The Geary Journal. (Geary, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 27, 1908 Page: 2 of 10
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STITE Ml Ltira
OMR CMBESPMBEirS VERSION OF 1HI
PROGRESS OF THE STATE
coyMissioNER will witch
Hail Companies Muit Hava Reaerva
Fund Sufficient to Meat Looses—
School Money to be Loaned to
Actual Farmera
The negroes of Oklahoma are con-
tributing money for the employment
of attorneys to carry the "Jim crow"
laws to the United States supreme
«ourt. They will bring from Wash-
ington a negro lawyer of national
reputation to conduct their case.
They purpose, also, to take ihe ques-
tion before the republican national
sonventlon in Chicago. They asked
lately in the federal court at Guthrie
for an Injunction and restraining or-
der against certain railroad compa-
nies to prevent their complying with
the law. claiming that separation
would make a dlatinction between
races forbidden in the statehood en-
abling act. The case was thrown out
of court on the ground that the j e-
tition did not state sufficient cause ror
action. The suit will be renewed. E.
P. McCabe. former assistant territo-
rial auditor, has taken the lead In
the matter.
Governor C. N. Haskell says that
he I* determined that the small farm-
ers of Oklahoma—those that live in
the "three and four room houses,"
as Amos Ewing used to say—shall
have the benefits of loans from the
IH-rmanent school fund, as against
the real estate speculators. In car-
rying out his plan. Governor Haskell
has induced his school land board to
Issue a warning to real estate specu-
lators that they need not apply to
the board for loans on farm prop-
erty. A number of these agents
have been applying for loans, hoping
"Where have the countless dead
been burled, whose taking off was pre,
dieted by persons who saw an irre-
pressible conflict coming between
the colonels who forget their r'a. and
live south of the North Canadian, and
the majors who sharpen their bowls
knives on the sandstones further
north?" The Oklahoman who asked
this question in a hotel lobby at
Guthrie was moved to It by two cltl-
aens of the state, one from the north
and the other from the south, engaged
in what seemed a deadly war of words.
The hip pocket of each bulged suapl-
cloualy. But no shooting Irons were
concealed therein—nothing but ordi-
nary contraband whiskey. The duel
of words in which they were engaged
related solely to the one question,
"How bad is bad bootleg whlakey?"
OPPOSED TO PHESENT BILl
SENATOR RODCIE SEES CHANCE
FOR A MONOPOLY
TIE DEN TEIT-IIOl BILL CONSIBEHED
MERGER I* ATTACKED
The fear of encounters at Guthrie
among the colonels and the majors
was not talked of flippantly ten
months ago. There was much shaking
of heads whenever the -subject waa
mentioned. "Yes, air, hell will break
loose whenever these northern and
southern fellows get mixed," was a
common remark. The constitutional
convention waa convened, and roaring
lions Jarred the hills of the nearby
Cimarron. The prospect was appall-
ing. Timid persons stayed off tha
streets, or called a carriage when
they went to the postofflce. The
county division agitators came, and
the danger of trouble wag Intensified.
It was a "dead moral certainty that
somebody would be killed before the
thing was over." Even "Alfalfa Bill"
Murray was suspected of carrying an
arsenal upon his person, and when he
arose in the convention In his wrath-
ful moods there were spectators who
Instinctively ducked their heads and
• 'n read-
iness for the grand rush. But "Alfalfa
Amsrican Book Company Would
Have Everything in Sight, Ac-
cording to Rodle'a Vlewa—House
Recommends Williams' Bill
Rialng to a question of personal
privilege during the discussion of
the Franklin-Wynne-Little text book
bill in the senate Monday, Senator
Roddle declared that should the bill
pass in ita preaent form it will give
the American Book Company a mo-
nopoly in Oklahoma. He instated
that the clause requiring the first
contract to be let for three years
would prevent other companies from
bidding to furniah books to the state.
Roddle denlod a atatement of Sena-
tor Blair in which he waa accused of
threatening to "inject a little hell
into the bill If his amendments were
not adopted." Roddle declared that
he was friendly to the measure.
The bill differs in many respects
with the uniform text book bill
which was passed in committee of
the whole by the house. It provides
for a text book commission composed
of the state superintendent, superin-
tendent of a city school, a county su-
perintendent, an elementary teach-
er In some higher institution of
learning, all of whom mu3t hold flrat
grade certificates. The text book
Instinctively duckeo tne.r ««« «£ comm!98,on 8ha„ ,et the contract for
looked toward the door to be iri read # uniform gygtem of text books to
Bill" didn't hurt anybody, and in time
tfie constitutional convention ad-
journed without having given a single
Job to the tombstone maker.
The Haskell-Cruce gubernatorial
campaign got under headway, and the
u.,„ same alarmists were ready to prove
In thla way to aid themselves In the that half the democratic politicians
sale of lands to farmers coming to, ln ,he state would be killed before
Oklahoma from other states. Many the democrats agreed upon a guaer-
of these applications were for loans j natorlal candidate. But every demo-
of large slae. Governor Haskell de- crmt showed remarkable tenacity upon
clarea that there should be many I life, and when the state government
loans of small site to small farmers, was organised and the legislature was
men who actually need the money to convened roll call showed every moth-
improve their farms The school land er-8 son 0f them present and able to
board will follow thla rule. , Slt up.
The prediction is made by numerous 1 For the third time the alarmists got
republican leaders that In the first t,uay w|th the advent of the state ad-
and second districts and In the itate ministration. This time the bloodshed
convention the delegates elected to j was going to be something awful. Sev-
the national convention will o* is- praj rurai undertakers thought of
■trueted for Taft, while in the third moving to Guthrie to engSge in busl-
and fifth districts, the outcome Is in ness. Both the state administration
diapnte. The fcurth distiict his elect. and the legislature have been under
ed Taft delegates The contest for | headway for several months. The col-
national committeeman is among C. i onels and the majors have fit many
M. Cade, of Shawnee; William John•! fights." but all have been bloodless
stone, of Bartlesville. A. E. Perry. I Both sides seem to be made out or
of Coalgate; Hugh Scott, of Pawhus-the same stuff, but have merely a
ka. and F. II. Greer, of Outhrle Or. different way of showing It. A real
the Oklahoma side of the state Cade )>ad man from the Texas Panhandle
has been making the most aggressive strolled Into Guthrie the other day.
campaign, and has had men at work and remarked that he believed ne
In the different counties. Perry ex could "stick a lightning bug on a corn
pecta to go to the convention with cob and make all the bad men in
the fourth district behind him. but! Guthrie jump through the window and
la having a hard factional fight at i stay out all night In the rain.
home. Johnstone counts upon the
third district Dennis Flynn and For the first time Oklahoma has a
Bird McGulre are tanking the race „ntform Byatem of recorda for coun-
for delegates at large from the west ty treasurers. The books and blanks
side of the state. Flynn at one time hJuve been designated by Chas. Tay-
was favorable to C. G. Jones of Ok lof 8tate examiner and Inspector,
lahoma, but Jones is againU instruc- Qne of the important features is
tlon. while Flynn, bein* for Taft and |hat each ^^ty treasurer muat
instructions, is now opposed to him. ahow a dally balance of receipts and
James Harris of Wagoner is making ,nB5jrHements. and that all moneys
a far-reaching campaign for delegate mugt bp de,poa|ted dally at the closo
at large from the east aide. He Is | Qf ^fcjng hours. Mr. Taylor will
the lowest bidder at a price aa low as
the company charges for the same
books under like conditions in other
states. No member of the legislature
may appear before the commission.
A provision was stricken out that ex-
cluded any book trust from bidding
on the grounds that the trust might
furnish books cheaper than any oth
er company. The senate refused to
accept the copies of the Joint rules
printed under the direction of the
state printer, on the ground that the
workmanship Is faulty and inaccu-
rate.
The house In committee of the
whole Monday recommended for pas-
sage the text book bill of Williams
of Comanche.
A substitute by Speaker Murray
for an amendment by Porter, a re-
publican, provides that whenever
Attorney Osnsral Instructed to Begin
Action Against Railroads
GUTHRIE: Attorney General West
was directed by Governor Haakell to STATE
file proceedings to dissolve the alleg-
ed merger between the Rock Island
and Friaco railways.
Such action was requested after the
governor had investigated a report
giving In detail the results of an ex-
amination Into the alleged Illegal
combination by the department of
justice.
The governor states that these tw>
systems cover the same lumbering
districts and agricultural areas and
are competitive In every s.-nae of the
word, and "there could have been no
ether motive for their consolidation
than that of destroying c- mpetltion
end building up a monopoly of the
biui&ess."
The governor concluded by point-
ing out the benefita that would ac-
crue to the people of Oklahoma by *
separation of these two systems.
Governor Haakell atated, as did
the attorney general, that ault will
be Instituted at onoe to dissolve the
alleged combination under the provi-
sions of the constitution that no two
competing lines of railway shall ever
be merged within this state. The suit
probably will.be brought ln the dia
trict court here.
The matter was brought to Gov-
ernor Haskell's attention In a letter
rrom Mr. West relating to rates ou
walnut lumber from Oklahoma City
to southern points as compared to
the schedule from Kansas City. The
attorney general atated that the rates
ha J been lowered by the Inter ittue
commerce commission, but should be
decreased still more.
FREE VACCINE TO FARMERS
Inctructlons and Vaccine Supplied by
Agricultural College
STILLWATER: A bulletin from
the Oklahoma experimental station
of the Agricultural and Mechauical
college Bays:
"Blackleg still continues to cause
much loss in Olahoma, in splta of
the fact that this disease may be en-
tirely prevented by the very simple
operation of vaccination. Fj- the
past eight years the experimental
station at Stillwater has beei fur-
nishing vaccine free of charge and
distribution is still continued.
"The work of vaccination may be
done by anyone who will follow care-
fully the simple directions which ac-
company all vaccine sent out. A
heavy hypodermic syringe is neces-
sary for injecting the vaccine. This
PDOHIOITIOICONTENTIIH
SENATE HAS A
FIGHT AHEAD
LONG
BILL HUE IE TIIIOtCIL! OI55EOTEI
possible books containing a non-par- j va^clne^^o^inj^tio'i
tlsan. accurate history, shall be pur-1 preparlw Ae Jgwise for^ ^
Thla nrnviiinn nnrnorti to i are furnished Dy
for Taft and instructions.
A name has been coined for li-
quors shipped into Oklahoma from
outside states for purposes contra-
band or otherwise. It is called "tel-
egraph" whiskey, whioh is closely
akin to "chained lightning." The
furniah samples of blanks and forms
upon application. It la supposed
tnat these records must be ordered
through the state printer. The
democratic editors of the state at a
meeting held lately at Guthrie, asked
the legislature to restrict the con-
trol of the state printer to the letting
is ordered by telegraph. The state
lately was flooded with circulars of
fering "good 20-year old whiskey at
|1 68 a gallon'" That kind la the A1
brasd o? "telegraph whiskey."
new name comes from the fact that contracta for the purchase of
much of the whiskey brought to Ok „rlntlng supplies for only state of-
laboma In these days of prohibition flcerg Under any circumstances.
there is no penalty for violating the
law creating the office of state print-
er and defining hia duties, and there
may be a tendency In some counties
to "disregard his supervision.
Incidentally. It may be said that
the Htate examiner and Inspector has
been having trouble getting the leg-
islature to allow an appropriation for
the maintenance of his office In
keeping with Its supposed Importance.
The Rtate examiner and inspector la
the watch dog" of the state and
county treasuries, and was elected
to prevent peculation in public funds.
He estimates that the proper admin-
irttratlon of his office would cost
$30 000 a vear. All of this sum.
however, is not to be paid by the
state. Each county must levy a tax
to defray the bulk of the coat of ex-
amining the office accounts of Ita
treasurer.
T. J. McComb, state insurance
commissioner, is preparing to inquire
into the standing and reliability of
all Insurance companies in Oklaho-
ma wherever there Is reason to sus-
pect that Miey are not on a aubstan-
tlal business basis. For this purpose
he has employed temporarily Paul L.
Woolston. an Insurance actuary of
Dag nr. Col H« win make a MRtwr
iif examinations of insurance compa
nles i.-titslde the state for Commis-
sioner McComb.
Commissioner McComb has Int-
l rejsed upon the different farmers
mutual insurance companies In the
Htate th • fact that they will be re-
quired to create a reserve fund to
enable them to pay all hall losses In
chased. This provision purports to
assure to the coilfThg generation of
the youngest state a strictly non-po-
lltlcal study of the civil war and the
surrounding and succeeding period.
Charges were made that histories
now In use do not give Just credit to
the confederacy In many instances.
An amendment by Fisher provides
that three-fourths instead of a ma-
jority of the text book board shall be
required to adopt any system of rec-
ords. An entirely new section by
Anthony provides that any member
of the board ahall bs guilty of a mis-
demeanor on conviction of having
accepted books at reduced prices or
any conalderatlon from book compa-
nies. Penalties range from a fine of
$100 to $r>00 to a Jail sentence of
30 davs to six months.
An "appropriation of $25,000 is pro-
vided.
At Its first meeting Monday night
th/ public buildings committee an-
nounced that it would conaider no
public hearings before March 25.
Applications may be mailed but it
will be useless for towns to send
committees. They will not be receiv-
ed before the date aet.
Speaker Murray has made public
the personnel of the public buildings
committee. A noteworthy feature of
the list is that none of the counties
which have candidates for the Per-
manent state capital Is represented.
Neither is the minority represented.
The committee ia composed of Du-
rant of Bryan county; Faulkner of
Kiowa; Lindsay of OarvlB. Hawkins
of Kav; Whltehurst of Beckham;
McElhaney of Pittsburg; Beck of Mc-
Intosh: Tandy of Rogers. Riddle of
Grady; Briggs of Greer; McCalla of
Love; Murdoch of Pawnee, and Hud-
son of Payne.
SOLDIERS LEAVE FORT
The outfit will last for years.
"Blackleg Is an Infectious disease
and animals dead froih It should be
burned or buried deeply without
skinning. When such animal is Bklnn-
ed the infection Is spread with the
blood and hide and. since the black-
leg germ lives for a long time, fur-
ther losses are assured whenever
conditions are right for the propaga-
tion of the disease. Usually only
animals under two years of age die
of blackleg and, In most cases, only
the fatteBt ones are attacked by the
disease."
WILL RUSH A BILL
Preparationa Being Made to Appor-
tion School Money
GUTHRIE: Attorney General West
is directing the formation of a bill
to be presented in the senate provid-
ing for an appropriation which will
permit the board of education to ap-
portion the common school fund. The
department of Justice has ruled that
the money for the public schools can
not be disbursed until an appropria-
tion covering the amount at the
board's disposal has been passed.
The bill will extend the time of ap-
portionment to March 15, next.
There is $255,164.59 In the fund for
the common schools already in the
treasury.
At 50 cenls per capita the total to
be dlatrlbuted Is $237,923.50. State
Superintendent Cameron did not
think the legislature would hav- to
pass on the apportionment where the
public achools were concerned. The
measure will be rushed through both
houses.
PLAN FOR ALDRICH BILL
On* of the Moat Histor c Posts
United States Closed
EL RENO: With the exit of the
aecond battalion of the nineteenth
Infantry from Fort Reno, one of the
most historic military posts of the
United States was closed and civil
lana placed In charge.
Headed by Captain Hummel the
battalion left the poat In heavy
marching order. A last salute was
given at the gates and the companies will
Will Have Some Opposition,- But Be-
lief Is It Will Paaa
WASHINGTON: Senators AJdrich
and Bailey believe the senate will
probably vote on the Aldnch currency
bill on Friday or Saturday of tnts
week. When half a doaen speeches
have been delivered Senator Bailey
will offer his bill as a aubstltute for
the Aldrlch bill, and when It la voted
down aa Its author concede,} that it
will be, the committee Itself will
bring In some amendments. The bill
receive the almost unanlmoua
Members Insist on Separation of Dis-
pensary Feature and Separate
Acts for Enforcement Provision—
Bill Will Drag
The prohibition bill of Billupa re-
ported by the Joint conference com-
mittee waa taken up Tuesday under
8pecial order. The first section had
not been completed when adjourn-
ment waa taken, a motion by Gould-
ing to aubstltute article one of the
measure to the people this fall waa
introduced.
The drag will be a long one, if the
early stage Is Indicative. Serious
opposition to the dispensary feature
has already cropped out, Conn,
Matthews, Gouldlng. W. H. Johnson
and Clarence Davis speaking against
that feature. Davis urged that the
enforcement and diapenaary provi-
sions be contained in separate bills.
The one under consideration, for the
reason that it contains two dlatinct
subject matters, he said, Is unconsti-
tutional.
The bill provides that article one,
which embraces the dispensary feat-
ure, shall become a part of the con-
stitution if adopted by the referen-
dum. In the meanwhile the bill, if
passed, would become a law. Gould-
ing's amendment seeks to delay final
application of the measure until tho
people have voted.
The tendency to take part in the
discussion of the measure is obvi-
ously general. There is no doubt that
the dissection will be most thorough.
Senate bill No, 248. by Morris, ap-
propriating $100,000 for contingent ex-
penses and per diem of the members
of the legislature was signed late
Tuesday by the governor, having
passed the bouse "without opposi-
tion." Of the original $100,000 con-
tained in the flrBt appropriation there
Is but $8 ln the atate treasury. Mem-
bers of the upper house received no
warrannta last pay day for lack of
funds.
The uniform text book bill of Rep-
resentative Williams reached the sen-
ate before the Franklln-Llttle-Wynne
measure, covering the same subject,
was out of the committee of the
whole. Dscussion of the emergency
clause waa pending when the prohi-
bition bill waa taken up.
An amendment to the senate bill
empowers district school boards to
submit the free book proposition to
the people by a referendum vote. An-
other amendment by Russell struck
out sections empowering the text
book commlsson to employ persons
to compile books, to revise books and
providing for the publication of booka
by the state. An amendment by Lit
tie reduces the commssioners, aalary
from $6 to $4 per day. An attempt
by Roddle to eliminate the appropria-
tion clause waa defeated. An amend
ment by Roddle provides that contrac
tors shall place books on sale at as
many places In any county as the
commlaslon shall direct Books shall
be sold to the consumer at the retail
price fixed by the state.
The house adopted a resolution by
Aahby assuring physlclsns licensed
before statehood, equal privileges
with all graduates from the same
school.
legitimate cotton exchanges aa
well as bucket shops, are outlawed
by the Durant-Franklln anti-bucket-
shop bill, which was recommended
for passage In the house. Heavy pen
altles are provided for violations.
Consideration of several sections
evoked prolonged dlscuaslon but no
important amendments were adopted.
An effort to strike out two sections
was defeated.
The Franklln-Duvant measure is
really a committee substitute for a
number of bills relating to the sub-
ject. The original bill by Durant ex-
empted the cotton exchanges doing a
bona fide business. There are three
Institutions of thiB nature In the
state, at Oklahoma City, Ardmore and
McAlester. The idea of the author
was to eliminate only those places of
business which dealt ln margins.
The house refused to concur in tha
senate amendments to the Insane asy-
lum appropriation bill. The changes
affected the salaries of the head phy-
sician and steward.
The Williams school book bill was
passed on roll call without serious
opposition. The house accepted the
senate amendments to the Ratliff bill
relating to the transfer of criminal
cases.
.nem .<> ... ..... ... The republlcaoB In Oklahoma aln-
full, and, furthermore, ihat they must cerely fo.- the nomination and
annually list all their assets with ; of William II. Taft to the presidency
bim In this way he will be able to f the United 8,at" ****
kitcrv definitely the actual resources upon a plan to drive^ fromco**
«or Mrt company, and if they are un alleged frlendi of Taft, but MtWUly
satisfactory the companies ca:> b- his enemies who have I een hiding
1 Mired to provide additional protec , their opposition under the guise w
V holders. Air: fusing to work with certain repub-
g Ion for
their policy
bringing
Vian for bringing about these! lican leaders In. the state. The com-
changes has not **«n agreed upon, bine of the field against T
The off cert of the mutual companies effort to defeat the Instruction of osi-
have been asked to be In readiness
to meet Commissioner McComb at
his call.
eitute* for Taft, that these delegates
ir.lg'it be fr«'« to support whom thoy
pirate at the Chicago
were hurried to the Rock Island ata
tlon and started on their Journey to
Fort McKenale. Wyo. Ben Clark will
be caretaker of the fort. A few sol-
diers were left to guard the govern-
ment property.
Fort Rteno waa eatabllshed by an
act of congress la 1856. It was then
* frontier post and one of "Im-
portance. It was named after Major
Reno, a msu prominent In the
Apache wars and noted for his tuc-
eras In handling Indiana.
Vhiough the early stage* o' fiim-
tier life when Indian wars wire tie-
qucnt and often bloody Fort Reno
pla>wd M *>portant (art.
vote of the republican senator*, but
It ia conceded that a few of those
from the far west will cast their bal-
lot In the negative.
When the bill goea to (he house
there will be an effort to havs It ac-
cepted aa a aubstltute for any bill
that may be reported by the house
committee' on banking and currency.
TO AMEND COIN MOTO
W. K Ballentlne, of Chcago. chief
electrician of the Rock laland. la In
Chickasha. Preparatlona are being
made to equip every engine on the Ft
Worth division with electric Ihead
lights.
California Member Proposes Another
For Certtflestee
WASHINGTON: President Uoos*
velt waa overridden by the house
committee on coinage, weightj and
meaaurea. when by unanlmoua vote It
waa agreed to report favorably the
McKlnley (Illinois) bill requiring th«
restoration to gold and allver coins
the national motto "In God W«
Trust."
During the dlscuaalon Representa-
tive Knowland of California being in
a facetious mood, moved that the
committee further recommend ths
placing upon all clearing house cer
Uficates the Biblical inacrlplloo "I
know thai my Redeemer llveth."
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Hampton, Laurence H. The Geary Journal. (Geary, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 27, 1908, newspaper, February 27, 1908; Geary, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183321/m1/2/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.