The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-11-27
Ex-Governor Barnes Deliy=
erS Able Address Before
Bankers Association

Gentlemen Imagine my feelings when
I first discovered that your executive
committee had placed mby name upon
your program which / beg to assure you
was done Without the form OF an in
vitation. without previous consultation
with me and perhaps without due con-
sideration." AT first l thought that 4 was
mistaken, but yet, there It was, in great
big box-car letters, and having made sure
that the youngest man Of the profession,
as well as the youngest man of my age,
in the territory had thus been so signal
" honored, a feeling came over me such
as once came upon beautiful bride
when she became the wife of a gentleman
far above herself IN the social ranks of a
titled eristocracy
"a trouble weighed upon her
And perplexed her night and morn,
With tho burthen of an honor
Unto which she was not BORN
And thea the subject assigned to me
THE Commercial Future of Oklahoma -
That is entering a domain of pure roman
tic speculation, and ] am not given to the
flowers OF oratory-to painting the rain
bow Of the future with the brush OF an
optimist-l am neither a prophet nor the
son Of a prophet and the only way 1
know of judging the future is by study
ing well and learning well the lessons Of
the past. and then / am told by the faith
ers of the banking business that ii Is un-
professional and altogether dangerous for
banker to deal in or have anything to
do with futures"
l am also reminded chat the bankers
have taken good care OF the commercial
interest sOf the territory up to this time
lat a rate commencing IN 1889, of about
i've per cent per month and ranging
downward to about ten or twelve per
cent per annum today-and that the COM
mericia future of the territory is entire
~ safe In their hands. SO far as banking
facilities are concerned So j conclude
IU sin tF "a g
chill-producng gaVei Is the wrapper"
The president with his awe-inspiring,
and 1 am the filler; and You who smoke
have no doubt observed before this, that
a mighty fine wrapper is often appreciat-
ed with very strong filler.
However. here 1 am face to face with
collection Of men OF marble heart and
upon whom more than any other class
of professional or business men the fu
ture commercial prosperity of our ter
ritory perhaps depends
i am glad also to note that / am face
10 face with so goody a number OF fair
ladies and feel sure that their presence
here will have tendency to thaw the
atmosphere proverbially so like a refrig-
orator in the presence Of the man whose
business Is to loan money. Their pres
ence In an inspiration, and If / could only
choose my own subject, We would have
an interesting meeting,
And l would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise In me-"
Anyway, I trust the ladies win feel an
equal intetest In the subject / will dis
cuss but briefly and IN SO satisfactory a
manner and be assured that II 1 appear
10 address myself especially TO the gem
tlemen IL is upon the well grounded con-
viction with me- at least * e my under
standing, that the gentlemen always em-
brace the ladies'. want the ladies' TO In
teregt themselves in these questions of
political economy, because you know Il
is said that the whisper of a beautiful
woman can be heard farther than the
lpudest yen OF duty.
But seriously, my friends 10 my mind
the future commercial prosperity OF ok
lahoma depends very largely upon the
kind of state we shall build here In our
new and well beloved home. TO estab-
lish here a state the government OF which
shall be "A pride and glory of our people,
and the burden OF maintenance shall be
within out reasonable means Is a consum-
nation devoutly TO be wished.
J. dream Of state so large in area,
so rich in the products OF the forests
the farms, the orchards the mines and
the pastures upon which shall Craze great
hocks and herds, so populous that II shall
be the envy OF our older sisters with a
school house, college and university
within easy reach Of all our children
and youth, a state with goodly cities
and towns scattered along the multiplied
arteries OF commerce and communication
with homes of comfort and plenty IN ev-
tlg ADMHoDiHg ulrlAlNkf NOnHlNf CITY ana
village. with fair temples of fashion in ev-
cry toxin, with temples OF religion within
the reach ~ every inhabitant with tenn
pies of simple and honest justice every
where, a state which viii be recognized
by the world as a commonwealth COM
mensurate with she greatness and good
ness OF her people, state that our chill
dren and our children's children shall for
ages 70 come recall our names after we
are dead and gone and feel a pride as
they say my father or my grandfath-
er OF my great grandfather helped
TO found and build the state of Okiaho-
ma / want no safe 80 small that as
koy Holman says, when we lay down 10
sleep and stretch our limbs in repose,
We VIII have 10 pay lodging In Colorado
or IeAas. I want no cramped, pigmy rot
ten borough that will be the prey OF a
few designing machine politicians and a
burden upon taxpaying people 10 main
tain. We may well shrink from the re-
sponsibities and obligations which the
formation OF such state will involve.
want a state that 1ill command the re-
spent and admiration OF the good people
or this great republic everywhere and
which for every sound reason viii be a
benehcient blessing TO future generations.
II II be a dream IL Is one that appeals
20 the highest sense OF patriotism as well
as 70 the future commercial interests Of
our people. II Is a dream that will stimu-
late and inspire every one who cares for
the welfare OF our people now as we'll as
OF those who come after us.
In the few years that We have been here
We have witnessed the orderly settlement
and establishment OF a community now
numbering about a half million Of peo-
PIE The picturesque scene OF the days
on which hte various parts OF the ter
ftory were opened 20 settlement made
vivid impressions upon minds which will
not be eitaced SO long as we live Many
Of us viii also remember the years OF
drought and depression and hardship
that followed. While We studied and ex-
perimented with soil and climatic condl-
tpns which We're new 70 as. the people
suffered Under the administra ton of opr
nrst governor we received aid IN money
from the government Of the United
states without which many OF the set
tiers must have pershed Of hunger and
Of lever. We also received substantial
aid from the great Rock Island and santa
fe railroad companies. who furnished our
farmers with seed % enable them TO make
the hrst start in the cultivation Of the
land and the raising OF crops which has
produced the satisfactory coi.dition oi
Affairs existing today. Oklahoma IS today
the third or fourth wheat producing COM
an he nN