The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-01-07

counties carved out or TINT unorEaniEed
territory began their county government
on the day of statehood. that not one 81
these forty counties had any organza-
tion or money 70 conduct their business.
that the entire FIRST year Of statehood
and more. would have 90 elapsn before
there would be any cash IN the county
or district treasury thereof. other than
borrowed money, that, IN addition TO
these UNUSUAL conditions, with a million
and half Of people aAi more than a
billion dollars OF property values 20 ere-
ate contention Incident TO such vast
conditions. the first year Of statehood
has certainly had its trials and trlhuia-
tlons for an public officials. and yet. the
credit Of the state and OF the counties
has been maintained at a high standard.
! do not believe that county warrants
value Of ninety cknts On the dollar.
except, possibly. Very small warrants,
and IN a few localities. and aa "a rule.
these warrants have been held up to
strikes me as an excellent record IN view
Of the fact that III the old Oklahoma
Territory counties after organization and
stable conditions had been established.
am advised that county warrants were
often marketed as low as sixtv-fye cents
or even less. on the dollar and IN other
western states. IA their infancy, Il has
been tue experience qf a majority of
such states. that reckless taxation and
extravaganza has. during the FIRST few
years Of statehood. almost destroyed the
public credit
Summing up the above conditions. ok
lahoma can report TO the world;
An increase Of seventy-hVe thnus-
and IN It's population,
An Increase OF over thirteen mil-
lion dollars IN IFS agricultural pro-
ductiOns.
An Increase in the aggregate Of
practically twenty per cent Of It's
other productions, rs manufactures
and rnmmprrpt
An Increase Of rs mileage Of new
railroad constructed equal 10. or
greater than any state IN the union.
and much above the mileage OF other
net increase or ten and one-quar-
Ter million dollars 10 iis hank de-
poslts:
An Increase Of two thousand. two
hundred organized school district.
An absolutely clean sheet as TO mob
violence resulting IN mob execution
aud lyuchinR.
And its state government conducted
at a less expense 70 tax payers than
any other state IN the union with
population as low as even one mill
lion people.
Oklahoma asks lis own people as wen
as the people of the other states of the
union, and the world at large, to judge
or state. our people and our laws from
the truth as to conditions. rather than
from criticism and unreliable reports. Let
tilf tuffia speak loi iNFHttiNte4 Inc Int-
Icy OF Oklahoma has always been to mete
ous equal and exact justice to the weak
anG t|c strong alke-t0 the small prop
csty and 10 the large property. giving
each and al the protection Of the law en-
forced IN like manner as to all. and
with a view 20 encouraging enterprise
ana development OF our state, and II IN
any particular the laws Of our state 10
rOl measure .p 90 the standard the pul-
icy nf CK'shcma should certainly be to
make them sc. Hut the mere faci tnat
stinc rlay amor against our laws aud
conditions. IS not ia itself conelus ve and
may not be honest evidence 20 the fact
that our laws need changing Special
interests seeking special privileges are not
always a reliable source OF Information
o. just criticism There are those who
seek. Ind. ectly, to form or WELD public
opinion for personal ends. II we are In
sane on any subject, let US return to san
ty, but emphatically let us not be con-
vi1ccd that we are insane unless honest
crlticism has first shown US that we are
not dealing fairly with all elements Of
Industry and all classes Of property ana
people.
that eitlcism by the subsidized press or
other n representatives. Of interests that
seek 70 thrive on greed and graft Is 1f-
ten manufactured and circulated for the
d cot purpose Of intimidating the ef-
gest that when these vicious and vlo-
lent criticisms are presented to us. that
a most appropriate question should arise
In our minds.
ual to circulate these vicious eritcsms7
Whcse interest is back Of the effort
to discredlt the public officer and the
reputation OF the state?
And when you have asked the question
and ascertained the facts. YOU need not
be surprised to learn that the effort at
defamug the officer OF the reputation OF
the state arises because the special in
terest has found it impossible to influence
such special officer and therefore seeks
to destroy his power for the public good.
Rest assured that the special interests
never turn a hand or pay a dollar to dis
credit a public officer or the reputation
of the state excepting only TO promote
their own selfish interests.
Oklahoma and its public officers have
survived all these vicious assaults, and
are still without fear or favor enforc-
ing obedience TO the law against the
strong as well as the weak compelling
the payment of taxes Of interests here
tofore favored and practically exempted
from taxation. and will continue to do so
regardless Of the probable continuation Of
your honorable body, but the people Of
the entire state in every particular where
our work promotes public welfare
Needed Legislation
In addition to the suggestion as to leg-
islation mentioned I'm connection with va
fiOQS statements OF existing COuultiOnS
above, the general policy of the legisla-
ture Is one In which the public is great
~ interested. II is asserted by some Of
our people that there should be an ex-
tensive revision and changing Of exist
ing laws and even to the extent of
changing provisions of the constitution.
In this connection / will say that there
has never yet been called to my attention
definitely any particular section which
believes justhes the name of radical or
unjust laws so far as our Industries and
business of the state in general is con-
cerned
Here are some Of the features of gov-
ernment, however, that I believe need
your attention.
The building OF court houses. whether
by sale Of bonds or rental notes should be
submitted to a vote OF the people Of the
county.
Our election law needs material revi-
sion, simplifying Its methods economiz-
ing its cost and making 1t efficient in
many respects. 1t was generally UNDER
stood at the time the present law was
passed at the close of the last session
that for want of time to give Il more
careful consideration it was then accepts
ed and approved. with the understanding
that after the holding Of one election its
defects could be remedied by subsequent
legislation.
There is no class of public improve-
ments needing attention SO much as the
building of public highways within this
state. This IS of SO much Importance
that / believe that the people might well
afford BY the sale Of bonds or otherwise
Int.r