The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-07-11


representative school mar by The
publication in certain republican
newspaper IN Oklahoma and also IN
some magazines of questionable
standing Of articles Announcing Chat
we have politics IN Oklahoma schools
and leading people 60 believe that
this state of affairs is tie result or
democratic rule and that now the
schools have lost their useiulnoss.
AN attack Of this kind. which Injuries
our schools. should be iepused "a
any cost aud. therefore, have en-
tered tbls discussion to turn ON the
iigh3 SO ,hat the public may under
stand the cause OF This cnmmoton
Tfose who are raising This cry
know fun Wen the conditions. Gf they
really care 90 l1now,l for tnere are
thousands of citizens 10 old oklahoma
Vino do know who would be willing
io furnish the informatieu contain.
in this article, bus ihe republican
press and these biased magazines bs
fore mentioned seem blind and deaf
therefore. 1 propose 10 let tie peo
be know
Let Il be known to an men that We
have politics in Oklahoma schools
tAAA tRt NW AAtAf Nf hNN tA4Ar ~ NAiN AUA
dition OF affairs in oklahoma. More
over, we have politics In Okab0ma
schools an the time It is not just
starting, just commencing as These
criers would have you believe. but ii
came here from Kansas al tie open
Ing anS was matnred by the republ
can party until statehood came whc
some of the hangers on fell of the
ple counter aad cried; their friends.
tne republican editors and a few hire
ling magazines. are now aware "lor
ihe first timc7 thal We have politics
in oklahoma schools.
Who ever expected to see a demo
crat placed at the head of q state
school during q republican adnunit
t-ation ia Oklah5ma2 } may state
So do noi as a rule find politics 70
nc elementary or common schools.
ihere are scures Of cities thai may
ic named whore The popular vOle is
democratic aud the aupeemnndent Oh
principal Is republican There me 81
So scores ol cili-s where the vote e.
republican and Che superintendent 5
democrat True there are mant
directors who insist upon efipi0yine
demc0fatic superintendent and prin
cipais and many republican directors
who likewise insist upon employine
republican school officials, Dut these
are the exceptions not The rule.
Conditions nave NOT been 80 neari3
ideal ia the state schools, and no.
3ecause OF democratic rule either for
with the exception oil one administra
tion, Oklahoma government has al
ways been In the hands OF the re
publican party, During the one demo
cratic administration (l2enirows tern
ef oinccl ihe best school position ir
Oklahoma i,he presidency OF the mi
! Fersity was neld bg republican
I Now be it known that for thes,
many subsequent years of fepHbhcdI
rule no democrat has been found WIN
was qualified In the eyes OF the ad
ministration to fiji the position 81
president ia any state educational M
stiudon. and no republican WAS fnll.
qualified TO fill any of these positions
pr to serve as territorial superlniend
cnt unless ehe was a republican anC
came fronj Kansas
or course III Is not my main con
tention that good men cannot com.
from Kansas, but do wish 90 sue
gest that good men might COME from
other states, at least occasionally
There might be good men who woull
some from other states north, south
aast and west, However. the republi
cam rulers IN Oklahoma could Lot se
much merit in educators from anl
other state than Kansas. During ihi
long period of their several conseea
tlye administrations the fopei
sesame 10 school positions in Okla
homa was II am a repNblica. fron
Kansas" A coterie Of Kansas mel
controlled the schools in Oklahoma
1t has been charged that we hav
politics especially IN tho norma
schools. Let us Investigate. Herr
are the facts IN the closing year F.,
republican, administrations there wen
three active known dsmocrais in th
faculty in the Northwestern Norna
School al Alya, none in The south
western Normal School at Weaibel
ford and two in The Central Norma
school "A Edmond q grand total o
ilye out Of "A combined le&Wlf ol ,al
proNimatoly sixty. ln the years UriQ
% ihis there We're not So many dem
Ocrats employed Euf al iho eni 6
republican rule we lind fhe presdent
OF an the normals end about 30 pe
cent OF The combined faculty ot ih
normals were republicans Was ihi
4 accidental or did we have polite
ln oklahoma schools? Did The ri
3 pubEoans have politics ia okiahom
.sehOOls3
Coming with the c0ierie of repuhi
cans who controlled educational ai
iaivs in Oklaaoma as one Of thei
Ideas lf5m Kansas Was ihe miHa
school which was Quickiy comhatte.
hy Me citizenship of Oklahoma, ba
; could not be totally eredIcated dun
ins yepnbhoan rule. no Illustrate, i
{ Oklahoma county District No. q
known as the Luther District ana .
So in alsiricts iu Logan and oihe
5 cQunics plich might he Htealsauet
81 Wie he found th8t nosro dl-ect9r
composed the school board in nean
leyelr Instance Ihey employed tw
teachers one white and one coiorel
giving the negro teacher i've 10 O.
5 dollars mon, per month Than pa
J white leacheg These rcuublitan law
Z and nreCtces. making saeh condition
possible. Hefe IN ihe eyes oi the den
ooraisi a dalecf ih me school mai
agemoni and chargablo at lsasi I
5 part % those at he head of educ