The Norman Democrat-Topic (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 42, Ed. 1 Monday, February 12, 1912 Page: 1 of 4
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The Norman Democrat-Topic
VOLUME 23.
PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND FRIDAY OF EACH WEEK
NORMAN, CLEVELAND COUNTY, OKLAHOMA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1912.
COUNCIL MEETING.
Contract Let For Two Deep Wells.
—City Park to be Improved.
The city council met Tuesday night
with Mayor Sharp presiding and
seven of the eight members of the ,
council present. The contract for the I
boring of two deep wells was award
ed to T. B. Seawell of Oklahoma
City. The price is $1,280.
The park committee was instructed
to consult with Dr. A. 11. VanVlett
in regard to planting trees at tin-
park and making other improvement
Advance in Cotton Price.
The price of spot cotton in the big
markets of both this and foreign coun-
tries, is steadily advancing, about oik
dollar per bale being added to the
price in one day this week. A good
portion of the state of Texas and
most of the southeastern cotton belt,
this week received good rain?; and if
too much moisture does not follow,
the prospects for planting the crop
in good shape is bright In Oklaho-
ma it is too early to forecast what
the prospects are for a crop or what
the acreage will probably be. It i-
agreed, however, by all the farmers
that the acreage in Oklahoma will
be reduced and a diversified crop
planted no matter what the spring
weather may turn out to be.
STILL DuING
GOOD WORK
There Is No Let Up In
Norman's Rapid
Progress.
W A T E R SUPPLY
Of The City Is Unexcel-
led.—Two New
Wells Soon.
Farmers All Busy.
The majority of farmers in south
ern Oklahoma are busy this week
sowing oats or in active preparation
for the crop, which will be of unusu
al large acreage this spring In Texas
the crop has nearly all been sown,
and good weather for a few days'
time now will enable the farmers to
finish the work in this vicinity The
early sown fields of oats have made
a decidedly better yield and bettc-
grain than later sown fields in this
latitude, of late years.
Improving Court House Grounds.
Court house janitor, O. C. Adair,
has been using some of the county
convicts in fixing up the court house
grounds. On the north side deep
holes have been dug and trees will
be planted. Posts will be set close
to the curbing and a chain will be
stretched so that the farmers will
have a place to hitch their teams.
Prof. Buchanan A Delegate.
On several occasion- of late this
paper has referred to the excellent
water supply and system of this city
and almost daily the comparison is
made by someone with other and less
fortunate cities and communities in
the state. The extension of the water
system that is now being made her*,
will put the city in good shape for
years' time to come, as about all
additions will be reached and <er
vice extended to every point when
the people desire water service.
The work of sinking the two nev.
deep wells will be commenced very
soon now and as there is no doubt
at all about the securing of a plenti
ful supply of good water, there will
be no need of further expense for
many years to conn The people of
Oklahoma City this week voted the
sum of $100,000 in bonds for pre-
liminary work in securing a water
supply. In April next they will be
probably called upon to vote not
less than $200,000 more for the actu
al work of securing water. Whether
they will get an abundant supply of
water at any cost is problematical
and only time and a vast expenditure
of money can determine it
Norman is to be congratulated on
having so splendid a water supply
and at so little cost. It will prove
to be a blessing to all and a big fac-
tor in the upbuilding* of the city and
this community.
Governor Lee Cruce has commis-
sioned Prof. J. S Buchanan of this
city and ninety-nine other Oklaho-
mans as delegates to the Southern
Sociological Congress which will
meet in Nashville, Tennessee. May 7-
10 this year.
The congress was called by Gov-
ernor Ben W. Hooper for the pur-
pose of discussing social problems,
especially those relating to the south.
Bridge Committee Lets Contract.
The South Canadian bridge com-
mittee let the contract Monday night
to Capt. S. C. Hand to make the
soundings, draw specifications and
plans and make estimates and gene;
al survey for the proposed bridge.
This work costs the committee $300
Capt. Hand will begin work at
once and will likely report to the
committee within ten days.
Best $2.50 shoe in the world it
Rucker's.
Sam Davis returned to Okeemah
Tuesday afternoon.
Don't come to Norman next Wed
nesday as I will be closed that day.
—W. N. Rucker.
Mrs. Alice Barrett returned to
Stillwater Tuesday afternoon after a
few days visit with her daughter,
Miss Edith L. Barrett, stenographer
at the First National bank.
PLANS THE POSTAL HIGHWAY.
On date February 22, at Oklaho
ma City, the ways and means com-
mittee of the postal highway, con
sisting of one member from each
county through which the road run-,
will meet to plan for the beginning
of work upon the road in the differ
ent counties. The new highway pass
es entirely through Cleveland county
from north to south striking Norman
^ on the route.
The building of the road will be
a splendid improvement for this
| country and as it is expected plans
will be perfected to give liberal priz-
! es for the best stretches of road
built, the officials of this county
must look to it that a good repre
j sentation is made.
JOHN BROWN IN JAIL.
! John Brown who is yet in his
teens, was lodged in the county jail
Monday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff
L. B. Higbee of Lexington. On the
night of February 5th, the young
man admits he stole a horse from
Josh Lohden, a farmer in the south
part of the county. Mr. Higbee cap
tured him west of Bcrwyn. He had
traded the horse off.
The young man's parents are dead
j He has relatives living in Carter and
Payne counties. He was arraigned
before Justice Jack Ethridge at Lex-
; ington Monday and confessed. The
justice bound him over to the district
• ourt.
Keep In Mind
The fact that you may
always receive satisfaction
by trading with us
A Full Stock
Of Drugs, Cigars, Books,
and Stationery
BARBOUR & SON
The Leading Prescription Druggists
MRS. CRITTENDEN INJURED
IN RUNAWAY.
Mrs. Crittenden, wife of W. H.
Crittenden, owner of the West Side
Grocery, was seriously injured, though
not fatally, in a runaway Tuesday
afternoon. Mrs. Crittenden and son,
Lester, about four years old, were
out driving in the delivery wagon
and while coming east on Main Street
the horse started to run from the
Arline Hotel and ran full speed to a
point opposite Holland's store when
the horse crashed into a wagon throw-
ing Mrs. Crittenden out on the pa\ •
ing. The horse broke loose from the
veehicle and ran east. A crowd gath-
ered about the unconscious woman
and picking her up carried her to Dr.
Blachley's office and soon afterwards
conveye'd to her home over the
grocery store.
Between 12 and 1 o'clock Tuesday
night she became conscious and Wed
nesday morning she was able to talk
Her head and face are badly lacerat-
ed and it is thought that the shoulJ-
er blade is fractured. The boy man-
aged to get back in the bed of the
u-ag'on and escaped uninjured
To the People of Oklahoma.
At a state meeting of cotton grow-
ers andothers interested in the cot-
ton situation which was held in Ok-
lahoma City last Thursday, I was
selected as state superintendent for
the purpose of putting the "Rock
Hill Plan" into operation in this state
and Governor Cruce manifesting hi'
willingness, I accepted the obliga-
tion. To make this work a success in
Oklahoma, it is necessary for the
citizenship of the entire state to
heartily co-operate, and I take this
means of asking your enthusiastic
support.
The work has already been com-
menced. Within the next six weeks
an earnest endeavor will be made • 3
make a thorough canvass of every
cotton growing county in the state-
Other states are already at work.
This plan has been approved by
every state in the cotton belt, and
several of them have almost com-
pleted their canvassing at this time
As a matter of state pride, we can
not afford to let it be said that Ok-
lahoma has failed to do her full dutv.
As a matter of selfish interest it is
imperative that this plan of cutting
down the cotton acreage be perfect-
ed as speedily as possible. For any
breaks in the line of states will make
the organization that much less ef-
fective.
Under the "Rock Hill Plan" every
cotton grower in the state is request-
ed to pledge himself to the cutting
down of his cotton acreage for the
coming year. The small planter is
not asked to make as great a cutting
as the larger land owners, but those
in charge of the general movement
feel that it will be a failure unless
the cotton acreage of the United
States can be reduced at least 25 per
cent the coming season.
The State of Oklahoma was hon
ored at the recent meeting by hav
ing as a visitor, Mr. J. G. Anderson
of Rock Hill, South Carolina, the
man who originated the "Rock Hill
Plan" and who has accepted the posi-
tion as state superintendent for South
Carolina. Mr. Anderson is not di-
rectly interested in the cotton busi-
hess himself, being president of one
of the largest vehicle companies oi
the south, and is doing this work
from unselfish motives, as none ol
the state superintendents, of course,
receive any compensation whatso-
ever for their work It is a work that
must be done, and done quickly, and
the leading men of the entire south
are rallying to its support. North and
South Carolina, Georgia and Ala-
bama, Mississippi and Texas have
already made material progress to-
wards the completion of the canvas
in their states. The remainder of
the states in the cotton belt are at
work and there is no doubt of the
successful termination of the cam-
paign.
The crops of 1910 in round num-
bers was practically 12.000,000 hales,
which sold for a billion dollars. The
crop of 1911, conceded now to be at
'east 15,000,000 bales, will not yield
more than $700,000,000,00 We ar<
producing 3,000,000 more bales of cot
ton and selling it for $300,000,000 00
less. No greater argument than this
liould be brought to bear on our
farmers to impress -upon them the
necessity of reducing their acreage.
Statistics show that the smallert
crops of cotton bring the most m
ev Canvassers will call on all plant
ers a little later with pledges for their
signature, and when they do, we re
quest that you meet them cheerfully
and do not detain them. Sign the
pledge and let them go on their
way rejoicing. The time is short and
there is not a moment to spare A
list of those signing the pledges will
be published from time to time in
the county papers as they are re-
ported The same acreage as 1911
mean> five cent cotton. A 25 per cent
reduction for 1912 means 1:\ ir*
prices.
Yours respectfully,
W. J. CAUDIL1
State Superintendent
DEPUTY ABBOTT SHOT BY
WILL GEORGE.
Shot Pierces Side Below Heart.—An
Even Break For Life.—George
Makes Escape.—Threatened Offic-
ers Lives.
Deputy Sheriff W. IT Abbott was
seriously if not fatally wounded, be-
tween 12 and 1 o'clock Wednesday,
at the home of Sam Russell three
miles southeast of Denver by Will
George, who emptied the contents of
a shot gun loaded with number eight
shot at close range into the left side
just above the hip of the deputy.
After the shooting George ran up the
hill and was fi-ed upon by Mr. Ab-
bott who failed to hit him.
On Tuesday E V. George, son oi
Will George, made complaint in the
county court charging his father with
insanity. A warrant was issued and
Wednesday forenoon Deputy Abbott
accompanied by Claude Pickard dro\e
to the country east of Denver and
began a search. Pickard and Abbott
separated each going to different
houses, expecting to find George t
dinner.
Ira Hoy accompanied Mr Abbott
to the Sam Russell home and as they
came near the house George left the
table and went into an adjoining
room where he picked up a shot gun
and as the deputy ittempted to open
the door and enter the house George
fired ;rt a distance estimated at about
fifteen feet. George then ran and Ah
bott passed through the house and
seeing George making up the hill
fired a shot at him.
The wounded man was helped to
a bed and medical aid was sent for
Drs. Bobo, Clifton. Hirshfield and
W. I.. Capshaw left for the scene im-
mediately The doctors probeu the
wound which was about the sj/e of
a quarter and took out the pieces oi
clothing and gun wadding but made
no attempt to extract the number
eight shot. On Thursday morning the
report came in that the wounded man
rested well Wednesday night and
there is an even chance for his re-
covery. Fifty men organized t *> cap-
ture George who is making his way-
down the Little River bottoms
Soon after dark he was at J. L
Bohannon's house and left there lo
go to the Yandell farm. It is likely
that he was captured yesterd-iv
George was released from the asy-
lum some months ago and in com
pany with his brother went to Ar-
kansas where he remained a few
weeks and returned For the past
four years he has terrorized the neigh
borhood and made trouble foi his
wife and children.
For some days past he has been
east of Denver and on Monday went
to his wife's home and took posses-
sion. She left at once and went to a
neighbor's home.
It is thought that the posse will
take no chances when they meet up
with George as it is said he is armed.
W. 11. Abbott has been a deputy
sheriff under Sheriff Sale since \"o
vember 16, 1907, and is known as a
most fearless officer.
Expressions of regret over the
most unfortunate incident are numer-
ous. Mr. Abbott has a wife and seven
children.
Citizens from the Denver vicinity
say that George has made threat* to
kill Abbott, Sale and his own son
DIVORCE SUITS FILED.
Geo. M. Shippy a Nervous Wreck.
Geo. M. Shippy who resided on the
Barbour farm southwest of Norman
during 1910 is reported to be a nerv-
ous wreck at his home in Chicago
An Associated Press report sent
out from Chicago Monday says
George M Shippy, former chief of
police, who resigned in the Busse ad-
ministration while the state's attor
ncy was probing into graft charges
growing out of the McCann convic-
tion, is in a state of nervous collapse
at his home, 6421 Monroe Avenue
He is haunted by constant fear that
anarchists will avenge the death ->f
Lazarus Averbuch, whom he shot to
death when the anarchists called at
his home in March, 1908
Today he was denied to callers
who sought admittance to his home
The worry of the three years inter-
vening between the slaying of Aver-
buch and the secret threats of the
anarchists that they would "get Ship-
py" have told upon the powerful
physique and steely nerve of fihe
former police chief. He has fallen otf
in flesh and his eyes are sunken and
dull. Every sound disturbs him ami
his closest friends fear he never
will recover his health Suggestions
of trips to other climates and to new
surroundings are spurned, for he is
not in condition to withstand the
strain of traveling.
To his former associates and clo-c
friends he has confided his fear that
the assassins who failed to kill him
when he was strong and able to de
fend himself, may take his life now
that he is weak and powerless
Averbuch went to the home of
Chief Shippy with a letter According
to the chief, Averbuch drew a revol
ver and fired it at Harry Shippy. a
son, whereupon the chief shot him
four times. Anarchists have asserted
that Averbuch was murdered in cold
blood an a part of a police plot.
About the only cases filed by Dis
trie t Court Tom Cheatwood these
days are divorce suits. Since our last
issue Geo. A. Hawkins asks to have
the bonds of matrimony severed from
Lucy Hawkins The couple were mar-
ried at Atoka in 1889. The petition
alleges neglect and cruelty. They sep
arated last December. They have tw
daughters and a son named William
Jennings Bryan Hawkins. The par
cuts who would name their son after
the world's most famous citizen
should live in peace forever. Oliver
J Kennedy represents the plaintif'
Lucy Hawkins vs. Geo. A. Hawk-
ins js the title of a divorce suit filed
by Attorney J. D. Grigsby. The peti
tion alleges that defendant is an
habitual drunkard, quarrelsome and
abusive.
Pearl Bryant wants the court to
sever the ties of matrimony that bin
her to O J Bryant The couple were
married in Cleveland county nine
years ago and separated in August
1911. They have four children of ten-
der age The petition alleges gros^
and inhuman treatment The plaintin
asks for the custody of three child
ren. Ben F Williams represents Mrs
Bryant
Clara Becker has decided that life
i* a burden alter being married to
Wm T Becker for about two years
She alleges gross neglect of duty aii'.l
failure to support Ben !• William
is her attorney.
OKLAHOMA QUAIL KILLED
OFF.
That there is not a quail to be
found in Western Oklahoma, where
formerly there were thousands of
them, is the report brought back by
W II I Campbell, clerk of the Ok
lahoma supreme court and one of
the best known sportsmen of the
state, who spent the last week of the
quail season in Beckham and Roger
Mills counties.
"We found worlds of traps," said
Mr Campbell, "and there was evi
dence that the residents of that part
of the state had potted them by the
hundred while the snow was on
Some of them had probably frozen to
leath, at any rate they had been clean
•I out completely, so far as that part
of the state is concerned.
THE SEED CORN QUESTION.
If the farmers of this country are
readers of southern newspapers or
of seed catalogues sent out by Texas
seedsmen, they can scarcely fail to
notice that especial effort is being
made to sell Oklahoma seed This
does not reflect at all to the discredit
of Oklahoma but should, in fact, lead
the farmers here to wonder why Ok-
lahoma raised corn is not good enough
for planting here if it is, as claimed,
so superior for points further south
Home grown or acclimated corn is
the best if it is good, as all seed corn
should he, and the wise farmer will
see to it that he has the best to he
obtained. It is well to economize bur
never at the sacrifice of quality in
seed to be planted
Money to loan on real estate. See
ad. in this issue.—Griesmer & Fore-
man. Telephone No. 10.
Mr J. h Hartley left last week for
Denver, Colorado, to visit his daugh-
ter, Mrs. B. C. Study and family
Mrs. R. I) Payne arrived Wednes
day from Arkansas City for a few
days visit with Mr and Mrs John
Ewing.
R. V Downing, cashier of the
Farmers National Bank, attended the
Masonic Grand lodge at McAlester
this week.
Dr. and Mrs. Clifford Keiser will
occupy the Gould residence during
the temporary absence of Dr. Gould
and family
A marriage license was issued la«t
Wednesday to John Edward Lambert
age 25, of Oklahoma City, and Mis-
Inez McMillan age 24 ,of Norman
Mrs. Lizzie Smith while walking
in the back yard at the rear of her
millinery store Tuesday forenoon fe!l
and severely injured the ligaments
at the elbow on her left arm
Attorney Ben F. Williams received
a letter from Clinton Tue-day morn
ing stating that his father, Judge B
F. Williams Sr., was very low and
not expected to survive more than
a month.
Don't come to Norman Wednes-
day, February 21st, as I will be clos-
ed that day arranging $4,150 ship
ment of new goods, all underpriced
for this big sale, Thursday, Febru
ary 22—W. N. Rucker
Dr. C. N. Gould and family depart-
ed Wednesday afternoon for Musk"
gee where they will make their home
for some time Dr. Gould is manager
of a company that is promoting oil.
gas and coal properties in northeast
ern Oklahoma with headquarters at
Muskogee. Mr Gould and family
have no intention of permanently
leaving Norman as his property inter-
ests are here and he likes the town.
NEW GRAIN
CROP HERE
A Neglected Cereal In
Oklahoma That Is
Said To Be
WORTHY OF TRIAL.
A Government Kxpert
Tells of Value; Grows
On Variety of Soils.
In Oklahoma barley as a grain crop
has never been extensively raised
nor has it even been siven a thorough
trial so far as the writer has been
able to learn It has been raised to
some extent for a five years' past in
Cleveland county by a couple of
farmers who realized its value as a
stock food and they have secured
good yields of grain nearly every
year since they have been growing
the crop. Now that tin farmers here
have awakened to tin necessity of
planting diversified crops, no doubt
barley will be given mote attention
for it is to quite an extent a dry
weather crop and may be success
fully grown when corn and wheat
crops make a failure II H Deer, a
government expert on crops says re
garding it
Barley has generally not been con
sidered a dry land crop, but its suc-
cess in the western states during tin-
past few years as attracted attention
to its possibilities for that purpose
In the northern Great Plains and
Rocky Mountain state where corn
is an uncertain crop, barley will furn
ish an excellent feed for all kinds oi
farm animals. This fact has already
given an impetus to the growing of
live stock, especially hogs, through
out the northwest In the Rocky
Mountain and Pacific coast states
hooded, or beardless barley has lonv
been grown for hay, of which it furr. ,
ishes an excellent and highly palat
able crop, nearly equal to alfalfa in
feeding value.
Oklahoma farmers are beginninK
to realize the advantages of winter
barley over spring sown barley as a
grain crop. Winter barley, being fall
sown, has the advantage of an early
start in the spring and will frequentlv
produce a crop where spring sown
barley may fail. At present there are
but two forms of winter barley
grown in the west, the square-head i
Tennessee winter and the round-head
Utah winter
With the exception of sandy and
very alkaline land, parley can be
grown on a variety of soils, but the
best results are generally secured on
the prairie or alluvial loam soils
Barley is a more certain crop on al
kaline soils than is either wheat ot
Merchants Have Organized.
The merchants of McClain and
South Cleveland counties are organ
ized for their mutual protection from
the "bogus check artist," the prof< -
sional dead beat, and the advertising
grafter. Such organizations are of
as great benefit to the general pub
lie as to their members For instance
by reducing the merchants loss< s
from fake advertising he has that
much more money for legitimate
newspaper advertising. And by cut-
ting out losses on bad accounts he
can put goods at a better figure to
the honest customer
NUMBER FORTY-TWO.
NEW BUILDING COMPLETED.
Tht New University Building Now
Occupied.
After about four years' of time of
anxious waiting for the erection of
a suitable building, the students and
faculty of the University are now at
work in the new and handsome struc
ture lately completed. The new fur-
niture has not yet arrived and ar-
rangements of the rooms are not
complete but the work goes on in
a very satisfactory manner to all con-
cerned.
The occupancy of the new build-
ing is an occasion for rejoicing by
everyone here as it marks another
step in the march of progress for
Norman and all Oklahoma
Teachers of Cleveland County.
In order to give every boy, between
the ag< - of nine and eighteen year-,
a chance to enter the corn and cot-
ton contests and to compete for the
premiums to be awarded next fall. T
am forced t<> call
me get the boys
portant work
Please do not
first apport unity
upon you to help
<nt<> thi- very im-
lay thi- and the
on have makt i
list of all the boys m your school,
who wish to enter the contest, and
send to me The competitors must
grow either one acre of corn or two
acres of cotton or they may grow
both corn and cotton \nd must be
between the ages of nine and eigli
teen years Be sure you give each
boy's address, age. and crop which
he wishes to plant I have a cash
premium fund of $250.00 for the boys
in McClain county, to be awarded af
thi local county exhibit to be held
at the county -eat in order to have
the winners enter the state fair at
Oklahoma < itv I have a premium
fund started for club members in
< leveland county. In the next few
days 1 hope to be able to raise three
or four hundred dollars in Cleveland
county
Each boy must agree to read in-
structions given him by the lT S.
Department of Agriculture and cul-
tivate and do all work according to
those instructions. It will not be pos-
sible for ni< to get around to all the
schools in time, so please do not put
off sending me your lists.
H GARLAND,
Special Agent, U. S Department ot
Agriculture Purcell, Oklahoma
M. E. Church, South.
Preaching next Sunday, morning
and evening, by the pastor. Morning
subject. "A Study in Christ's Meth-
ods of Evangelism." Evening. "The
Life Abundant."
On February 25, this church will
begin a special campaign for Christ
and the church. Evangelistic services
will be held nightly for some time.
Fuller announcements will be made
next week
Everybody always welcome to all
the services of this church.
R I OWNBEY. Pastor
Presbyterian Church.
The subject of the morning ser
mon will be "The Church." The sub
ject of the evening sermon will be
"The Question Without an Answer."
S. E. HENRY.
Minister in Charge
Values await you at Rucker'
Thursday
J W Edwards left Wednesday for
Hereford, Texas, to visit a week
with hi- brother.
Rucker's will be closed Wednes
day preparing for the big sale Thurs-
day, February 22.
George Crump of Muskogee was
released from the asylum Tuesdav
on a writ of habeas corpu-
H DOWNING. Pres.
E K HIMES. Cashier
NORMAN STATE BANK
Norman, Oklahoma
Accounts of Merchants, Corporations
and Individuals Solicited
Your Deposits Are Guaranteed
Every Courtesy Extended Consistent With Con-
servative Banking
The Guaranteed Bank
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The Norman Democrat-Topic (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 42, Ed. 1 Monday, February 12, 1912, newspaper, February 12, 1912; Norman, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc120024/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.