The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-12-30
- COOK LEelslArloN.


which grating corporation saw fit
to inject into the Enid Republican
convention will be one Of the most
important 70 come before the seventh
legislative assembly. The American
Book company's 5-year lease expires
shortly and the ensuing legislation
must take come action on the ques
tion OF renewal. Speaking Of this con
templatcd legislation, the Yukon Sun
whose editor Mr. Maxwell is mem
berelect Of the legislature says;
"One Of the principal subjects to be
considered bY the territorial legis-
lature is he matter of text books
for the public schools. At tho be-
hest Of corpo alton which hoped 10
profit by il, the last territorial Re
publican convention adopted plank
in it's platform favoring free tcxt
books. This action Of the Republi-
can convention dragged the question
into party politics, whore it does not
belong. We know, many Republicans
who arc opposed to the free book
idea and many Democrats who iook
upon Il with favor yet all agree hat
the school book question should be
dealt with as a business propo ition.
"Unles history fails TO repeat it,
self there will be numerous lobbyists
at Guthrie this winter reeking to in.
fluence legisla ion and the king bee
grafters will doubtless be represea-
ta-ives OF various printing concerns.
The policies and methods of the Re
publican politicians are co we'll kncwn
by the people Of this territory that
they will look to the Democratic ma
joriy in the house for protection and
relief. The Democratic members
should meet this responsibility and
discharge their duties In a manner
that will REBOUND to the good of the
people and to the credit of the party
To accomplish this, they must stand
solidly Together; and to insure this
unanimity OF action they must caucus
freely and counsel with reputable
party leaders EverN graftd who
seeks 10 get hi0 dirty hand9 into he
public treasury should be set down
upon.
we are 'unalterably opposed to the
free book proposition unless II can
be shown that under Tho system the
school children Of Oklahoma will get
botter books than tAey have had and
at less expense 20 their parents. If
the system is endorsed at all, each
diatrict should De compelled to bear
its own burden. Otherwise the
scheme would work great injustice
upon some communities to the ad-
vantage of cher communite=.
"The word free Is very deceptive
in this matter. as the taxpayers NAV
learn to theic orrow Our Repubh-
can friends who were so Jealous in
their Plea for protection of oklaho-
mas splendid school fund should sit
down and patiently figure on the
cost of free books As a basis for
uhe calculation they might take some
OF the extor,ionate bills paid by rhe
territory for ~ printing in years
gone by
Whatever may be said In favor Of
the free book system In general We
contend that ii is an Democratic
tendency toward centralization and
paternali-m and it would be unwise
10 adopt It in Oklahoma at time
when we have reason 10 believe hat
wo are about 70 receive the privil- |
eyes and reaponsiblHuee Of state
hood The question would be a prop /
er one 20 be considered by the cousti- /
utlonal convention, so he people /
could endorse or yjeot the system
according to their judgment.
"The writer is equally opposed TO
the scheme Of the gi-prJ book rust
We believe the Democratic party in /
Oklahoma is 81 ater than either Of I
thess monumental grafters 1t is not /
necessary mat the Democracy rhould /
be the tool Of one no, the servant /
OF the o.her We confidently believe /
that a bin can be devised (and en-
acted into law) tha. will give to The
school children OF Oklahoma better I
books than they have ever had before +
and at prices ma will not be burden
some TO heir parents; thar the school I
children and heir parents may enjoN
the privilege unre trained by con 4
tract o. legisla ion, of purchasing