The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1908-08-21
STATE SONG CONTEST
Plan Proposed to Decide on Okla
homa's Official Lyric.
PRIZE TO BE COMPETED FOR.

o. Also 70 DC SeSceo-AltaraS Mts-
tlstOs and oeldsnrOd Suggested.
II the next Oklahoma legislature.
converting early In January Of the COM
ing year, does not pull or n singing
match to decide upon the song to be
adopted as the Official air Of the state,
It VIII not be the fault OF Colonel Sid
ney Suggs Of Ardmore, editor-Owner OF
the Daily Ardmorite, an enthusiast In
good road building and carrier Of near
" 400 pounds OF flesh. In a letter writ
ten recently to Governor Charles n
Haskell, Colonel Suggs says:
81 believe that the time has arrived
In the history Of the new state to select
q patriotic song for Oklahoma. would
suggest that you notify the musicians
OF the state that such a song is desired
and have the words selected from the
constitution and set to some new air
and then call upon the musicians Of the
state to compete for a prize"
1t was further suggested by Colonel
Suggs In this letter that during the
next session Of the legislature all the
competitors come to Guthrie and sing
their songs before a musical committee
empowered TO pass upon the quality Of
the music and the general tone Of the
poetry, says a Guthrie (Okla.) dispatch
TO the st. Louis Post-Dispatch. Then
he would have a law enacted adopting
the song selected as the official song Of
the state.
This would not be the first contest
Of its kind in an oficial Oklahoma as
semblage. While the constitutional
convention was In session late In 1906
the matter OF selecting a reading clerk
came up, and the delegates voted to
have the various candidates read be-
fore the convention and to select the
best reader. Five aspirants mounted
the platform and read selections given
to them. The place was won by Bob
Williams, a newspaper man Of Altus.
In connection with Colonel Suggs'
idea, IL IL contended by u. 8. Russell,
chairman OF the executive committee
Of the Democratic State Press asso-
citation, that the states oficial song
has already been adopted. Mr.. Rus
sell, a newspaper man, was present
when the constitutional convention
held its initial session. While the del
egates were gathering the representa-
lives Of the press. together with nu-
merous political hangers on who were
awaiting the parcelIng out OF the jobs,
began singing, How Dry l Ann and
10 continued until the convention was
officially opened.
State wide prohibition was then IN
known. 1t was pretty generally be-
lieved, however, that the convention
would incorporate II In the constitu-
ton, and the song as given by the re
porters and politicians was considered
appropriate. 1t is contended that il is
even more appropriate now after nine
months OF prohibition. Mr.. Russell be-
lIeves, therefore, that this should be
considered the states official song. The
first verse and. in fact. the other nine
ty-nine verses of the song are:
How dry am. how dry am!
God only knows how dry am!
During the sessions Of the cOnstitu
tional convention the delegates were
always ready to sing. After e. y. Has
kell began 10 forge 10 the front as a
gubernatorial possibility, for he was a
delegate in the convention. his friends.
under the leadership OF President Muir
ray. would frequently employ idle
time in the convention by singing 10
some popular tune the words Here's
10 Charlie Haskell; he'll be our next
governor" The delegates who were
not Haskelrs political friends. how
ever. would always end such i'm
promptu concerts by singing to the
same tune, whatever Il might be. the
words. you've got another guess com
ing" The delegates frequently. too.
sang Dixie" "Old Kentucky Home"
and other southern airs.
During the recent legislature a bill
was introduced by Senator Henry S.
Johnston OF Perry. now the Demo
cratic nominee for congress In this dis
trict, making a poem on Oklahoma"
as written Dy an Indian girl. Table
quah. the official state poem. The bill
drew considerable comment. hut was
defeated.
In addition 10 state song. the next
legislature will again have under dis
cussion, too, the adoption OF state
flower This question was thrashed
out In both the constitutional conven-
ton and the legislature. but no deci-
sion was ever reached. William II.
Murray AM his friends always de-
nandcd the adoption of alfalfa a. the
state Cover. hui this was opposed by
the advocates Of mistletoe and golden
rod. Mistletoe by legislative enact
ment was the Official flower Of old Ok
lahoma territory.