The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-09

10 snare the DRESSINGS aIIOrQe0 US Dy Inc
liberality Of congress, averted that quar-
rel and I want to assure you that the
people generally in other parts of the ter
ritory do not entertain any hostility to
your institution. They believe shat you
are justly entitled to all you have &C.
comphshed, that all Oklahomans are ere
people and have a common interest in
and an equal right to the enjoyment Of
the benefits arising from our generous
school and college funds.
There are about 1900 org tni7ed GEM
mon school districts in the territory with
a school house and a teacher FOR each DIS
trict, besides the graded schools IN the
cities and larger towns. Fully one half
Of these district schools are tributary 10
this school, and here these pupils must
come to finish their work and 1T and pre-
pare them to make good teachers. With
a common school enrolment in this ter
ritory of 10000 youth between tie ages
of and 21 years. is it an extravagant es-
innate to say that at least 1000 will soon
be enrolled in the two Normal schools?
1 think not-and yet we have not in both
the Edmond and Northwestern together
room enough to care for that number.
Much unreasonable criticism for the
building of this school has been INDUCED
in by few of our citizens, but in al
most every instance the authors of these
criticisms have other and personal reas-
ons for Withholding their approval of any
act Of the administration. They are not
fair, they are not honest and sincere in
Judgment, and this is evidenced by the
til oil no -
in regard to this institution. 1t Is COM
mon statement, made by these critical
and highly sensitive people, that this is
but a primary school for the children Of
this community and they never state the
fact that the average age Of students
here last year was over is years. They
persistently publish the statement that
the debt created is in excess of the fed
eral law Limitation, which is not true;
and they try TO make ~ people believe
that it must be paid fC@ if paid for at
all, by taxation, when they know as well
as we do, that the application Of that
portion of the funds coming in from the
leasing of college lands that belongs to
this institution would, if the debt was
properly bonded, pay off the principal
and interest and wipe out all indebted
ness within a few years without a single
dollar of taxation. The legislature
authorized the expenditure of about $780,
900 for new buildings at Saltwater and
every dollar of it must be paid by taxa
ton under the law. As it now stands,
the warrants issued for this debt will be
paid in cash within the next two years.
1.-The university at Norman and the
Edmond normal must have more room
provided for their increasing attendance
within the very near future The space
at each Of these valuable and creditable
institutions is now taxed almost to it's
full capacity. Why not, then, do as has
been done in almost every city and coun-
try school district in the territory-issue
long-term bonds for the money necessary
to provide proper and sufficient buildings
for those schools and to take Up the GER
tificates of Indebtedness issued to the
contractors who have erected this beauti-
ful and necessary structure? 1t would be
good business sense to do it, and by
pledging the revenues of the leased lands
for the interest on the bonds necessary
to accomplish the whole thing, a low rate
of interest can be obtained and we can
have as good college and university and
normal schools as have any of the other
states, and that, without taxing the
people a single dollar except for the ex-
pense of maintaining them.
Il am deeply interested that these mat
ters be seriously considered by the
thoughtful, conservative business men of
the entire territory and have an abiding
faith that when thoroughly understood
public opinion will be so strong through
out the length and breadth of the terri
tory that there will be no further trouble
about the fair and honorable adjustment
of this debt and for an adequate pro-
vision of additional necessary facilities at
Edmond and at Norman.
You are to be congratulated upon the
wonderful success you have already
achieved in this the first year of the
occupancy Of this building. The Warrens-
burg. Missouri, school, with plant cost
ing more than three times as much as
the Northwestern, was in operation sew
eral years before it had an attendance
as large as you have here today.
ITO the president, who has devoted
every energy of his active life TO the sue
of assistants, to the members of the
board of education and to the earnest
and loyal citizens of Ava and Woods
county. who have intelhgently and earn
estly supported them from the first, all
credit and honor is due Tor this grand
achievement. AS the information of your
wonderful success goes out to the people,
as the blessings of the free education
here offered to the youth Of over half our
territory flow outward to the homes and
hearthstones of those whose children re-
ceiye them, the voice of carping criticism
dies away and you and those who have
aided you in this worthy enterprise stand
justified in the minds of all reasona bls /
men.
The splendid reception which you have
accorded Us today will be a golden mem
DRY with us as long as life lasts. The
ceremonies and program rendered by the
instructors and societies of the school
this afternoon have more than repaid us
for taking the long trip across the terri
tory to visit you, and 1 feel sure I voice
the sentiment of all your visitors when
assure you that we have enjoyed every
moment Of our stay with you and that
we appreciate and thank you Tor the
magnificent entertainment given Us this
afternoon and tonight
Il cannot close my remarks without a
word Of congratuleuon TO the good people
% the west side because of your con
tinucd prosperity and the very observable
Improvement in your towns and on your
farms since my visit out here one year
ago. ! congratulate you en- the splendid
prospects for the coming year. which
trust viii witness the fullest fruition Of
your hopes and wishes