The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-01-24
THAT FREE TEXT
BOOK nuoAnoo.

what is the matter over in Ok
iahoma now asks the Chickasha Ex-
press "A few weeks ago" continues
our esteemed Indian territory ex-
change. 'the land of Flynn and "a
forced Republican majority was re-
sounding with wild alarms. The Re
publican papers. among them being
that arch iraducef Of Indian territory
citizenry, the Guthrie Capital we're
worked up to a white heat They cried
out long and loud against a school
book trust, and declared thai the
children Of Oklahoma were being kept
In gloom, u.,-lness and Ignorance on
account Of the Tack of school books.
Then was cited the fact that the Re
publican party at The Enid conven-
ton. had found a way to throttle the
trust by distributing school books
free OF expense TO territory and school
patrons. The Republican papers
dweit long and lovingly on the free
text book plank They declared that
the territory was paying $4,000 a
year for school hooks when the Guth-
rie Capital would furnish them for
nothing. The Guthrie Leader, one Of
the stauneh Democratic organs. quick
" punctured the Capitals fairy tale
by showing what free text books
would cost under the benign iisnuence
OF the Capital plant and the Re3ubli-
can party, which. however, wag bun
coed into placing the free text book
graf" into the Enid platform by the
Capital The book war in Oklahoma
waged fast and furious for weeks and
text book gratis we're subjects for
heated debates on the stump. From
our point Of observation the whole
Republican press fight was based on
text books The Democratic press
carried on decent manfnl campaign
but the Capital and other radical pa
pers yelled Kansas City traveller aud
free text books at every jump. Now
we ask, what has come over the
dreams Of our Republican brethren
why are they 80 uuiescent II free
text books for Oklahoma" was such
a good thing why did not the Guthrie
Capital, II II has the interest of the
territory at heart. continue to wage
battle. Notwithstanding the comple-
tion Of the campaign. To our mind
there is something farcial, if not rot
ten, in the Republican position-or
rather we should saw. the Capitals
position, since It was the most wor
ried Of all the papers, It was charg-
ed that the Capital had selfish inter
ests in view. hence the fight Now
we hear nothing from the Capitgl
about free text hooks or anything
else Won't our Democratic friend,
The Leader, take time to puncture
another bubbleg"
The curiosity of The EXPRESS Is bat
natural II struck the nail fairly ON
the head when II spoke Of selfish in-
terests The free text book yawp
during the last campaign was probah-
ly the rawest farce ever perpetrated
ON an intelligent people The Repub-
lican press OF the territory was work
ed BY the Capital The chief Of pub
Tic pap feeders used the free textx
books as ringer. all the while hop
ing that a change of sentiment would
inure TO its own benefit The Express
should not worry There is no dang
er OF an avalanche Of free text books
In Oklahoma. A wise, discreet legis
lature is in session IN Oklahoma
capital at the present time and 1t will
see that the territory is fully equip
ped with school literature without
mortgaging itself TO a private cor
poration.
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