The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-08-29
A BROWN ROAST
BY SENATOR THACKER
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CONTINUED from page IL
which no one outside Of the people
of Mangum, was concerned. It was
one to be oeolt with in executive
session" as every sense Of propriety
would suggest.
Beside, the danger of false impress
sious going out on the tongues Of
enemies, required that what was said
and done, should be known only to
ourselves.
The legislature passed the bill for
the location of the Southwestern Nor
mai school at the instance and for
Greer county, believing that It should
be located there, but in Difference to
belated appeal from Cordell, in
Washita county, the words 'in Greer
county" were stricken cut and the
words lin the southwest portion Of
the territory" inserted with no thought
but that the school would neverthe-
less ~ located in Greer county, If Il
may accept as correct, the statements
OF those members of the assembly
with whom have since spoken.
The sponsor for that bill in the
council had been well acquainted with
the people and conditions in Greer
county for at least ten years. but
Washita county was also in his dis
trict and assume that, withoL. any
change in his convictions as to where
the school should be located he
caused this change in the bill merely
to give Cordell an equal right with
the towns Of Greer county to enter the
list Of competitors AS soon as the
committee to locate this institution,
appointed by Governor Barnes. was
known to the people, a silent fear
that there was danger of its location
outside OF the designated district be
gan to settle down upon some of
them, and few Of them confdential
ly discussed this fear among them
selves all along from that time until
they We're removed by Governor
jenkins. It is true we felt that the
Baraes committee was the condition
which confronted us and no idea of
being able to secure their removal
occurred to us until Mr. French's visit
to Mangum Even then, we were not
convinced OF the possibility of secur-
ing this action by the governor and
after Mr.. French had left we sent
delegation to Guthrie not to investi-
gate charges against the old com
mittee, but to try to ascertain, If pos
sible from the governor, whether or
not a petition for removal would be
fayorably considered.
The gentlemen who were sent on
that mission returned and reported
that they believed that the removal
could be secured by making the prop.
er efforts, but neither of them had
any fixed ideas as to what steps should
be taken and one of them in speak
ing to me, as TO what conclusion he
had reached from his conference with
the governor said. that while he be
lieyed II urged to do so, the governor
would take some action, still that he
| had found him damned non.commit-
all and that he would be damned if
he could predict what be would do"
Even after this report Of our dele
gate. we took no action for several
days. not because OF any confidence
in the old committee but because Of
a lingering doubt as to whether we
could succeed In obtaining new one.
Later mass meeting, between
some Of the citizens Of Mangum and
Granite was agreed upon for the pur-
pose OF passing resolutions touching
our fears that the old committee
would so outside of the southwest
portion OF the territory to locate the
school But those Who met were un-
able to agree that the movement
should be initiated by such resolu-
tions and dispersed without any def,
mite plans.
Still later and, perhaps fifteen or
Twenty DAYS after MT French was In
Mangum, our people commenced 10