Oklahoma's Governors, 1907-1929: Turbulent Politics Page: 78
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78/Oklahoma's Governors
Oklahoma tried to keep their opinions unbiased on the nations
at war, in harmony with President Woodrow Wilson's policy of
neutrality in European affairs. Then, in April of 1917, the
United States entered World War I. This put Governor Williams
in a position of mobilizing Oklahoma's men and resources,
along with its government, to cope with the new problems and
demands that would be made on Oklahoma as the United States
entered the war.32
When Williams assumed his duties as governor in 1915, the
war in Europe had already started. He immediately saw a need
for the military training of Oklahoma's youth. In 1915 he
proposed replacing athletics in public schools with military
training. "I am going to propose a measure in the next
legislature to abolish football and baseball in all state schools,"
he forecast, "and institute military training instead of
athletics."33 This proposal met with considerable protest; many
felt that it was in conflict with the American tradition of liberty.
"Sounds like the jabbering of an Arkansas swamp rat," one
opponent said, "trying to change the name of Ar-Kan-Saw."34
But in 1917 the legislature passed a measure which provided for
a program of "military training, athletic training, and physical
examinations" in Oklahoma high schools.35 This program was
primarily to help develop soldiers; in addition, as one newspaper
editorial put it, "if the youth of the country were thus trained
the United States would have that preparedness which would
neither make for militarism nor for war, but for honorable
peace."36 Another reason for the push in Oklahoma for military
training was the poor showing made by the Oklahoma National
Guard in the campaign against Pancho Villa in Mexico in 1916
and 1917. The Oklahoma units served as a border patrol,
returning to the state in early 1917. The Villa incident gave the
Oklahoma contigent needed experience which helped in their
World War I effort.37
In August of 1916, Congress passed the National Defense
Act creating the Council of National Defense. This body issued
a call to all states in which it asked for cooperation, an inventory
of state military resources, and state councils of defense.
Because the legislature had adjourned before the United States
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Oklahoma's Governors, 1907-1929: Turbulent Politics (Book)
Book discussing the history of individual governors of Oklahoma from 1907 to 1929; each chapter is a biographical sketch of a different governor and their actions in office. Index begins on page 195.
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Fischer, LeRoy Henry, 1917-. Oklahoma's Governors, 1907-1929: Turbulent Politics, book, 1981; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc862886/m1/90/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; .