The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1909-04-16
THE EAST SIDE INSANE ASYLUM

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A dispatch to the Kansas City Jour.
nal from Antlers says
Antlers, okla, April 2-The eiti.
zens Of Pushmataha county are up in
arms against Wililam p. Stewart,
democratic senator who represents the
rwenty-fourth senatorial district in
Oklahoma legislature an dwho was re-
elected last fall for a four-year term.
They claim that Antlers would have
captured the insane asylum instead
of Vinita II Senator Stewart had not
violated his pledge to the people of
mis- home town OF Antlers The peo.
pie are circulating a petition asking
him to resign at once The petition
is headed by Ben T. Williams, Push
mataha eounty's representative IN the
Legislature.
II the incidents recitsd in the dis
patch quoted above are true, they con.
stitute an extremely regrettable affair,
Tor ingratitude Is never an evidence
Of the true qualities in mems char
acter
The Oklahoman hapepns 20 know
something concerning Senator Stew
arts connection with the proposed
establishment of an insane asylum on
the east SIDE of the state II Gatters
itself also. that It knows something
of the causes which are responsible
for the asylum going to Ylnita IN.
stead of either Antlers or Hugo
Senator Stewart, IN the first session
of the legislature, was the author of
the bil creating the east side insane
asylum lie also pushed hill-un
successfully. il is true because the
first Legislature decided to locate none
ot the east side state institutions
for the establishment OF the asylum at
Hugo At The same time the people
of Hugo were manfestlng a lively in
terest in the matter. and aiding his
efforts in every possible way
Last winter, when the Second leg
islature convened Senator Stewart
was on hand again with his bill for
the location of the institution at Hugo
Some how. some way, the citizens of
Antlers. which Is Senator Stewards
home town, conceived the notion with
the convening of the second assembly
that this institution should go to their
city instead Of Hugo A sharp con
test. therefore. arose for the location
OF the institution IN Senator Steyarts
own district AS il result he was plac
ed In a very awkward and embarrass-
ing situation After much parleying
Il was decided to send joint legis
latve committee composed of three
members of the house and three mem
bers of the senate to view both Ant
lers and hugo and make recommenda.
tious rs to which of the two aspiring
cities offered the best location FOR the
institution This committee personal
~ visited both towns. but was unable
to join In recommendation The
contest between them developed
warmth until members OF the legis.
lature finally decided that if the 10.
cation of the institution in the south
eastern part OF the state was to mean
strained relations between two neigh
boring towns. Il would bo better to
find another location for the same
TINS, We believe. explains why the
bill finally passed locating the east
side insane asylum at vinita.
Il is but fitting to say however
that senator Stewart was not only
tireless but resourcefu in his Efforts
to locate the asylum in his bailiwiek
lie stated repeatedly during the course
of the session that he would be ecu.
ally as we'll satisfied in pushing the
bill, carrying the Antlers location as
the Hugo If the joint Legislative com.
mlttee recommended the same
About the time the contest over the
location was on in earnest. Senator
Stewart was taken down with rheu.
matism. and compelled to seek a
health resort In the hore o' recover
ing his health During All the time
that he was az Ciaremore, he mani.
Tested a lively interest In the bill, and
the location OF the institution. and