The Jacksonian Democrat (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 5, 1914 Page: 1 of 4
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$W)0 Per Year.
The Jacksonian democrat
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE JACKSONIAN CLUB OF OKLAHOMA—A DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPER
5c Per Copy
Vol. 1
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1!*U.
No. 20
State School Lands
Annual Report
Secretary Williams Gives Splendid Account of
Stewardship as the Guardian of
This Rich Fund
11 ^ torj.,
Oklahoma City, 'L Q
Jan. 30, 1914.
To the Commissioners of the Land
Office, State of Oklahoma:
Gentlemen: I am transmitting you
herewith a report of the condition
of the affairs of the land office of
the State of Oklahoma, for the year
1913; and in transmitting this re-
port I desire to make some compari-
sons of the business transacted, and
expenses incurred, during your ad-
ministration, and a few years prior
to the same. And 1 desire, further,
to call your attention to the dif-
ference in the expense of the land
office and of other businesses in the
State of like character.
For convenience and better business
efficiency, the Department is divided
into three parts; consisting of the
Lease Division, the Sales Division,
and the Loan Division. The Lease Di-
vision has to deal with all the lands
owned by the State of Oklahoma that
are unsold. The Sales Division has
to deal with all the lands that have
beeu sold. The Farm Loan Division
invests and handles the five million
dollar fund, given to the State of
Oklahoma by the Government, and
other permanent funds that may come
under the control of the Commission-
ers.
At the beginning of Statehood, we
had the following numbers of acres
of land:
Common School Land (Sections 16
and 36) 1,200,000 acres, which w’ere
authorized to be sold March 25, 1911.
Since that time there have been sold
200,238 acres for $2,677,842.00.
Common School Indemnity Lands:
215,000 acres, of which 176,000* acres
have been sold for $1,850,679.57.
State Educational Institutions
Lands: 350,000 acres, of which amount
115,277.17 acres have been sold for
$1,499,809.58.
Public Building Lands: 272,000
acres, of which amount 225,950 acres
have been sold for $4,041,136.20.
New College Lands (same being
land under the control of the Federal
Government and not filed on prior to
the Enabling Act and granted to the
State) 1,050,000 acres; located mainly
in Beaver, Texas and Cimarron coun-
ties; of which amount 702,372 acres
have been sold for $2,890,393.50.
Greer 33 Lands (now set aside for
Consolidated Rural Schools) 40,480
acres, of which amount 9.119 acres
have been sold for $92,837.50.
Under your administration 1,091,735
acres of land have been sold for $10,-
568.840.15, but 702,372 acres of this
■•as the New College Lands recently
••our Board.
I de».. to call your attention to the
amount of money paid to the school
children of this state by your Board
this year, and to compare the same
with the amount paid in 1907 and in
1910, the year prior to your adminis-
tration :
In 1907 there was paid out by this
Department, and from all other sourc-
es, to 218,817 children, the sum of
$306,343.80.
In 1910 there was paid to 515,478
children the sum of $770,010.50.
In 1913 your Board paid to 541,828
children the sum of $866,681.80.
There was the same amount of land
in the hands of the department in
1907 and the same amount of resources
in 1910 that you had in 1913, but a
comparison of the figures will show
that you paid out practically three
times as much money in 1913 as was
paid out in 1907, and fifteen per cent
greater in 1913 than in 1910; not-
withstanding the fact that during the
three years of your administration,
climatic conditions caused short crops
and financial stringency in that por-
tion of Oklahoma in which the school
lands are situate.
Lease Division.
In 1907 this department, with the
exception of about forty-five days, was
under the control of the Territorial
Government, and had under its charge
and control 3,126.495.75 acres of land;
the receipts from which amounted to
$539,182.00 at a cost of $33,897.00.
In 1913 there had been sold from
•his 1,429,269.61 acres, leaving in the
Lease Division 1,697,226,14 acres of
land, which produced $730,311.00, at a
cost of $33,069.00.
In 1910 the year just preceding your
administration, this Department col-
lected $639,798.00, at an expense of
$38,474.00.
You will observe that in 1913, we
collected rent from 1,400,000 acres less
than in 1907; but. we collected $163,-
000.00 more money' than in 1S407, and
the expense was practically the same.
The expense in 1913 was 4% per
cent of the gross revenue. 1 have
made some diligent inquiries in this
State, and I have been unable to find
any other business conducted as
cheaply as this.
We have, in round numbers, 10,-
000 tenants, or lessees to deal with,
and the Board has made it a point,
where there is any friction or dis-
agreement between the department
and the lessees, to have a personal in-
vestigation made of each individual
case, and decide same on its merits.
Sales Division.
The Sales Division handles the land
and the accounts, after the land has
been sold. This division was organ-
ized November 15, 1909, and land was
first sold on December 15th the same
year. During 1909 and 1910, the two
years preceding your administration,
there were sold 337,534 acres for the
sum of $2,483,858.20.
The lawr makes this office the place
of record for all land sold until patent
is issued. This necessitates the keep-
ing of a complete record; the same
as kept by the register of deeds of
any county.
The laud sold by this department
has brought $13,052,698.35, and has
produced a revenue this year of $394.-
367.11. and will produce a revenue in
1914 of $650,000.00.
This department carries more notes
and has more indebtedness due it
than all the banks in Oklahoma City
combined.
The expense of maintaining this de-
partment for the year of 1913 was
$35,333.81; this including the office
expenses and the expense of apprais-
ing and selling 673,480 acres of land.
If this total expense were charged
against the appraising and selling of
this land, it would be less than 6 per
cent per acre.
Farm Loan Division.
The Farm Loan Division invests and
controls the $5,000,000.00 fund given
the State by the Federal Government,
and such other permanent funds as
come under the control of the Com-
missioners of the Land Office.
There can be but. little difference
from year to year in the earnings of
this department, as $3,855,237.00 is in-
vested in farm loans and $1,194,000.00
is invested in bonds, and the law
makes a fixed rate of interest for this,
and when the funds are invested the
revenue will be the same each year.
This Department is this year re-
newing the loans made in 1908, and
as the Board very wisely decided to
re-inspect each farm and re-examine
each abstract and draw new papers
in making these renewals, you will
see that it entails just as much labor
to renew these loans as it did to
originally make them.
There matured in 1913, 1326 loans,
amounting to $1,658,210.00. There was
no appropriation made by the Legis-
lature to do this work until July 1,
1913, and at that time there were
past due 573 loans, ujiuoiniting to
$743,010.00. Since July-1, 1913, we
have been at work on . nose renewals
besides making new loans.
In 1908 the expense of making the
loans that are expiring now and that
we are renewing, was $49,579.88. The
expense of this department for 1913
with practically the same work done
as in 1908. and the additional work
of making five hundred and twenty
nine (529) new loans, amounting to
$638,361.00, was only $28,668.37.
It lias cost, to make and maintain
a $1000.00 loan for five years, during !
the administration of your Board, j
about $25.00. which is cheaper than I
any loan company in the State can
operate. 1 have in mind one of the [
most conservatively managed loan
companies in the State, who have on
their books about the same amount of
farm loans that this department has.
and whose expenses are far greater.
The School Land Department of
Oklahoma has been the favorite place
A Criticism and Reply FRANK CARTER
OF TILLMAN CO.
By Associate Editor.
Our good friend, John O. Major of Fairview, for whom
Major County was named, has written us an interesting let-
ter in protest against what he conceives to Ik> our attitude
against Senator Gore, John Major is typical of the best
there is in the rank and file of our Oklahoma citizenship. His
personal probity and patriotic devotion to the ideal ends of
government render him a just object of pride to the party
he has contributed so generously of his humble resources
to honor. Our personal contact with him has served to
strengthen us in our moral and patriotic purposes, and his
protests shall receive naught hut the highest respect from us.
It is as follows:
Falrview, Oklahoma, Jan. 31, 1914.
Dr. E. T. Bvnum,
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Dear Friend:
1 have thought for some time I would write you concerning
political matters and the attitude of the Jacksonian on matters of
vital interest, not only to the Democracy of Oklahoma, but to every
true and loyal citizen of this great commonwealth. If the principles
a man advocates are an index to his party fealty then I want to say
that no man in Oklahoma has any foundation for the statement that
Senate.. Gore is not a true Democrat, or that he has not been for
years. The Democratic party stands today on the great principle
of equity and justice and a maintenance of the people’s rights, and
for the dissemination of these principles. Before and since becom-
ing a citizen of Oklahoma, Senator Gore has lost many nights sleep
and been weary of body for weeks at a time. There was a time in
Oklahoma when the Palmer-Buckner element of the Democratic
party was so aggressive that they even in some localities united
forces with the Republicans, to bolt out of existence, if possible, the
true Jeffersonian-Bryan principles of Democracy. But thanks to
Gore and some others who were grounded in the true Democratic
faith, they have triumphed, and now comes an element that would
discredit the work these men have done at great sacrifice, on their
part, but with great benefit to the whole people. I would not raise
my voice in defiance of any wrong-doer, but 1 think it degrading to
keep a scandal continuously before the public when it is not known
what the foundation may be. I spent about sixteen days in Wash-
ington immediately following March 2, 1913, and 1 thought there was
a very nice lot of people there, including the Oklahoma delegation.
1 have felt that Oklahoma has been adversely advertised in a suf-
ficient degree by some of the Republicans of this State. And now
comes some of the same kind of advertising by men whom I feel
should exert every honorable means to uphold the good name of
this the greatest state in the Union. And again you refer to Mr.
Barker as the man who got the nigger's place, and reference to
other men appointed to high positions by the present administration.
In conclusion, I must say it is questionable with me whether
the influence of your paper is for good or bad.
Yours most respectfully,
J. C. MAJOR.
Candidate for the Democratic Nomination for
State Auditor
for criticism; not only in territorial
days, but since statehood. These ,k>( merely professional
criticisms are made by two classes of
people: one. ignorant and reckless in
their charges, apd the other, who
know the truth and maliciously and
wilfully disregards it. For instance. I
desire to call your attention to a state-
ment made by one of tit-- most promi-
nent members of the last legislature,
in which he said that it cost the d,
partment more to sell the land than
the land brought. The facts are that
the sale just finished at that time in
Harper. Woods and Kilts counties
cost the state 5 tents per acre This
included the entire cost of appraising,
advertising and selling this land.
In the Loan Division we have been
handicapped, as 1 stated before, by
the fact that the Legislature failed to
make an appropriation until July 1,
1913. And further, that a paper of
large circulation in th<* Stat * pub-
lished a statement that we had several
million dollars to loan, and inviting
the people of the State to apply for
the same: whereas, the fact was. and
the editor knew- the same, that we
In brief his contention is that Senator (lore deserves
recognition of a different kind from what some are disposed
to accord him, for his earnest advocacy ot progressive Dem-
ocracy, now that those principles are triumphant; and it be-
hooves us in duty to refrain from lending credence or sup-
port to the efforts of malefactors whose sole purpose it may
be to discredit and calumniate him by imputing personal de-
linquencies of an atrocious character, ’litis is a view of
manv highniinded citizens which has appealed very strongly
to our sympathies. We rejoice to receive on this subject,
such fair and dispassionate communications as this letter of
Mr. Major, hence, we reproduce it in tnil. Our position at
j one time was identical with his, and we otter the following
’ in defense and justification of tin- position we now hold.
The public .-ervice of Oklahoma, both county, state, and
j municipal, lias suffered seriously from the moral unfitness
of officials of every rank and party. Bad men do not make
good laws, and do not help to execute such laws, as we have,
with a wise reference to tin* public interest. In illustration
of the above we have urged that vicious resorts in Oklahoma
< 'it v will never he suppressed by those who conn* here as
their choicest patrons. We must have lawmakers and of-
ficials to whom tin* conception of personal honor is real and
just hollow pretenses with which to
beguile the simple-minded. When we once get men in official
positions who love their homes and the homely virtues, who
scorn dishonestv with a real eversion, and who hate the
slime that stick' on tiltlix deeds, we may then expect to '>•<•
ushered in a new era, when tin* report <>t tin* State Exam-
iner will he something else than a dismal recital ot thin
einrv infidelity and peculation on the part ot so many yvho
have brought scandal and humiliation upon themselves and
their people.
To such a pas- had tli'mir- come hen* in Oklahoma that.
oHic*als churned yvith crime by even competent anthori
ties, saw tit to treat with scorn stn-h accusation-, instead <>i
* sta hlishi 92 their innocence lief ore a l**sral tribunal, as tin*
pie have a right to expect ot honest public -ervant'. We
int
Some one hug truly Raid: “A
man's character is what he is; his
reputation is what his neighbors
think of him.” Measured by this
rule and meeting all the require-
ments of decent and enlightened . so-
ciety such a mail is entitled to con-
sideration, if not recognition, at the
hands of those who would make the
best of government. There are a
number of essential elements that
go < > make up character, chief
among which are Godliness, so-
briety, honesty, integrity, courage
and fidelity. A man of these quali-
ties of necessity has a good char-
acter and that is reflected in the
reputation lie gains among his neigh-
bors and acquaintances.
At no other time In the history of
the State of Oklahoma have the
voters used such discrimination in
the matter of selecting their public
officials as they are going to use
in the present campaign: at no time
in -the history of the Democratic
party in this state has there
Lawton. Together with Gen. Frank
Canton he served under Capt. C. C.
Hammond, present state fire mar-
shall, ns a deputy sheriff. Before
Captain Hammond's second terra ex-
pired Mr. Carter moved to Frederick,
Okla., which yvas then in Comanche
county, lie became a candidate for
sheriff of Comanche county, but be-
fore the election yvas held Tillman
county was carved out and made a
new county. Mr. Carter being a
resident of Frederick continued his
campaign for the office of sheriff
of the new county. He was elected
and served tvw> terms as sheriff of
Tillman county. The character and
personality of Frank Carter was
recognized by his brother sheriffs
and he was made secretary and
treasurer of their state association,
which position he held for the two
terms that he served "as sheriff of
Tillman county. He served on nearly
every important committee of the
sheriffs' association and was instru-
mental in securing legislation of
been |t|U|cb value to the sheriffs and their
such urgent need for wise "scrim- '•''l""1®8* w«'11 ils important
ination in selecting party candidate* 1*'*,8,tt,lon r®8,,mnS ln 8avlnK ,mlny
as at present. Democrats having thousands of dollars to the taxpayers
the partv interests at heart are de °r He was chairman of
t.-r mined now, as never before, to committee of sheriffs who ap-
! poured before the Corporation Oom-
de
to
demand, with an Insistence bordering
on the extreme, that, only men of
Hie highest type of character be se-
lccted tit the August primaries
It
real pleasure to s.
thqnuiMl dn< 1 tin* public interest requires that the private
lives of public officials he clean, and any iiulispositioii on
their part to prove their worthiness must be severely eon
demiied. The outward forms of our instruments of gov-
ernment signify but little in comparison yvith the character
of their contents, ami t• > a moral perversion ot their contents
mav he traced the most efficient source of the public ill-.
Nearly a year ago the wife of a younsr Democrat and
WILLIAM D. MATTHEWS
Candidate Democratic Nomination for Commissioner
Charities and Corrections
| had only about $406,069.00 to louu. The | ]<tjs111ej-s mat! ot this «*ttv yvith a thoroughly reputable stand-
j result Of this publication was that we • Went on the excursion to Washington t'itv to attend the
^°e «^£2* w; I inaw^^tion Some .lays after the inauguration we heard
! had no way of stopping them, and we | here in Oklahoma City that this lady had charged Senator
j returned me ihostsand applications j Gore with an attempt at violence upon her jterson. Two
; at one time. The publication of thi» j young lawyers of this eitv for yvhom we had aiwavs enter-
j article and the delay of the legists- | * ‘ (Continued on page 2)
(Continued on page 2)
* tn body iitk all t h
<• MITCH
sary quail-
ti* itspiro to ih*
Inmiioc
rafii notni-
L it ion for a high
public O
ffem Sti^n
mi a nnounroniont
brings
ohoor and
ohirime to those
'a ho want to £«*»•
!o part> rejinsb
•tit» d by
the very
bos* tru fi rm*h w
Isos.- I-VO
ry trait of
« hara< tor will stand th**
tost miller
11 > 4 * soanddight <
if truth.
Sue!) a
man is th»* subjii
•t of till:
s sk«*»< h
Frank <*art«*r. <.
if Tiilm.;
m *'minty.
Oklahoma, who ;u*
norms to
?ho Ot poo
o' - !;Uu auditor.
\w.s h<
on ?u Fa
t irang* 1
oars
igo Aftor
finishing bis -tad:
os in ? 1,
o common
-a-pools of tip- j.(
mo star
Sfafo N*
vw>n* to Fonghkm-
P-Mo X
V. whore
in* gradmt'.d for
a busin
tss career
*l. Fast man's Foil
* go \f
for return
mg to bis na»iv*‘
s f a ?o }
old*!.'?
t hi* s* r\ i< o of f h*
* Olivo-S
torhonhorg
F * i n d * • r * • ' n j i a ? i,
fSoaumnm
•a rot *, ho -rvoi
"Of ary and
fr*a surm for fou
r years.
F* av!n«
that (oim rn h*- »
imaged in tin" hint-
h* r business on t»
is own 2i
t<r*ounf for
xpvo-h! voars ■>*
Xoiv r*
m arpf 5
Giangt. vi here n.
met w i
tii marked
i it
un-
success, util, dtsp iay©<l itts true
worth as thoroughly reliable In at?
hi* dealings with bis fellowmep
Frank Carter came to Oklahoma
at the opening of the Kiowa and
Comanche country and located a?
mission and secured an agreement
front the railroads of the state,
through their attorneys, giving to
each sheriff and three of his depu-
a man -tbs a rat. of one cent per mite on
! all railroads in the state. This one
agreement has already resulted in a
saying of thousands of dollars to the
■taxpayer* of the state.
The member* of the house of rep-
: e.eipHtives **f the hist legislature
r. - ogt /ill the splendid qialifles and
’ li*v of i-'rank Carter by making
1 int their '•■rgeant at .unis Through
-essions of the assembly
Pi ort uni:y '<> extend hts
yvith men from every
■ mi no, of tit*- state, at the same
it me giving r<*pr* sentatiy<• Democrats
j from e-.ery < <>*tnty an op|>ortunity to
! >,,<-ry<- him and form an opinion as
... ais teal merit* That this asso-
.. inoi! and u-q ta’.ii'.aie-t* will serve
■ i * \ * ml bis popula; tty as a randl-
for -late auditor Is apparent to
■ ktioxv the man With the
she. il ls and deputy sheriffs <>t the
see. n* ariy. if not all. the mem-
bers ,.f the legislature, besides a
host of petsanal friends and Demo
bi 'iighout the state boosting
•* > v Carter will be the ttnntl-
*nt D< iikh rath- (tarty, at the
primaries, for state auditor,
here wtii be disappointment
in the hearts of many loyal friends
who feel that he is entitled to the
high honor
rat
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Cardwell, W. D. The Jacksonian Democrat (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 5, 1914, newspaper, February 5, 1914; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc942134/m1/1/?rotate=90: accessed April 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.