The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1911-12-01
ALFALFA BILL ON
SCHOOL ABOLITION
The Sage of Tishomngo Tells Why
State Schools Should Be
Preserved.

Tishomingo, Okla, Dec. Hon.
VIM. II. Murray, known in political
parlance as alfalfa Bill" and held
by the people as the Father of Ok
lahomas Constitution" relative to the
proposed initiative bill to abolish the
district agricultural schools, four nor
mails, and others, in his characteristic
way made this observation: China
once built a railroad with complete
equipment, operated it one day to the
, satisfaction of the pig tails curiosity,
then chopped up the track and de-
stroyed every vestige of the magnifi-
cent thoroughfare This was the Boxer
ism inherent in the Chinese race; and
this is Just what the proposed initia-
tive bill seeks to do. Those fifteen
colleges for higher learning have Just
been completed-the first great cost
paid, and now the opponents of higher
education, the Boxer element, propose
to destroy them. The supreme test
of the peoples ability to rule is now
before them, and incidentally the wis
dom or folly Of permitting them TO
rule through the powers of initiative
and referendum. The American peo-
pie will surely watch the contest with
nainful attention, with view OF de-
termining whether they will embrace
the forward movement styled The
Peoples Rule If we have more OF
these institutions than any other
state it is because our statesmen were
wiser than the builders of other states
II there be argument against these In
stitutions it is the same argument u.s.
ed against all educatio nat public ex-
pense-universities, colleges and com
mon schools included. The children
of the poor-not the children OF the
rich. receive the most benefit from
education at public expense.
.sWhile the bulk of the people o.
every commonwealth neither desire
nor need an acamedic education, 1t Is
profoundly necessary for every civiiiz
alton of every state, whatever the form
of government, but specially true ol
democracies and republics, that few
men be thoroughly and well educated
the more the better; and since in dem
ocracries and republics the citizen is
given the largest liberty of choice
such governments can do little more
than provide the opportunity, leaving
all entirely free to become wise or re
main ignorant. 1t, therefore, remains
the duty of the state to provide tht
means for the education of every chile
to the limit OF human learning-ln th'
arts. sciences and literature-and tha
at the expense OF the public Here Il
the cornerstone of the strongest civil
zation. Indeed without this people
may be governed we'll for while
never long-as has been instanced b!
some of the indian tribes, but Will
neither mental nor moral activity, tn
two things most needed for q noble
manhood.
"A little learning is dangerou
thing. in a society where the who'll
population are l-ept in ignorance. Nom
receive higher education, but all ar
advanced just far enough to become
confirmed anarchists.
Expensive? o. yes but too mucl
money cannot be provided, If wisel'
spent, for education and public roads
The old Romans built the roads, bu
they neglected education. If we dc
stroy these institutions We shall b
neglecting both.
Il shall have more to say on TIL
subject later, for the thing uppermos
Ia my breast is the preservation 9
Oklahoma's constitution and her edt
cational institutions.
81 shall refuse to believe that ou
people will vote for the Boxers bill
] have an abiding faith in the peopl
to govern themselves wisely as we
as justly