The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-06-30
KAY COUNTY SEAT
CONTEST WARNS UP
County Wants TO Decide Cues
tIOn Without Outside
Interference

Special to Daily Leader,
Blackwell Okla, June 3O.-Vande.
veer president of the Farmers union,
says: There are few things con
nected with the locating of the county
seat at Newkirk by Hoke Smith. then
secretary OF the interior. which the
people of the country nave not forgot.
Ten, and are not likely 10 soon forget
That lordly gentleman from Georgia,
not liking TO subject his carpet bag
pets, appointed to hold the county OF.
fices. to the Inconvenience of tent liy-
ing and dust seasoned grub which the
settlers and farmers had 10 put mp with
wanted to make It as easy and com
Portable for his pets as he could, re-
gardless OF how much disadvantage
and tough luck the farmers were put
to; and in accordance with his aristo-
cratic notions and whims ln. the
county seat on the railroad so his said
pets with commissions for office in
their pockets. might rled in and out
on Pullman palace cars and be high
toned feeders at the public crib worthy
Of such a lordly superior
Don't you know this Is the disposi-
tion which is generally found in men
Of the character and callbre OF Hoke
Smith holding high office in such sit.
nations? What do You suppose Smith
cared how far or under what circum.
stances the farmers had to drag their
slow way through heat sand. rains.
snow or cold winds to reach the coun.
ty seat when by the command of a
writ of summons issued by his pets.
they We're compelled 10 go. Il is not
forgotten, either. that when this most
honorable aristocrat, Hoke Smith, had
his dignity crossed in a fit of anger.
without regarding the welfare and in
terest OF the farmers of Kay county
and with no other purpose I'm view
than to satisfy his offended dignity.
changed the county seat by an arbi
trary pencil mark on the map from It's
more central location at Kildare to the
Out-of-the-way corner OF the county at
Newkirk
IT one were going TO locate a coun.
" seat for the benefit and conven.
fence OF the majority OF the settlers
and farmers on the opening day of
the strip and the farmers considered
at all where In justice to the great
est number, do you think it should
have located in either Kay or Grant
county, Don't forget either, I'm the
day of HOke Smiths rule, the railroads
had more TO say and did more to con
trol the acts Of the public officers than
they do today, and the railroads In
very instance where they were in a
new country az the opening had more
voice in locating the county seat than
all the settlers In the whole strip did
and generally the railroads had all
their wishes granted in all that was
done In Washington at that time con.
cerning these newly settled countries
while the settlers had nothing TO say
at all and all they had to do was to
take the medicine the aristocratic gen
tleman from Georgia dosed ont to
them whether It be bitter or sweet.
"Are the people of Kay county going
TO ratify and approve precedent of
that kind in the control of their affairs 2
Or are they going TO hold on 20 their
rights by saying We viii manage
and run our own Affairs IN our way ac.
cording 10 the voice OF the majority
tl0ke Smith, or any other aristocrat
70 the contrary; II is now up 10 the
farmers Of Kay county TO decide for
themselves what kind of government
they want, government by an the
people. or a goyelnmeu; dictated by one
man; a county seat located by lloke
Smith Or according 10 their own needs
as determined By the viii OF a major.
ity vote,