The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-01
JUDGE FOSTER
WAS PIONEER
Recalls Some Early History 10
Oklahoma.
TO LEASE SCHOOL LANDS
He was Author of the Me-
mortal to Congress.

Guthrie. o. T., April Se-Judgc John
Foster. of Clinton. Iowa. one OF the early
''dayers' in Gutnrie. a leading figure IN
the First Oklahoma assembly. as the
member of the council from the Logan
district. and chairman of the second
townsite board. Is in Guthrie with his
wife. Judge Foster Is the author oc
measures that have meant over a mil
lion dollars 10 Oklahoma. and is remem-
bered with pleasure by people all over
the territory.
Judge Foster was the author OF tho
bin memorialixing congress TO grant Ok
lahoma the right to lease her school lands
and yesterday told how he happened to
introduce the measure
The schools OF the territory were in
a deplorable condition. the teachers be-
ing poorly paid IL paid at all. there were
few school houses. and money was scarce,
At a meeting OF the teachers OF Okla
homa. memorial was prepared 20 be
presented 20 the First oklahoma as
sembly asking relief \ bill was pre-
pared and passed the lower house legal
izing them provincial school warrants
and providing for the payment Of OUT
standing debts. When the measure came
TO the council an investigation was made
with the result that We found that there
was not enough taxable property 10 war;
rant the passage OF the bill We were
without resource but II was necessary
20 DO something
While the members OF the council
Were raking their brains 20 devise sons
measure 81 relief an idea came 20 ne
one night while IN bed IL struck mo
thnt the solution 81 the problem was
TO memorabilia congress 10 appropriate
$4,000 for the purpose OF organizing
schools I'm oklahoma. got ny 10 place
the ideas on paper and the idea came "a
me that permanent fund for the schools
might be provided by the leasing Of the
school lands ; made a rough draft OF
the resolution rlemorialzing congress to
appropriate fifty thousand dollars. and ~
also grant the privilege Of leasing thu
school lands Early the next morning, I
had Joe Norris who was the clerk ~
the committee ~ which | was the chair
man prepare the bill When I presented
IL. the members Of the council were 30
favorably impressed that II was passed
at once unanimously II soon passed the
other house and received the signature
OF Governor Steele. Within a very short
time congress gave us 81 we had asked.
At first tho territory realized little
from the leasing Of the school lands. but
In the fifteen years that oklahoma hazg
been territory IL has meant hundreds
Of thousands Of dollars This privilege
has furnished the money which has
greatly aided Oklahoma in rearing her
excellent school system The territory
now receives over three hundred thou
sand dollars annually
Judge Foster speaks n the capital aRh,
as the most Interesting feature 81 tina
FIRST oklahoma legislature he was IN
the chair when the message 81 Governor
steele was sent TO the council after the
bin removing the capital TO oklahoma
city had passed both houses and sad
been sent % him for his signature In
describing the scene Judge Foster said:
The han was crowded with anxious
people awaiting the arrival 81 the mes
'age from the governor. when the chair
nan called me 20 the chair Ia a short
limo cal Orner. who wss goreynor
laU. and handed M ao envelope As
opened il sou could haze heard q pin
Iron. The bill was Ga the envelope bet
10 message. and ] handed II back % SIR
)rner asking him 20 60 Tor the Inesrags.
rho council from oklahoma county aros-.
md Sruay demanded ihe reason for my
ending the message from the governor
'sck - unceremoniousis ! explained
nd councsled the large crowd 70 make
- demonsuat!on when ;ha message
hould be rad
Mr. Orner roop returned Z handed
be message - Maior Simpson. aow a
= Reno and h read e IN loud sonor-
ouz voice IL dosing he brouKb, ous
n xord~ with emphasis and f1r ;hea~
bo bfi unsigned. and then ev~rvbf-sv
ave vent 70 the3s feelings ss loudly ~
hey cosld on one eide there we're
roaus. tut The cheers pr~dorninzte1
In very fev MINUTES. fh4 hall which
sd been packed. vau entirely cissre3
.u In1pForngtu DrocsEsiou VAS formed
nd men bo4iiaR over Ntth en:haslasra
ars6s5 ;hs streets They wsri 20 Gov
-uor siesEs Office secured lin sd
caring him on tbeir shoulders t,arsAea
h. streets cheering wildly The council
-oo6 seven fo-six. ard iiss people r~.ilz.a
"a 'he Okiabona city combination "a.
roksa
Mrs. Mcclure Gees west
Guthrie q T. AFrI 81 Hfs y q