The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-08-25

WEST
CASE:
(MusI,ogee Tribune.)


ernor Haskell and Attorney-General
West?
Nothing on earth except difference
of opinion as to which one is charged
with the supreme executive authority
of the state. and there is only one way
TO settle this question, and that Is that
the supreme court in the state shall say
where the line Is to be drawn and
when the coiirt draws the line. Has
ken should stay on his side of the line
and faithfully discharge his duties and
West stay ON his side OF the line and
faithfully attcGd to his duties. which
both of them win probably do but
when two public officers want TO dis
charge the same affical duties, obvious
iy the court must locate the RESPONSE
bility.
This Is not the first question Of this
kind that has arisen since Statehood
began.
Oklahoma has a state board of edu-
cation, composed OF the attorney gem
eral. secretary of state, superintendent
of public instruction and the governor
Oklahoma has also a board or re-
gents that look after the state univer-
sity. Another board that looks after
the Tonkawa Preparatory school; still
another board that loks after the nor
NAL schools of the state.
Last spring the question arose as to
the powers and duties of these four
different boards. Attorney General
West emphaticaily claimed that the
state board of education must elect
the president OF every orc of those dif-
lerent state institutions and exercise
other control over these Institutions.
rho other three members OF the board
Of education as well as all the mem
bers of the other boards named were
thoroughly satisfied thar General West
was mistaken md yet General West
became indignant and refused to yield
his opinion.
The state board af education elected
! president of the State University
and the Tonkawa Preparatory school
taking just steps enough TO permit the
other state boards TO lawfully Ques
tion the authority OF the state board
lf education. Every other member OF
these boards desired to have the court
settle the question so that each hoard
might know what It's duties we're and
give them prompt aud careful atten
ton.
This controversy lasted for several
weeks and everything concernml
.hose state institutions was in an I'M
settled. chaotic condition,
In order TO have the question SET
tied, the state board of education ha,
a meeting The attorney general bit
terly opposed submitting the dispute,
question 20 the supreme court an'
claimed that his opinion should govern
and that an OF the other members q
al the boards should abide by his ad
vice. but the three other members o
fha state board OF education insiste'
. that the affairs 81 these institutions
.ould not proceed on a stable basil
without the dispute being settled and
therefore, by D vote OF three yeas
, Ia Mr. Vests mo" the president o
the board Of regents gf the State Uni
, yersity (Hon. Lee Cruce), was request
, "a TO apply TO the supreme court 70
a decision Of the disputed questions
The case was heard and the suprem
! court decided that General West wa
wrong in every claim he made, an
, gaye 10 each one of The differen
! named boards the power TO eontlnu
managing the respective state institI
y ions. 50 that that question IL settle
and there need never be any dispnt
, IN the future abont one of these board
Z interfering with the rights and dutie
! OF another.
, Now you have got the same kind z
= a question namely Is the attone
: general the chief executive of Oklah'
= ma or Is the governor OF the state th
:. chief executive? And just as th