The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-01-30
SUBSCRIPTIONS RATES.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 80 1897
MAINTAIN EsT ,BIIsHED INsTITU
TIONs.

IIONss
The lower house Of the Fourth as
semblv has before it several measures,
favorably reported on by committees.
which should have lucid and impartial
consideration before baing passed to q
fnal vote Oue Of ih .se measures is
entitled house bill No 25 which re-
peals all the statutes In relation to the
territorial militia lin other words, this
bill asks for the demolition Of all laws
calling for the maintenance OF the
citizen.soldiery and the baud thereto
attached. Another measure abolishes
the Off e Of coal oil inspector
The LEADER believes legislation on
these matters is hasty and IN wise Fur
ther, we believe su;h legislation will
not meet with the sanction OF the con-
stituents Of the lawmakers. No true
NAnd practical ends can be conserved by
smashing precedents and making an
oddity OF the territory.
The Oklahoma militia entails no ter
ritorial expense. neither IS it a menace
to the people in times OF peace II is
an institution pc niiar to every state
end territory OF the union, established
through custom and maintained by
appropriations set apart by the gov
ernment.
National state guards came into eXis-
tenee'mAny decades ago Immortals like
Washington, Jackson, Lincoln and
Grant looked with favor on the citiz n
soldiery, and although in some in
stances the militia has been used as a
political machine, It's record in over
three. fourths OF the states OF the Union
is good aud It is looked on as com
pooent part OF society not society in
its dn de seicle form but that em.
hracing the various phases OF com.
mercial and agricultural life
True, there is an abundance Of "tin-
horn" whoop'a about the average
military company hat is disgusting
TO the staid business man, bat AL tte
same he entertains secret satisfl. p
tion that he has something 20 lean on
IN case OF sudden calamity.
Oklahoma is new-aud She rcquires
much TO mould her into a state The
territory pridss herself ia the posse
sion OF a splendid m itary baud. This
band costs Oslahoma nothing II
plays for every town aud meeting
whenever called. The people feel
proud 10 possessing sacb a prizs-vio
ming organization which has done as
much to advertise the territory as any
other agency.
With the taxpayers Of Oklahoma
paying not a penny for a regiment OF
guards, which is yet hardly
orgauized, aud shipping back TO
Washington several carloads OF ac.
coutremenis, paid for by the gov
ernment is folly pure and simple.
Nothing would be saved 10 Uncle Sam
since the appropriation due the terri
tory would Immediately be appor-
toned 10 other states or territories
Sentiment and talk OF military op-
preston and tyranny do not enter
into the case IL is q matter Of busi-
ness. Oklahoma should reach for
everything In sight and cry for more.
No political or commercial interests
can possibly be benefited by abolishing
an institution which 10 cared for and
fostered by every state in the union.
THE LEADER speaks these words
with the hndliest feelings aud Is cou-
hdent It but echoes the sentiments OF
the people Of the territory
Let the members Of the house con-
slider this m after trihe longer-aud
then kill Il. b No 25. When Oklaho.
ma is big child she can afford ID lore
some Of her industries aud institu.
tions. Anent the abolishmeut Of the
Office OF coal oil inspector THE LEADER
will speak later.