The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-09-12
nsS. DelIanil +. 1arris. Secre
iary 81 Staie 4 0kIahsna
BOOSTING TALK OF State
Says OkIahoma's Progress Has Not
Been Retarded by Reform Measures
Surprised st Growth and Develop
ment Of Trinity College Since His
Grsdaation.

Hon. Benjamin r. Harrison. OF Ok
lahoma City. secretary OF state OF
Oklahoma. Is In the city for few
days. Mr.. Harrison has been to Rich
lmond representing his state at the
conference on local and state taxa
ton. Mr. Harrison Is a graduate OF
Trinity College 81 the class OF 1897.
After leaving college Mr. Harrison
returned TO his home In the west.
When congress authorized the admis-
Sion OF Oklahoma Into the union. Mr..
Harrison was elected a member OF
the Constitutional convention which
framed the constitution for the new
state. After Oklahoma became a
state. Mr., Harrison was member OF
the two successive legislatures. In the
deliberations Of which he took a
lprominant part. In 1910 Mr.. Harri-
son was elected secretary OF state. III
which administration Governor cruce
Is the head.
Mr.. Harrison says that contrary TO
the prophecies OF enemies OF the new
reform measures embodied In the
Oklahoma constItutlon, they have not
resulted In driving out capital or re-
|tarding the growth OF the population
OF the state: that the assessed wealth
OF the state has Increased from $780,
ooe. 10000 IN 1909 when the first as
sesment was made, TO $l,s25. .00o.-
10000 this year; that the population
has increased from 100000 In 1905
Ito i.s2s.ooo At the last census: aAd
that there has been great develop
ment IN manufacturing and In the
building Of railroads and the pro-
duction OF oil and gas. IA the last
census shows Oklahoma has lead
practically every state In the union In
some line OF development. There are
many North carolInIans In Oklahoma
and room for more.
Oklahoma has complete system
OF schools. consisting Of me State
uniy.rr iy. sly ssrmai STOOLS. seven
aErIcu:tnral 20 le~,s. OF which Ave
are preparatory and two university
prspa' t0ry sehoclr. The see his
100000 acres OF land donated by the
federal government for school pnr-
poses and 100000 in cash. and
The state levies one-fourth mIll for
local schools IN addition to ten mills
whl.h may be inyied by Tie schosl
district. Ia addition 10 the Income
IRON schooi lan.'s ahc the s. .ooo.-
10000 wh.ca 10 donated by the i'ritea
States government, the legislature
makes large appropriations from the
state treasury for the support OF state
schools. referred to above.
Il have attempted to keep up with
the progress Of the college and
thought had done So" said Mr.. Har-
rIson. "but my Walt here IL a great
surprise. was not prepared for the
lslghf that greeted me when entered
the campus this morning. The many
new buildings that have been erect
ed on the campus aud that are being
erected. from the donations OF money
by citizens. are n stronger proof than
Anything sise OF the fact that the col
iege has been and Is success, be-
cause the men who donated the mon
ey for the erection Of these buildings,
have not done 50 on account of a
mere senilmen,ality. but they demand
value received for their money. am
also pleased TO see the wonderful In.
crease in the enrolment OF students
am sure that II more OF the men
who have attended college here would
visit the college and witness the work
that u h doing now. they would b.
Instrumental In the further increass
IN the attendance. ! am especially
pleased. t5o. 10 find so many OF the
students who we're here when was
holding responsible positions In IN,
college. Schools are characteristic
of the communities IN which they arr
located. and | know or no better plac,
10 give young man or young woman
the correct view Of life and its re.
sponsIbiiities than Southern col.