Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-16
Shall the People Rule-in Oklahomaa
rhe ouuook. New York. sepl )

" AVAh - WI D. H
brevity OF the time and the destruction
wrought by two serious fires. The charge
Of "carpetbagger' cannot be taken seri-
ously; II is a ~demagogue's appeal to un-
intelligent prejudice.
The other defense we can best report in
the woIds Of the defender. The following
letter. written by a clergyman Of the
Methodist Episcopal church, South, to a
member OF the board Of regents. was prob
ably not intended for publication. We ad-
here to our policy Of emitting names
NORMAN, okl.. April Is, 1ss.-Dear
Brother: in answer to yours of the 2lst.
will say that | just returned home yester-
day afternoon, found things at the farm
In splendid condition. The following are
the names OF the university professors who
dance. play cards. and who are immoral
-. Miss -. and Miss - is an in,
ndel. l am informed, and -, is the man
who said he would rather see all the build
ings at the university burn than see -
elected president. ] suppose you know -
and his wife. They lead all the dancing
crowd; their influence is very bad. There
are a number that | have been unable to
find out about. A number of these who
dance are also immoral and cigarette fiends.
II l can find out anything further ] will
Now, there are some good men in the
faculty. is a good man, he is a member
of the Christian church, and l am informed
is a Christian gentleman. - is the super
intendent Of the Baptist Sunday school,, Is
well qualified for the position he holds.
l had a talk with him this morning and
don't think you will make a mistake in
retaining him i'm his present position. -
Is one of the best qualified men in the uni
versity, and I would like to see you Dust
and. II possible, put - in his place.
- was a leader In our choir for a long
time, so am informed. Miss - is the
assistant in music; she is one of the finest
Christian girls l ever met, is a member OF
our church and our organist. | do not know
what she will apply for, but l wish you
would use your influence to get her just
as high up as possible. She is well quail
fled and ! would like to see her get the
place of Miss - at least.
I asked Prof. - principal of the -
school, to write to you. II there is a chance
to get him In do so; he is a strong south
ern Methodist. and woui be a gretat help
to us here. Miss - asked me to write to
you. l guess you know her. She lived at
- for quite a while, is a member OF the
-, and a good deserving girl, she is an
A. B., from the - female college.
Do your best to get as many strong
southern Methodists on the faculty as pos
sible. Have you heard anything further
about the assistant secretary under -
When will you go to st. Joseph? Write me
a long letter before you go, and tell me
what you think of things. 1t will be Inn
possible for me to go. for | am so busy
We are going to have a. church reception
you not come down and bring your family
III Alt talulNh VII NllN = vi 49, ~
Hope you are having a good meeting.
Write me. With best wishes, as ever, your
friend, =,
/ have been informed that - is skepti-
cal.
The charge of immortality we character
lie as absolutely false-unless dancing and
smoking are immoralities. The animus of
the letter is disclosed in this single SEN
tence:
do your best to get as many strong
southern Methodists on the faculty as pos
sible."
on this state of affairs we have two
to make and two questions to
ask.
The people of oklahoma are taxed to sup
port their educational institutions, from
the primary school to the university. They
pay their money to have their children
educated. When the politicians use this
money to promote the interests of a poll
teal machine or a church sect, they are
guilty of a breach of trust. What do the
taxpayers think of the use which their
public servants are making of the public
funds? What do they think about this
financial policy-the taking of the money
due their sons and daughters and diverting
it for the benefit Of politicians, ecclesiasti-
cal and civiI?'
Governor Haskell was one of Mr.. Bryan's
right-hand men in the democratic conven-
ton. and, at Mr.. Bryan's instance, has
been made chairman of the democratic ma
tional committee. 1t is appalling to think
what would be the results in the educa-
tional systems of the Philippines and Porto
Rico, in the digging of the Panama canal.
in the work of irrigation and reforestatlon,
in the administration of the postoffice, the
Interior and Agricultural departments, In
the appointments of foreign ministers and
consuls. II the spirit which has actuated
the democratic authorities in the state of
Oklahoma should be permitted to take con-
troll Of the federal government at Washing
ton. Governor Haskell. by actions which
speak louder than words, has declared his
belief in Grover Cleveland's motto. "A pub
lie office is a public trust" And Mr.. Has
keIl is a representative leader In the Bryan
democracy. What does Mr.. Haskell think
OF Mr.. Cleveland's principles? What do the
American people think OF Mr.. Haskelrs
-contemptuous reversal Of It?