Oklahoma State Register. (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 17, 1903 Page: 1 of 8
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Oklahoma St.vim
TWELFTH YEAR NO. 38.
GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1903.
$1.00 PER YEAR.
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Who Knows Better
X,jiaog«!H mfl©
man Gr.v. Ferguson?
The papers of the territory are copying an editorial from the
State Capital, as a piece of humor, that declared in so many words
that Governor Ferguson did not know why he dismissed J. J.
Houston as secretary of the school land office. If it did not par-
take of ludicrous, the editorial could be Construed as impertinent
in its assumption. Surely its tone is not that of an honest opinion
of difference with the governor's motives.
After a long, and weak attempt, in jumbled mistatements,
to exonorate Houston, the State Capital concludes: "The gover-
nor says Houston did not resign voluntarily. H's resignation is
on file. It shows for itself. The records of the land office show
Mr, Houston's record clear. He probably resigned because he
and the governor could not agree.''
The laughable thing is that in the same issue, on the local
page, the Capital reprints the Watonga Republican's (the gover- ]
nor's paper) reasons for Houston's dismissal, showing details of'
his examination, of which the following is a part of the conclu-'
sions reached: The reports that have gone over the territory to |
the effect that J. J. Houston, ex-secretary of the school land I
board, was vindicated in the charges made against him, are with-!
out foundation. Mr. Iiounston was not vindicated. . His resigna-
tion was not voluntary. He left the school land office because he
had to do so. His retirement from that office was because he
could not be retained in its service." * * * * * * *
"Charges were filed against Houston to the effect that he had
violated a public trust in leasing sehool lands in the new country.
The matter was first investigated by the governor. An investi-
gation convinced him that the charges were well founded."
If this is not in the nature of calling the governor "another,"
it is a piece of ignorance on the part of the Capital.
However, there is a more serious side to the question. What
interest has the Capital in defending Mr. Houston in his grafting,
even to the distance of calling the governor's motives in question?
It has come to Mr. Houston's rescue repeatedly, before and after
his dismissal. Does the State Capital desire it at last to be pub-
licly understood that it is the organ of grafters, and dishonest
men in office? It has always been known to be such, but it has at
least had the virtue to work under cover. Now it has come out
and declared itself.
It is needless to state the people are with Governor Ferguson,
commending his upright courage in this Houston matter.
hitchcock found a man
INSANE RETURNED.
Sheriff Carpenter returned from Lan-
sing, Kansas, where he has been after
Frank Ellis and E. Armisted, two of
Logan county convicts doing life tim<
in the penitentiary for murder. Tht
two prisoners are now in the county
jail awaiting transportation to the asy-
lum at Norman after their cases have
been passed upon by the proper author-
ities. They have been declared insane
by the officials of the Kansas peniten-
tiary, where Oklahoma keeps her con-
victs and as under the new contract,
Kansas is not to keep insane prisoners,
they have been returned to the terri-
tory.
'Ellis was convicted of murder in the
first degree at a session of the district
court a year ago last winter and has
been in the penitentiary something over
a year. He was formerly an officer of
the Guthrie police force and shot Farris
- Clayton, seemingly without provoca-
tion in the Last Chance saloon, on West
Oklahoma avenue, one night about two
years ago. Me was once tried for in-1
sanity before Judge Burford in this [
city and held not insane by a jury. At j
the next term of court he was convict- |
ed of murder in the first degree and j
sentenced to the penitentiary for life. I
Armisted, who is colored, formerly
resided at Langston, in this county,
and about five years ago killed the
marshal at that place. He too, was
convicted of murder in the first degree
and sentenced to life imprisonment.
CASH MAS RETURNED
El Reno Globe:—Hon. Cash Cade who
has been sojourning for a while in Cali-
fornia returned to Guthrie the other
day. He was going down Harrison
avenue at a r^pid gait, when he meet
Bill Grimes.
"Hello, Bill," said Cash.
"Hello, Cash," said Bill.
"When did you get back," said Bill.
"This morning,'" said Cash.
"How is politics, Bill," said Cash.
"Refer you to Governor Tom, he
seems to be ti e big push now," said
Bill.
Both gentlemen then called on Mose.
LANGSTON UNIVERSITY OPENS
Inman E. Page, president of the Ok-
lahoma colored university at Langston,
was here Tuesday and states the school
opened Monday with an attendance
of 140, the largest attendance on the
opening day in the school's history.
Get a free sample of Chamberlain's
Stomach and Liver tablets at Eagle
Drug Store, F. B. Lillie & Co., Owl
Drug Store. They are easier to take
and more pleasant in effect than pills.
Then their use is not followed by con-
stipation as is often the case with pills.
Regular size, 25c per box.
ROADS RUNNING A RACE.
It is sure to be a race between the
Fort Smith and Katy railroads to see
which shall have the honor of entering
lie city of Guthrie first. It is bonnd
-o be a very pretty race, for while the
Katy has the greatest number of miles
if steel to lay, that company is operat-
ing a track laying machine, while the
■Fort Smith and Western is putting
down its track by hand.
Mr. N. W. Warner, a business man
of Fallis, was in this city yesterday,
and in telling of the progress made by
the two railroads, both of which run
through Fallis, he said:
"The condition of the Fort Smith and
Western is about as follows: The steel
gang on this end of the line is about
three miles east of Guthrie, while the
steel gang at work out of Fallis, on
this same line, is about two miles west
Shiloh. This leaves this line about
eleven miles of steel to put down.
The Katy has only one steel gang
at work, and it is about three miles this
side of Fallis, leaving it about nineteen
miles yet to lay.
"But the Fort Smith and Western is
putting down its steel by hand, while
the Katy has a track laying machine.
The former can lay less than a mile a
day for each of its two crews, while |
the latter claims to be able to do two
miles and a half with its machine.
Both sides claim they will reach Guth-
rie first. In my judgment, the latter
part of next week will see both lines
completed into your city."
NATIONAL 0000 ROADS.
Capt. Jacob Amberg, of Ohandler,
whom Governor Ferguson appointed
vice-president of the National Good
Roads Association, has received the
following letter from President W. H.
Moore, of St. Louis:
"We recently asked his excellency,
T. B. Ferguson, governor, to name a
strong man in Oklahoma for vice-pres-
ident of this association. We have
received a letter from the governor in
which he recommends you as the one
most fitted to promote the good roads
movement in your state.
We are preparing plans to organize
the counties and townships of the sev-
eral states, and if the territories have
counties and townships we will extend
the work there. In the national con-
vention held in St. Louis, April 27-29
inclusive no name was recommended to
represent Oklahoma.
THEY WILL APPEAL.
Regarding the condemnation proceed-
ings in Lincoln county, wherein school
land was appraised and condemned for
the Choctaw right of way, Charles H.
\\ oods, assistant attorney general, says
the territory will appeal from tne
award of the appraisers. The road
runs through a very valuable piece of
land, on which there are rich shale de-
posits
Charles Bonaparte Appointd Spec,
ial Inspector of Indian
Territory
The following Washington dispatch
appeared in Tuesday's Kansas City
Journal:
It has been announced at the inter-
ior deparment that Charles Joseph
Bonaparte had accepted the invitation
of Secretary Hitchcock to take charge
of the investigation -of certain Indian
Territory affairs and officials under the
jurisdiction of the department of the
interior. s
It is said that the appointment of
Colonel Bonaparte came as a surprise
to Secretary Hitchcock, who like
Diogenes, was still looking around for
an honest man to take up the Indian
Territory investigation. The appoint-
ment is credited to the president, who,
it is said, named him without having
consulted the secretary of the interior,
though possibly without any intention
of ignoring him. Mr. Benaparte s re-
garded with great respect by the presi-
dent, and is looked upon as a model
person to undertake the task of inves-
tigating territorial scandals as well as
of prosecution in the postoffice cases.
He is a direct descendant of a brother
of Napoleon, and is looked upon as a
fine lawyer. As soon as the president
received word that he was willing to
undertake the investigation, a hint
came from Oyster Bay to the secretary
that Colonel Bonaparte would prove
the most suitable man who could be
secured to look into the Brosius report
and the secretary immediately gave
his approval to the choice.
Mr. Boneparte is a Balti nore law-
yer. For two months he has as special
counsel assisted the government in the
prosecution of the postal cases.
The scope of the investigation, it is
said, will be sufficiently comprehensive
to embrace all statements within the
knowledge of the interior department,
including all that have appeared in the
public press, and all other matters that
may, at any time, come to the notice
of the investigating officials, which,
in any respect, reflect upon the official
character, conduct or acts of the
Dawes commission or any member
thereof, and the inspector for the In-
dian Tereitory.
While these are primarily the ob-
jects of the investigation it is under-
stood that it will be extended to such
other persons and things in the Indian
Territory, over which the interior de-
partment has supervision, as may be
deemed by Mr. Bonaparte to be for
the welfare of the service, or as may
be referred to him by the secretary of
the interior.
Secretary Hitchcock has left for his
summer home at Dublin, N. M., to
spend several weeks.
HIGH SCHOOL CONTRACT LET.
The Logan county high school board
met yesterday. The contract for build-
ing the building was let to David Swank,
of Guthrie, at about $32,000, without
the heating and leaving off the north
wing.
Prof. J. St. Cyr Tucker was elected
principal of the colored high school.
This school gets four rooms in the Lin-
coln school
Brof. E. C. Ringer, of Baker Univer-
sity, Baldwin, Kansas, was employed
for the department of science and Ger-
man. He takes the place of Prof,
Walters.
The high schools opened Monday the
14th with an enrollment from every
township in the county. One hundred
and ten are enrolled from outside of the
city. The number from outside will
probably run to 150. The city enroll-
ment will reach 150.
Enrollments have been taken at the
Central school building, by President
Calvert.
lomk «... mm What jy the Motiv8
To Depreciate Brossius?
Good Roads Association to Make
an Experiment
The Logan County Roads Associa-
tion at its last meeting adopted resolu-
tions asking the co-operation of the
Guthrie club in making a practical ex-
periment in the permanent improve-
ment of one of the highways leading
out of the city. The plan decided upon
is to use crude petroleum, which has
been found to work so wel
nia. That state now has nearly one
thousand miles of oiled roads and finds
it more
Indian Rights Association Agent Persona Non Grata
With Large Secret Interests.
There is a spirit of wide significance in Kansas and Oklahoma
to discredit S. M. Brossius, the agent of the Indian Rights Associ-
Califor-1 atio"' now on a tour of. investigation in Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory, lo whose interest is it and why should he be depreci-
ated in his efforts to see if the interests of the Indians have been
lasting than macadam, and i Wjf ff°t??ted numerous transactions that have taken
. , , .... , place in tne sale and allotment of their lands?
much cheaper. 1 he sandy condition of .pi , c • , • . ., , „ ,
,. . ,,,, Ihe amount of money involved m th ■ solution of the I ldian
tru- roads is simil.ir m Oklahoma. The _„ui„,„ , i, , ■ i i • m i
problem in the two territories has been ■ igantic. The areas of
land transfered frcm their possession to the American citizens
have amounted to small empires. In this the chances for fraud
have been numerous. A single divergence of a tract of land was
equal to a small fortume. For several years Kansas politicians
have been getting j bs for their friends in the Indian territory.
, . P Through Oklahoma's representative in congress this territory has
' l Wher, u3' ,ht' UM' ^f epetroleum, been added to the scheme! The system was hatched in Washing-
has proven very successful m the per-, ton right under the eye of the secretary of the interior
manent improvement of roads, and It is therefor not strange that while Brossius is investigating
public highways in California and wejt}lt, Indian frauds direct, C. H. Arries, said to be sent by D. R.
find that the conditions are similar in j Anthony, of the Leavenworth, Kansas, Times, is in the territory
Oklahoma, and the same means will )_0 see jf ^he rumor that Congressman Chas. Curtis is interested in
1 city will be asked to contribute its
shan through the council and the county
j will take care of the balance, what-
i ever distance the work is to extend,
j The following resolution was adopted
: at the meeting:
prove efficacious, and whereas the
sandy roads out of Guthrie have be-
come almost impassable, therefore
| Resolved, that we, the Logan County
I Good Roads Association, solicit the co-
operation of the Guthrie Commercial
Club in the raising of funds to grade
and oil with asphalt crude petroleum,
a prominent thoroughfare leading out
of the city as an experiment with a
view of the future permanent improve-
ment of the main highways in Logan
county.
The Sand Valley associatior, of the
county, adopted the following resolu-
tion:
"Whereas, the wagon roads of Okla-
homa are in a deplorable condition
with no provision under existing laws
for their improvement, and whereas,
the failure on the part of Oklahoma
legislatures in recent years, to pass
laws providing for the construction and
maintenance of properly built wagon
I roads, has been due, most to a lack of
j information on road matters than to
I a lack of funds and property valuation,
and whereas, as we believe the voters
of Oklahoma need education on the
j subject of road construction and main-
tenance and laws providing for the
same, and whereas, great good has
come from holding good roads conven-
tions, in other states, we believe that
material and lasting benefit would re
suit from holding a good roads conven-
tion somewhere in Oklahoma, and that
the movement for better roads would
receive a great impetus from such a
convention, therefore be it
Resolved, that we recommend that
the Logan County Good Roads Associa-
tion be asked to take up the subject of
holding a Good Roads convention and
to this end, it is further
Resolved, that we suggest that there
be a called meeting of the advisor
board at an early date, and that the co-
operation of the governor of the ter-
ritory and of the mayor of the city of
Guthrie be solicited, and we further
suggest that as the National Good
Roads association and the director of
the office of public roads inquiries have
signified that they be corresponded
with for instructions. Be it
Resolved, further, that a copy of
these resolutions be handed to the sec-
retary of the Logan County Good
Roads association.''
The county association is getting
stronger every meeting and intends
joining the National association. It is
intended to prosecute the work until
Logan county has the good roads so
much needed.
MASONS TO BUILD.
It is announced that the Scottish Rite
Masons will soon commence a $35,000
addition to their handsome temple in
this city and that plans for the improve-
ment will shortly be perfected. The
matter has been under contemplation
for several months but it was not until
Wednesday that all arrangements were
made.
The many friends of A. J. Corkins,
Santa Fe agent, will be sorry to hear
of his transfer to Chanute, Kansas.
He has been a citizen of Guthrie for
many years and has been popular as an
official and socially.
Mary Hopple and Minnie Newman,
of Palmyra, Mo., sister and cousin of
W. F. Bross, are here on a visit and
like the country very much
OBJECT TO TEXTBOOK
CHANGE
It has been found expedient to send
out agents for the book companies in
Comanche county explaining to the
district school boards the advisability
of their adopting the uniform system
school books recommended by the
teachers recently. In many of the
districts last year new books were
bought and now the patrons do not take
kindly to the idea of another change
Probably with the present plan the ob-
ject wil be accomplished.
GOVERNORS REPORT READY.
Governor Ferguson's annual report to
the Department of t,he Interior is ready
to be sent in with the exception of two
reports from Indian Agencies. It will
be sent in next week and will be made
public the first of the year.
"deals" in Oklahoma and Indian Territory, is true. There is an
interlaced web that shows the partisan complexion of men in Kan-
sas, Oklahoma and Indian Territory the same. Thev hold the
same sentiments on questions pertaining to the two territories.
They were together in the opening of the new country, they are
upholding Indian Agent Harvey of the Pawnee Reservation, they
are together in the Indian Territory. And now they are found
discrediting Brossius in his investigation in the interests of the
Indians.
NEXT WEEK AT KINGFISHER
Special to the State Register.
Kingfisher, Okla., Sept. 14. —Prepar-
ations for the great fair, carnival and
exposition are about completed. M. D.
Hodges completes his contract for
grading grounds and track this week
and the electricians are busy placing
electric light wires on the ground.
The park where the exposition will
be held is the property of the city and
the mayor and other city officials have
been heartily co-operating with the
commercial club and the fair associa-
tion in preparing every detail for the
event next week. The city last year
built a suspension bridge over Uncle
John's creek at a cost of $3,000,
thus placing the grounds within three I
blocks of the business portion of the
city. The purses and stakes offered
for the races this year are larger than
those of any other association in Okla-
homa and aggregate $7,000. All of the
best horses in Kansas and Oklahoma
have been entered for these races, and
as the track is the best one in Oklaho-
ma, some fast time may be expected
R. J. Kester, owner of the famous
"Kittie Kester," pronounces King-
fisher's track the best in the south-
west.
Aside from the races the Collin's Car-
nival Co., which is playing at Enid
this week, will put on a complete
Street Fair and Carnival every after-
noon and night on the grounds. The
free attractions carried by this com-
pany are the very best to be had, and
includes the wonderful "Loop-the-
Loop," high dives, high wire and slack
wire walking, Santos Dumont's air
ship, and many other thrilling perform-
ances. These are given free to those
attending the fair. The whole Collins
performance, now being given at Enid
this week, will be given on the
grounds at Kingfisher next week The
Collins people have twelve cars to
carry and were induced to come to
Kingfisher only by the offering of a
large bonus. The exhibits of live
stock and farm products promises to be
even greater than it was last year,
when it rivaled anything ever before
TEN YEARS WEDNESDAY
Chetokee Strip Opened to Settle-
ment September 16, 1903
Ten years ago at noon Wednesday
the Cherokee Strip, comprising the tier
of Oklahoma counties bounding Kansas
on the south, were thrown open to
white settlement. The people of these
counties generally celebrated the anni-
versary of .the "run" for claims. At
a number of towns the celebrations con-
tinued most of the week.
At Perry, the principal town the clay
after the opening,* a carnival and fair
closed Tnursday night.
At Woodward Governor Ferguson
spoke to the old soldiers and settlers,
any person who has been in the strip
five years being elgible to membership
in this latter association.
At Braman the celebration consisted
chiefly of a re enactment as nearly as
possible of the scenes of a decade ago.
A free for-all race for town lots, open
to all participants in the rush of 1893,
was a feature.
Enid had a street fair and carnival
lasting all week, and Pawnee was en-
tertaining the old soldiers a part of the
week.
OIL INJPEJ TOll'S REPORT.
Oil Inspector Ashton yesterdaj sub-
mitted his report for the month of Au-
gust. It is ai follows:
There has been shipped iuto the terri-
tory by the Waters Rierce Oil Co.,
73,700 gallons of oil and 203,323 gallons
of gasoline, making a total of 275,142
galU ns or 5,549 barrels.
There was shipped into the territory
by other parties 3,100 gallons or 62 bar-
rels. The whole amount shipped in was
therefore, 5,611 barrels.
I have received from the Waters-
Pierce Company $550.0) as fees.
From other parties $9.30, making the
total amount received during the month
$564.30. Of this amount $140.93 has
been retained by de| uties. I have
turned to the Territorial Treasurer
$423.93 for which I hold his receipt.
Thirty-two barrels of oil have been
seen in Oklahoma. Kingfisher is noted rejected during the month which have
been shipped out of the territory.
for her hospitality and successful en-
tertainments. You should not miss
Kingfisher next week. The admission
is only 25 cents and no grafting by the
Association or any one else. A good
clean time is guaranteed. Go to King-
fisher and you will receive a hearty
welcome. September 21 to 26 inclu-
sive—every day a big day—and Sat-
uarday will be known as Carnivai Day.
STORY OF ONE LETTER.
A registered letter addressed to Mr.
Nathan McDonnie, SongoTown, Africa,
mailed by Laura Hayes, 508 East Grant
Ave., June 15th, 1899, was returned
this week at the postoffice after being
gone over four years. It had been to
Africa, and had on the back the post-
office stamps of England, France Spain.
Portugal and Africa. The letter was
in as good condition on its return as
when it left Guthrie four years ago.
My total expenses for the month
were $33.95. E. A. ASHTON.
KATY OFFICIALS VISIT GUTHRIE
The folio ving traffic agents of the
Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway weie
in the city Tuesday: George Morton,
general passenger and ticket agent,
E. B. Drew, general freight and ticket
agent; W, B. Groseclose, general
freigt agent, and A. F Leland, assist-
ant general freight agent. They came
in on the morning Santa Fe and spent
the morning in looking over the city
and the company's property. They
were loud in their praise of the business
prospects here, and state that the Katy
will be running into Guthrie in the
next few weeks.
The Free and Accepted Masons had a
territorial lodge meeting this week and
had a Urge attendance. .. ——
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Golobie, John. Oklahoma State Register. (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 17, 1903, newspaper, September 17, 1903; Guthrie, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc280102/m1/1/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.