Wheatland Weekly Watchword (Wheatland, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 12, 1911 Page: 2 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Wheatland Weekly Watchword and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
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The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Cafes all humors, catarrh and
rheumatism, relieves that tired
feeling, restores the appetite,
cures paleness, nervousness,
builds up the whole system.
Qat M today in usual .liquid form or
tablets called SarMtabt.
"Seovuns, Marie, I ahull be ruined
VfM her youraelf ten like tbia!"
Halt he ao elUrl Can’t you eee
tea put «a the white fur rue out of
other claaa poorly educi
prepared to do their rig!
building the State. It I
taapoeetble to .distribute
school districts, but we can i
evenly distribute the benefits of
wealth that arises In the form of i
tion. You ere being asked to a]
en's bountiful
he could not
I Horatio, the
reproachfully.
7 jam. my Ill-
Angle does,”
ctly resentful
us that she
made wasn’t
Not the Type,
you were very much dlsap
stated hi your mother-in-law.”
’'Completely ao.”
*ta what wayr
“Why. ■he’s simply perfect!”
Hie Wife.
“Whet do you do for a living,
tenor
Tee de manager ob a laundry.”
"Whatfi the name of thla laundry?”
“■Man Ann.”
Companions In Misery.
all tad words of tongue
Stella—Forget it; I'm an old maid
VERNOR (M’S FIRST
MESSAGE TO 1ECISLATURE
To the Members of the Third
Legislature in Regular
Session Assembled
ReadershSEt'
> ""fyi
C0H5TIP1TI0M
Mun yon’s Paw
Paw Pills are unlike
all other laxativea or
cathartics. They coax
tbs liver into active
Hy by aentle meth-
1 submit this message to you with
a feeling of hesitancy. My term of of-
fice haa Just begun, and it la Impose!
ble for me to know the needs of the
various departments of tbe State, for
which your duty requires you to legis-
late. Aa fast aa poaalbel, I ahall ac
quaint myaelf with the needs of the
different departments; the legislation
needed, and will supply you with the
facts. There are, however, certain
matters I desire to call to your atten-
tion at this time. The majority of
you were elected upon platforms em
bracing distinct promises to the peo-
ple. These pledges should be faithful
ly redeemed. No man who is worthy
to hold a seat in the Legislature of Ok-
lahoma will now undertake to Ignore
or vary the terms of the compact he
made with the people prior to elec-
Education.
Much time has been given to the
subject of education by previous Leg-
islatures of the State, and much sub-
stantial progress has been made along
these lines; but there is much yet to
he accomplished If we are to give to
the people of the State the beet possi-
ble system of schools, and the system
that they are entitled to have prevail.
The wealth of the State Is unevenly
distributed, and will likely continue to
be as long as time shall last. It fol-
lows that we have districts of large
taxable values, where an Insignificant
tax will maintain good schools nine
xsonthe In the year; while In other dis-
tricts the taxable wealth le so small
that a tax enfllctent to maintain a pro-
per school for three months becomes
burdensome. In some districts the tax
oa public service corporations yields
large sums of money for educational
purposes. While in many less fortu-
nate districts no revenue whatever is
derived from this source. Under these
conditions, progress halts in these un:
fortunate districts. Tbe cltisen of an-
other State coming Into our midst to
abide with us, naturally seeks a home
la the district where taxation bears
lightest, and school advantages are
beet. For these, conditions to remain
i an unevenly balanced citlsen-
one class educated and well
for useful dtisenshlp; the
i poorly educated, and 111
do their rightful part In
State. It te manifestly
the
I
of taxa-
, to appro-
hundreds of thousands of dol-
to care for the criminal and pau-
uses of tbe State, and these de-
j grow larger and more burden-
_ each year; but it. Is a burden
bears with uniform weight over
“i of tbe commonwealth. It
j as Just to tax the citizens
of Oklshoma County to help educate
tbe boy of Carter County, as it is to
tax the citizen of Oklahoma County to
1 care for the criminal
of Carter County. Besides it Is tbe
practice of good business methods.
Better educated citizenship will result
In fewer criminals to provide for, and
a lest number of paupers to support
by the State.
I therefore urge that you levy a tax
for public school purposes that will be
sufficient, when supplemented with
the Interest on the Invested school
fund, and rentals on public school
lands, to provide not lees than five
months school In each district In tbe
State.
The Constitution of this State pro-
vides that “The supervision of In-
struction tn the public schools shall
bo vested in a Board of Education,
whose powers and duties shall be pre-
scribed by law,” and until otherwise
provided by law. the Governor. Super-
intendent of Public Instruction, Secre-
tary of the State, and Attorney Gen-
eral. constitute the Board. Three
years have gone by without any se-
rious attempt on the part of the Leg-
islature to vitalize this important sec-
tion of the Constitution. Oklahoma
free a splendid opportunity to Inaug-
urate and maintain a system of educa-
tion suited to the needs of our peo-
ple, and thoroughly efficient in all of
Its details. That we have no such sys-
tem now and cannot have under pres-
ent laws, Is manifest to every man
who haa given the subject serious
thought. A half dozen different edu-
cational boards, at the heads of dif-
ferent departments of educational
work, each having its peculiar idea of
tbe fitness of things educational, and
no two agreeing in detail or purpose,
•re creating a state of confusion In
this department of government that
will soon be unbearable. There is no
oorrellatlou among our higher educa-
tional schools, and will be none under
present conditions. The result Is du-
work and wasteful extra
that should be speedily
The only hope 1 can see for
these conditions lies in
of a Board of Education,
l it with adequate powers to
all gutters educational. I
It Ineffective; but the interest oI all
the people should prevail rather than
that special favor should he shown
to the few. Now Is the time to act
in this matter. Delay has already
seriously crippled the educational in-
terest of the state and further delay
is likely to prove ruinous. Therefore
In the interest of the 500,000 school
children of this state and the future
geueral welfare of the public school
system of Oklahoma. I beg you to pass
a law creating a Board of Education,
as the Constitution provides. This
Board of Education, when properly
clothed with authority, can work out
an adequate system of consolidated
rural high school,—a system that must
prevail In this state if any adequate
measure of Justice is meted out to the
rural portion of our population.
Election Laws.
The present Primary and General
election Laws were passed by the first
State Legislature; and at that time
were evidently thought to be adequate
to the needs of the people. Two un-
successful attempts have since been
made to amend or modify these laws.
Unmerciful and unjust criticism has
been hurled at these laws until deep-
seated dissatisfaction prevails among
our people, and the demand for chang-
ing these laws comes from all classes
end all political parties. Too much
care cannot be exercised in framing
a law to properly protect and maintain
the integrity of our elections. How-
ever, I would not have you think that
I believe a law can possibly be drawn
that will meet with no criticism. No
matter how perfect It may be It will
find Its critics immediately following
tbe first election held thereunder; and
these critics will. In a large measure,
be confined to the list of defeated
candidates. It has become an almost
universal custom for a defeated can-
didate to charge his defeat, either to
the rascality of his successful oppon-
ent or to the imperfection or unfair-
ness of the election law. It is rare
indeed that the unsuccessful candidate
is willing to attribute his defeat to
its real cause,—the desire of a ma-
jority of the voters to have some oth-
er candidate than himself fill the of
lice to which he aspired. So you need
not hope to pass a law that will es-
cape criticism, but you can enact one
that will meet the approval of a vast
majority of the voters of the State,
and after all It la the voters’ interests
that are to be looked after, rather
than the candidates' desires.
In forming new election laws, or
amending the present laws, I suggest
that you simplify the laws as much
as possible,—writing it in as little^
spate and as clear language as you
can, so that tbe masses can read and
understand it. Knowing full well that
yon can frame no law that will not
In some instances be violated, I would
ask that you attach severe penalties
for its violation, so that adequate pun-
ishment may be meted out to the per-
son who violates it.
Banking.
No radical changes are needed or
demanded in the banking laws of this
State. Our laws have been built
around the fundamental idea of pro-
tecting the depositor who commits the
safety of his money to the keeping of
our State bankers. We have the beat
law under which to build a safe and
sound banking institution that has
been passed in the Republic. There
is one amendment, however, that I
urge you to make in the interest of
better banking conditions in the
State. The real results to be obtained
from any law, lie in the proper admin-
istration of that law. No matter how
much of merit a law possesses. If it
be Imperfectly administered, abuses
are liable to prevail. The present laws
are under the administration of a
banking board, composed ex-officio, of
State officials. It is no disparagement
of the ability. Integrity or good inten-
tions of any of these officials to say
that the banking interests of the State
would be better served if our banking
lawa were administered by a differ-
ently constituted board. These State
officials have all the work that they
can possibly properly do, attending to
the duties of the offices to which the
people have elected them, and they
cannot give the needed time and at-
tention to their duties as members of
the banking board, without seriously
neglecting their other official duties.
The State banking business of Okla-
homa has already assumed vast pro-
portions. On November 10th, 1910,
guaranty fund, be kept on deposit
the banks contributing same, under
terms and conditions that will insure
its payment on demand, when needed
by the bonking board.
Prohibition.
There can no longer be honest
doubts in any mind that the people of
thia State favor prohibition. On two
occasions the voice of the people has
unmistakably spoken in its favor,
is now the duty of the Legislature
and this administration to see that
these demands are heeded. It serves
no good purpose to try to disguise
the fact that the enforcement of the
law in thia State haa been unsatisfac-
tory to the people. The fault, how
ever, has not been with the State ad
ministration, but with the law itaelf.
The powers given the Governor hare
been entirely inadequate. The best
the Governor can do, under the pres-
ent law, is to send enforcement offl
cere from one community into another,
to try to enforce laws that local offi
cials fail, and occasionally, wilfully
refuse, to enforce. These imported
officials enter the community with all
the Influence these delinquent local
officials and their friends can com
mand, thrown in their way, to hinder
and obstruct them. Coupled with this
is the natural resentment that an Ok-
lahoman holds against the system. As
citizens of the two Territories prior
to state government, we fought so con-
stantly against the Idea of imported
officials, that the doctrine of local seif
government has become a fixed prtn-
icple with nearly all of us. Yet the
State and thiB Legislature owe a duty
to the good people of the State, and
the law-abiding citizens in every com
munlty, no matter how much they
may be in the minority, are entitled
to the protection of the law. If local
officials fail to give this protection,
the State must give it; otherwise, just
and righteous government is a farce
and a failure.
Again I regard the present law in
adequate in this: We refuse the in
dividual the right to deal .'n intoxicat-
ing liquors, holding that the same la
wrong,—yet in a collective capacity,
we have established dispensaries,
where the State bandies these out-
lawed liquors, and that too, in the
face of the fact, that the people of
the State, by popular vote, declared
against the dispensary system. If it
Is wrong for an individual to sell in-
toxicating liquors, it is wrong for an
aggregation of individuals to sell them,
though you try to disguise the indi-
viduals by calling them “the State.’
1 therefore recommend that you abol
ish the dispensary system in this
Bute, and give the power to some
responsible Sute official, to remove
any officer in the SUte, whose duty tt
is to enforce this law, who fails or
refuses to enforce it. With these
amendmenU effective, I am sure that
more satisfactory results will be ob-
tained.
One of the chief hindrances to the
proper enforcemeht of thia,law If the
prevailing practice of gambling in tbe
SUte. A large percentage of the vio-
lation of this law of prohibition, ia
directly traceable to thia cause. If you
will abolish gambling, you will de-
crease crime fifty per cent in the
State. Of course no one believes you
can pass a law that will entirely atop
gambling, but you can lessen the evil.
As a means to tbia end, I recommend
that you make it a felony for any man
to run a gambling bouse ip this State.
When you have passed such a law, you
have discharged your duty in this mat-
ter. The responsibility for results will
then be placed upon other officials,
and the people of the State who be-
lieve in law enforcement.
Reapportionment.
It will be your duty to redistrict the
State for Legislative, Judicial and Con-
gressional purposes. Of course noth-
ing can be done toward establishing
Congressional Districts, until Congress
shall esublish the basis of apportion-
ment, but this should not cause any
delay in fixing Legislative and Judicial
Districts. In the matter of redictrict-
ing the SUte for all of these purposes,
I trust a spirit of fairness will char-
acterize your actions. No political
party can permanently profit by prac-
ticing manifest unfairness. Tbe his-
tory of the other States teaches us
that honest men, in all parties, resent
outrageous gerrymandering. In no
State in the union are there to be
found a larger per cenUge of fair-
minded people, than live in Oklaho-
ma. Your duty as Representatives of
the people, 1b to the entire citizenship
of this State, and not to any portion
of that citizenship. No matter how
zealously we may serve any political
organization, if thereby we fail to ren-
der Just service to all the people, we
have failed to perform our real duty.
Nor haa any political party the right
to demand or expect that you do less
than your duty to all of the people.
to the proper course to oc .—.■««« th
the progress of that work. I am not
undertaking to say who, if any one,
is at fault. This much 1 do say un-
hesitatingly,—the money expended
should have produced a splendid Code.
It la no Justification of existing condi-
tions to My that other SUtee have
spent more money for a like purpose.
Other States have frequently done
things we do not care to approve. The
Oklahoma spirit le to do things in a
proper way, and with the least burden
to the people. The tax payers are de-
manding to know why the work for
which their money has been used ia
not completed. They have a right to
make this demand and to know the
facta. Ax the representatives of the
people, they are expecting you to pro-
tect their Interests in the matter.
In a spirit of fairness to both fac-
tions of the Commission, this Legis-
lature should investigate the work
done, and place the responsibility
where it belongs. You Bhould not stop
there, but you should continue your
labors until a Code is produced. The
quarrels and disagreements among tfte
members of the Code Commission are
not interesting to tbe people; the per-
sonal ambitions of these excellent gen-
tlemen are of no public importance.
What the people want and have paid
for. Is a satisfactory Code, and noth-
ing short of this will satisfy them.
Court Relief.
The crowded condition of the docket
In the Supreme Court of the State de-
mands serious consideration at your
hands. No one will charge that the
members of that Court are not doing
their full duty. They are all tireless
workers, and each is doing hia utmost
to relieve the congestion. But there
is a limitation placed upon human ac-
complishment, beyond which, no man
can go. Hundreds of cases are now
docketed, awaiting a hearing, and the
number is daily increasing.
The crowded condition of the dock-
et is a potent factor in still further
increasing the number of appeals. The
unsuccessful litigant in the lower
court, when he realizes that his case,
PROMINENT
ODDFELLOW
FuUy IIO-
Mr. Chas. L Sauer.
there were six hundred and ninety-
three banks with total assets of $76.- The usefulness of any political party
394,089.70. With such a vast aggro- i or organization, reaches its end when
gate of resources, constantly increas-
ing, and touching and influencing ev-
ery artery of legitimate business in
the State, too much care cannot be
exercised in dealing with the subject.
To handle the problem safely and to
the beat advantage of the people, men
well qualtfled to cope with the sub-
ject, and with ample time to devote
thereto, should be placed in charge.
In the proper conduct of the banking
interests of the State partisan politics
should have no place. It te a business
affair, pure and simple, and should be
entirely and eternally removed from
the realm of party politics. I there-
fore urge that you ao amend the pres-
ent banking lawa, as to provide for
the appointment of a non-partisan
board, consisting of three members,
who shall have entire supervision over
the banking laws of the State. 1 also
id that the law be changed,
trovide that assessments
banks for the use of the
that party ceases to be fair and just.
The majority party in this State haa
won its triumphs thus rar, because it
has championed the rights of the peo-
ple, and haa dealt with uniform open-
ness and fairness with them. It will
continue to be the dominant party juat
ee long aa it continues this policy of
fairness, but when it outrages right, it
will deserve and receive rebuke at the
hands of the peonle.
Cede Commission.
Past Legislatures have appropriated
thousands of dollars of the peoples’
money in an effort to obtain a sensible
codification of the laws of the State.
That this codification is necessary, la
admitted by all, and no man objects
to a reasonable expenditure of money,
if the desired result is obtained. The
trouble la, the money has been appro-
priated and used, and no accepted
code has been produced. It le unfor-
tunate that division aroae among the
of the Code Commission, as
if appealed, cannot be reached for
years, la often tempted to appeal hia
case, in order that he may delay jus-
tice. It ia not unreasonable to assert
that if speedy hearing could be had
of all cases appealed, tbe number of
appeals would be materially reduced.
There are three remedies suggested
to relieve the situation. First, the
addition of other members of the
court; second, the creation of a tem-
porary intermediate court, and third,
the limitation of the right of apepal.
To me, the first proposition does not
appear to offer any substantial relief.
At any rate, it is questionabel how
seven men can more quickly decide a
question than five can. The second
remedy proposed would give tempor-
ary relief, for whatever work was
given to that court would be taken
from the existing court, and the docket
could be cleared in a reasonable
length of time. The objection to this
proposition is that it would materially
increase the court expenses of the
State, and offer no permanent relief;
for as soon as the court was abolished
the present condition would likely re-
turn. Tbe third remedy would afford
permanent relief, without added cost
to the people, and would not injure
litigants. Give final jurisdiction to
District Courts in all cases where the
amount involved does not exceed five
hundred dollars, and you will give
permanent relief to the Supreme
Court.
I hope that there will be no serioue
attempt made on your part to make
wholesale changes in existing laws.
The majority of the people of the
State want to see conditions become
settled In Oklahoma, and this can
never be, aa long as our laws are the
subject of constant change. Taken as
whole, the laws of the State are
admirable, and the people want to see
them "tried out.” Where experience
has shown that weakness exists, that
fault should be corrected, but it is
not fair to condemn the entire law,
because there happens to be an oh-
ectionable section therein. The mod-
ern tendency la to grind out laws with-
out regard to needs or result, as if
the merits of a legislative body were
to be determined by the number of
the laws passed. The result is, that
few lawyers have a knowledge of the
laws, while the average citizen is com-
pletely bewildered and lost in the in-
terminable maize. Fewer laws In sim-
pler language and more readily un-
derstood, and more effectively en-
forced, will find favor among the
masses of the people, and will bring
into being an era of prosperity and
growth not hitherto known.
I trust that your deliberations will
be pleasant to you and profitable to
the people of the State. It will at all
times, be a pleasure for me to render
you any assistance in my power, and I
trust that you will feel no hesitancy
in calling upon me for any information
that you may desire, that it is in my
power to supply.
Mr. Chas.t*
Sauer. Grand
Scribe. Grand
E n campment
L O. O. F, af
Texas, writes
from San An-
tonio, Texas:
"Nearly two
years ago I
accepted a
position aa
secretary and
t r e a surer of
one of the
leading dry
goods estab-
lishments o f
Galveston,
Texas. Tbe
sudden
change from a
high and dry
altitude to sea level proved too much
for me and I became afflicted with ca-
tarrh and cold in the head, and general
debility to such an extent as to almost
incapacitate me for attending to my
duties. '
"I was induced to try Parana, and
after taking several bottles in small
doses I am pleased to say I was entire-
ly restored to my former normal condi-
tion and have ever since recommended
the use of Peruna to my friends.”
Aak Your Druggist tor a Free Permoa
Almanac tor 1911.
LOVE AND THE AEROPLANE
Some Good Advice for Those Daring
Mortals Who Would Do Their
Courting Aloft.
Secure a nice roomy aeroplane, and
place im it an old-faBhioned sofa or
armchair. Then put the girl In. get
in yourself and turn on the power.
Do not be In any hurry. Get far
enough up so that you can be preoc-
cupied for a few moments without
landing.
It is just as well to strap the girl
in. She can't get away, of course, but
you can kiss a girl in an aeroplane-
much easier if she Is firmly secured.
Always keep one hand on the steer-
ing apparatus and the other on the
girl; but if worst cornea to worst, let
go the steering apparatus.
Tbe following schedule, If adhered
to, will prevent ordinary accidents:
Five hundred feet up, hold girl's
hand.
Six hundred feet up, arm around her
waist.
Seven hundred feet, drop everything
and hold girl, working steering appa-
ratus with both feet.
Be careful when you alight, not to
come down near a church. In the ex-
citement of the occasion you may for-
get yourself and marry the girl
Many fatal accidents have resulted to
this manner.—Puck.
Funds to Fight Tuberculosis.
Based on reports from all parts of
the United States the National Asso-
ciation for the Study and Prevention
of Tuberculosis has issued a statement
which shows that in 1910 nearly $15.-
000,000 was spent in the fight against
tuberculosis, as opposed to $8,000,00©
spent in 1909. The largest item of ex-
pense In 1910 was for treatment in
sanatoria and hospitals, $11,376,500 be-
ing expended for that purpose, or
more than double the amount for 1909.
The antituberculosis associations
spent $760,500, and the tuberculosis
dispensaries $889,000. The special mu-
nicipal and state expenditures aggre-
gate $1,750,000.
The statement declares that the
moBt significant fact in the survey of
the year’s work Is the increase in the
percentage of public money spent.
While in 1909 53.5 per cent, of ^he
total expenditure was from federal,
state, municipal or county funds, 62.6
per cent, came from public appropria-
tions In 1910. The actual amount or
public money spent In tuberculosis
work this past ' ear was $9,267,900, or
more than double the amount from
this same source in 1909. This fact
Indicates, the national association de-
clares, that anti-tuberculosis associa-
tions are gaining ground, by securing
increased appropriations from public
money.
Kiefer Postoffice Robbed
Kiefer, Okla.—Robbers blew open
the safe in the postofflee here thia
morning about 3 o’clock, secured sev-
eral hundred dollars' worth of stamps
and $700 in cash, and made their ec-
cape. The explosion awakened the
town and in a short time scores of
people were at the postofflee. A posse
was formed, but the cracksmen fled
under cover of darkness. In their
flight they dropped several packages^
equipping aud beautifying the grounds
of the Durant normal.
Fire Destroys Buildings
Wrtikomts. Okla.—A fire here Sun-
day, which originated in the bakery
shop of Henry Beard, destroyed four
frame buildings and caused a partial
loss on two other buildings. The bak-
ery ahop wm an entire loss. The loss
la partially covered by Ineuranem
Your tracts to the Hottentots may
count for little compared with your
acts to your own washerwoman.
OLD COMMON 8ENSE.
Change Food When You Feel Out of
Sorts.
“A great deal depends upon yourself
and the kind of food you eat,” the ’
wise old doctor said to a man who
came to him sick with stomach trou-
ble and sick headache once or twice a
week, and who had been taking pills
and different medicines for three or
four years.
He was* induced to stop eating any
tort of fried food or meat for break-
fast, and was put on Orape-Nuts and
cream, leaving off all medicines.
In a few days he began to get bet-
ter, and now he haa entirely recover-
ed and writes that he Is in better
health than be has been before in
twenty years. This man is 58 years
old and Mys he feels "like a new man
•11 the time."
Read “The Road to Wellville.” in
pkgs “There’s a Reason."
Ever read the shove letter f A new
one appenr* free, time to time. They
are era aloe, tree, aad tall at human
. .
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Browne, T. Wheatland Weekly Watchword (Wheatland, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 12, 1911, newspaper, January 12, 1911; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc936301/m1/2/?q=%22United+States%22: accessed July 16, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.