day afternoon after being out thirty
minutes, finding Frank Ford guilty
of muider in the first degree and rec-
ommended the death sentence.
Ford has been confined in the Co-
manche County jail since the crime
and will probably be returned here
within a few days ar 1 confined in the
death cell, with a guard continually
on duty.
The ease was tried before Judge
Johnson in the district bench in Till-
man county. Judge Cunningham as-
sisted the county attorney in the pro-
secution.
Ford murdered his wife while she
slept in her bed,with iier baby on V r
arm. the night of June 16, li«07,at their
home near Manhou. He shot her twice
with a revolver, then escaped. Next
morning ueighbors discovered the
body of the woman and the authori-
ties were informed fc\>rt! was captured
that night several miles away and-tak-
en to jail at Lawton, the case having
been committed in what was at that
time a section of Comanche county.
Judge J. T. Johnson impaneled the
jury yesterday and the trial began
that morning. Ford made little de-
fense to substantiate his plea of not
guilty.
Ford is about 40 years old and a
farmer. Wh^e he way'known to have
been cruel toward his family no im-
mediate cause for the deed has been
discovered.
Elite Openinir Belau d.
E. Grain, proprietor of the Elite
ture show, is fitting up swell quar-
ters for his show in the building form-
erly occupied by the People's Bargain
store on D Avenue near the corner of
Fourth.
Mr. Crain intended to open his
{splendid electric theater this evening
but on account of scarcity of laborers
he was unable to get the work complet
ed and will therefore be unable to open
tonight but will have the Elite formal-
ly opened with a fine program tomor-
row evening. The Elite in its new
home will be one of the swellest shows
of the kind not only in Lawton but in
this part of the state.
COUNTY CLERK
SENDS NOTICE
TO ASSESSORS
Towuthlp Assessors Will Begin Their
Duties of Listing Property For
Taxation At Once.
County Clerk Milt Haynes is send-
ing out instructions to the township
assessors today notifying them to be-
gin work at once and have their work
completed and ready for the board of
equalization by the first Monday in
July. He is sending to each assessor
a copy of house bill No. 380 passed by
the legislature and now a law, pro-
viding for the assessment of property
for taxation.
The assessments on personal prop-
erty date back to March 1st and the
property listed should be that owned
on that day. The assessors were ad-
vised not to begin work at that time
as there was legislation pending that if
passed would change the time to May
1st instead of March 1st. However
the county clerk says "there is plenty
of time for the assesors to complete
their work before the. board of equali-
zation meets in July.
Strong BUI Tonight.
"Are you an Elk'' and "Hunting a
Hut band" are the two bills tha*. will
be giound from ttn reel at the Elec-
tric Parlor tonigtit All Antlers and
prospective Elks should oe interest-
ed in the first au nb-*r and the ladles
of course will be interested in the
husband hunting pure of the program.
Each number is a one and taken
together makes thU evening's bill a
strong one.
LEGISLATURE
will
Guthre. Okla., April 22.—On a joint
resolution Introduced in the lower
bouse this morning, the legislature
will adjourn next Saturday, April 25,
until May 11.
Fight in New Hampshire.
Concord. N. H.. April 22. — New
Hampshire's republican state conven-
tion was called to order at 11 o'clock
this morning. After the transaction
of preliminary business, adjournment
was taken until thir afternoon. Early
appearances indicated a hot fight be-
tween the Taft supporters and the
faction seeking an uninstructed dele-
gation to Chicago.
One of the strongest public orators
and lecturers of the day, Byron King.
Seats on sale at Messingers.
MANY FIRMS ARE
AFTER CONTRACT
Contractor Bryan Is letting Sub.( on-
tracts on First National Hank
Building—Block Will Furnish
The Lumber.
-i. B. Bryan, formerly of Lone Wolf
now of Lawton, who has been awarded
the con'ract for erecting the new
First National Bank building is busy
today with representatives of various
material concern?
The Block Lumber company of this
city will <u;nish the lumber for the
building and Joseph Meyer has the
contract for the stone work.
Jacques-Bokhof Co., of Dallas, Tex.,
TJhe Pioneer Co.. of Kansas City, Mo.,
Christopher & Simpson of Dallas and
many other firms are among the
bidders.
Geo. W. Geutzman of Dallas, W. M.
Fowler of Oklahoma Cfcy. II. M. Little
and U. S. Sherman alao of Oklahoma
City are here urging the claims of
their respective firms hoping to be the
lucky bidder.
Each bidder is asking for the con-
tract to furnish only a certain kind
material. All the bidders are on
the anxious seat waiting to hear the
names of the lucky bidders announc-
ed.
The men who are here say that the
First National building when comple-
ted will be second to none of its size
in the southwest.
Landslide Struck Train.
Spokane, April 22.—Oriental limited
No. 2,the Great Northern's fas passen-
ger train, east bound,was wrecked and
burned near Summit. Mont..this morn-
ing. At almost the highest point in
the Rocky mountains, the train struck
a landslide, demolishing the engine
and upsetting or derailing every car.
The wreck caught fire and every car
except the standard sleeper and the
observation car were destroyed. No
one was seriously hurt by the wreck.
For Thaw's Release.
Poughkeepsle. April 22. — The first
step toward the release of H. K. Thaw
from Mattaewan asylum was taken to-
day. Pames Graham, of Thaw's coun-
sel, made application to Justice Mor-
scheau at White Plains for an order
directing the superintendent of the
asylum to permit Thaw to sign a for-
mal application for a writ of habeas
corpus. The order was granted and
when Thaw has made the application
he will probably be brought before a
justice to determine whether or not he
is sane.
Syracuse Baseball.
Syracuse, N. Y., April 22. — Syra-
cuse University will meet the base-
ball nine of Franklin and Marshall
here tomorrow, opening the most am-
bitions schedule ever attempted by
the local institution. Among the
games on the list are contests with
Yale, Princeton, Pennsylvania State,
Brown, Columbia. Carlisle, Notre
Dame and Michigan.
Baseball In Blue Wrens.
I^ouisville, Ky., April 22. — The
Bluegrass League of Baseball Clubs
will begin the 1908 season this after-
noon, with most flattering prospects
for a successful year. The league in-
cludes lexington, Frankfort, Rich-
mond, Shelbyville, Lawrence and Ver-
sailles.
Extracts from speech of Hon.
Scott Ferris on removal of restrictions
from Indians.
The progress and development of
the Indian citizen make the removul
of restrictions oil the sale of their
lauds imperative.
The progress and development of
the new state demand the removul of
restrictions.
Equality, Justice, aud good govern-
ment de in slid it.
The Sixtieth Congress should hear
our appeals and afford Okluhoma tills
relief.
The bill renm'fts the -ec'rictina*
from the freedmen, or the negro; the
inter-married white, and the mixed
blood of less than half Indian blood.
The Interior department still re-
tains the management of the lands of
the full bloods and of those of more
than half Indian blood.
There are 101,000 Indians in the
new state. Of these 24,669 are full
bloods, 50,670 are mixed bloods, 2,-
506 are inter married and 23,382 are
freedmen.
Reck Island Balasts.
Waurika, Okla., April 22.—Crews.of
men were started out today to balast
the Rock Island branch from this city
to Enid. Rock will be rn^sd. The
crusher at Richards is ginning full
time and 200 tons of rock is being pre-
pared every day.
RESTRICTIONS BILL
PASSESTHE HOUSE
Strong Fight Has Been Made by Oklahoma
Delegation in Congress to Permit the Sale
of Indian Lands in New State
WILL PASSJENATE SOON
The Removal of Restrictions Will Open Thousands of Acres of
Land to Settlement and Taxation and Materially Aid in De-
velopment of Eastern Half of the State
* Restriction Bill Pass* House. *
Special to Constitution-Democrat.
Washington, I). C„ April 22.
—Bill for the removal of restric-
tions lias just passed the house.
Mgger clause and federal court
clause eliminated. Bill will
pass the senate sure and soon.
SCOTT PER KIN.
Bryan To Address Editors.
New York, April 22. — Editors
and publishers of prominent news-
papers In all parts of the United
States are in attendance today at the
annual meetings of the Associated
Press and the American Newspeper
Publishers' association. The con-
vention will close with a banquet,
which will be addresed by William
J. Bryan and other prominent men.
Bryan In Ha: Stale.
Boston, April 22. — Although there
are contests in only six of the
twemy-flve Boston warrti at the dem-
ocrat caucuses today, It is evident
from the indications that George Fred
Williams and his wing of the democ-
racy will make a determined attemut
to capture the democratic state con-
vention and send a pledged delegation
to Denver for Bryan.
In a large majority of the wards the
candidates for delegates to the state
convention and to the fourteen con-
gress district conventions arc not
pledged to anyone, but It is generally
understood that they woll be for
Bryan. Ward Sixteen is the only one
in the t Uy that is even favorable to
the nomination of Governoi Johnson
of Minnesota.
Similar conditions are reported
from other sections of the state and
it is likely that the Nebraskan will se-
cure a large majority of the delegates
from Massachusetts. The state con-
vention will be held in Boston on
May 7.
TO BUEAk <-! .> TOTIXti
OR BREAK THE TOTER8.
Shawnee, Okla., April 22.—"! am go-
ing to break up gun toting or break up
the gun toter8." declared Police Flow-
ers today on assessing a fine of $50
against a "toter" who was convicted
of the offense. "A gun toter". he con-
tinued, "instead of protecting himself
is a menace to other people. Hereafter
the fine for the first offense is $50 and
after that $100."
Conventions of Liberals.
St. lohn, N. B., April 22. — A con-
vention of the Liberals of the province
of New Brunswick was called here to-
day for the purpose of enabling the
new minister to discuss with his sup-
porters all matters of interest to the
party.
OKLAHOMA NEW TAX LAW
VALUATION AT CASH PRICE
Guthrie, Ok., April 22. — Oklahoma
now has a tax assessment law which
in some respects is an inovation. It
Is embodied In the Anthony-Hart-Smlth
tax assessment bill .which has been ap-
proved by the governor, and is now in
full force anr effect, being an emer-
gency measure. Up to the present time
tax assessors have been at a loss to
know how to proceed, as the constitu-
tion merely laid down the gene.al prin
ciples govering taxation leaving the
details to be worked out by the first
legislature. The assesors may now
proceed with the assessment for the
year 1908.
The new law in section 1 restates
the constitutional provision that all
taxable property shall be assessed at
its fair cash value, which Is constru-
ed to mean its actual cash value esti-
mated at the price it would bring at a
fair voluntary sale. The various as-
sessors must complete their work and
make their reports to the board of
equalization by the first Monday in
July.
The law provides that the assessors
shall actually administer an oath to
the property owner, who swears that
the property is placed at its actual
cash value and any assessor who fails
to do this is deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor.
(•one to Another World.
Mrs. Eva May Glffln, wife of Willi-
am S. Giffin died at her home 203 A
Avenue yesterday evening, at 6:15 of
typhoid pneumonia fever. She was 21
years. 6 months and 8 days old. She
was the youngest of nine children
and together with these leaves a aged
mother and father, and a score of
friends who sincerely mourn her de-
parture. She died at peace with her
maker, leaving k(nd messages to one
and all.
Funeral services will be held at the
Christian Church at 2 p. m. Thursday.
Baseball At BelelL
Beloit, Wis., April 22. — Beloit
College will begin the best baseball
schedule it has ever had tomorrow
when Notre Dame will be played at
South Bend. Games have been ar-
ranged with Michigan, De Pauw, Ar-
mour, Knox, Nebraska, Northwestern
and Lake Forest.
United Spanish War Veteran*.
The Henry W. Lawton Camp No. 6,
United Spanish War Veterans, is call-
ed to meet at the office of Comrade
Whlttington in the opera house build-
ing. on Fourth street, at 8 p. m. on
April 24, next. The meeting is called
to complete the muster and give all
recruits an opportunity to join the
camp before the great reunion at Gut
hrie which so many of the comrades
desire to attend.
All comrades are urgently request-
ed to be present on the 24th.
A. S. REAVES, Commander.
IMO Reward Far Return ef Wiane
Wichita, Kan., April 22.—A reward
of $500 for the return of Scott E. Win-
ne, president of the defunct land cred*
It company and Wlnne Mortgage com-
pany, which failed a month ago, haa
been offered by the directors In an ef-
fort to have him returned for trial.
Fred Thompson is in Oklahoma City
on business.
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Williams, J. Roy & Bixby, T. M. Lawton Constitution-Democrat (Lawton, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 23, 1908, newspaper, April 23, 1908; Lawton, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc119670/m1/1/?q=%22%22%7E1: accessed April 18, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.