The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-10-07


tical speaker that he will say just the
things his hearers want to hear and
not carry with it the impression that
he is merely seeking to get on the
popular side of the fence, but such was
the experience of Lee Cruce, of Ard
more, when he addressed, one of the
largest political gatherings that has
ever assembled in this city to hear a
discussion of politics at the Auditor
ium in this city last night.
Long before the time for the speak
ing arrived nearly every seat was oc-
cupied and it was evident that the peo-
pie of Vinita and Craig county were
interested in what the democratic can
didate for governor would have to say.
When Mr.. Cruce appeared upon the
stage he was greeted by a great out
burst of applause. When the applause
had subsided the meeting was called
to order by F. S. E. Amos and the next
governor of Oklahoma was introduced
in an eloquent but brief speech by Z.
]. Hobby. When Mr.. Hobby referred
to Mr.. Cruce from time TO time he was
forced to stop and wait for the crowd
to stop cheering before he could pro.
ceed.
When Mr.. Cruce arose to speak he
did not waste words but after express
ing his pleasure at again being able to
speak to Vinita audience, where, he
said, of all of the towns in the state
where he had been warmly welcomed,
he felt that the people were loyal to
his cause. In striking contrast with
the speech of vituperation engaged in
by Joe McNeal, the republican candi.
date for governor, when he spoke here
few nights since, the address of Lee
Cruce was one of the cleanest,
straight forward statements of prin-
ciple ever heard here, and many who
heard the speech declare it to be the
greatest political talk ever given here
Mr.. Cruce was in good voice and filled
with conviction that he was champion,
ing the cause of the masses and that
his standard was right, he held the
great audience motionless for an hour
and half while he told of the good
things that the democrats had been
able to accomplish for the state in a
brief three years of control. He avoid
ed all personalities and devoted his en-.
tire time to the discussion of condi.
tions as they exist in Oklahoma.
Mr.. Cruce paid Mr.. McNeal the com.
pliment OF saying that he believed the
republican candidate an honest man
and that as such, if he were elected
governor, would try to carry out the
pledges of the platform upon which he
was running Then the speaker gave
the audience a fine comparison of the
principles laid down in the democratic
and republican platforms.
In discussing the educational stand
Of the republicans for retrenchment
in the expenditures for the state insti
tutions of higher learning, for which
Mr.. McNeal advocated the entire ap
preparations stopped, Mr.. Cruce said
that he felt that the democrats had
the right idea when they favored the
expenditure of thousands more for the
education of the boys and girls of this
state and said that If the people of Ok
lahoma wanted retrenchment in the
maintenance of such institutions they
did not want Lee Cruce for governor
for he favored unlimited educational
facilities for the boys and girls of Ok
| lahoma, for he said he thought the
greatest asset of the state was its boys
and girls and that the state could not
expend its funds to better advantage
than to give the younger generation
the education they so much need
In discussing the claim OF demo
cratic extravaganza, made by the re
publicans, Mr.. Cruce said that if any
one would show him a state in the
Union that was controlled entirely by
republicans, that was maintained more
economically than is Oklahoma, under
democratic administration, he would