The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-01-11
Special to Daily Leader.

Special to Daily Leader.
Oklahoma City, Jan lO.-Before
the joint session Of the legislature
today Governor Lee Cruce presented
his first message II follows
To The Members ol the Thiri legislature
in Regular Session Assemblies
Submit this message to you with a
feeling of hcsitancy. Aly term Of oricn
has just begun, ana 1T is impossible for
me TO know the needs Of the various
departments of the state for which your
duty requires you to egisate. As fast
as possible shall acquaint myself with
the needs OF the different departments;
the legislation needed, and will supply
You with the facts There are, however,
certain matters ] desire to call 70 your
attention at this time. The majority Of
YOU were elected upon platforms em-
braclng distinct promises to the people
These pledges should be faithfully re-
deemed No man who is worthy 10 hold
a seat in tile legislature of oklahoma
will now undertake to ignore or vary tho
terms Of the compact he made with the
people prior to election.
Education.
Much time has been given 10 the sub
iect Of education by previous iegisla-
lures Of the state, and much substantial
progress has been made along these
lines; but there is much yet to be ac-
c0mplshed if we are to give to the
people cf tile state the best possible
system of schools. ana the system that
they are entitled to have prevail. The
wealth or the state is unevenly distrib-
uted, and will likely continue to be as
long as time shall last Jt follows that
we have districts Of large taxable values
where an insignificant tax win maintain
good schools nine months in the year;
while in other districts the taxable
wealth is so small that tax sufficient
to maintain a proper school for three
months becomes burdensome. In some
districts the tax on public service cor
porations Weld large sums of money for
educational purposes. While in many
less fortunate districts no revenue what
ever is derived from this source Under
these conditions, progress hats in these
unfortunate districts. The citizen Of an
other state coming into our midst to
abide with us. naturally seeks a home
in the district where taxation bears
lightest, and school advantages are best.
For these conditions to remain means
an ureVenly balanced citizenship; one
class educated and well equipped for
useful citizenship, the other class poorly
educated and i'll prepared to 40 their
rightfu part in building the state 1t
IS manifestlg impossible to distribute
evenly the wealth Of the state among
the various school districts, but we can
more evenly distribute the benefits Of
this wealth that arises in the form Of
taxation. You are being asked to ap-
propriate hundreds on thousands Of doll
lars to care for the criminal and pauper
classes OF the state and these demands
grow larger and more burdensome each
YEAR nut it is a burden that bears with
uniform weight over all sections Of tho
to tax the citizen Of Oklahoma county
TO help educate the boy of Carter county
as it is to tax the citizen OF Oklahoma
county 10 help provide and care for the
criminal Of Carter county. Besides it is
the practice OF good business methods
Better educated citizenship will result in
fewer criminals TO provide for ana
less number Of paurers TO support by
the state. therefore urge that you
levy a tax for public school purposes
that viii he sufficient, when supple
mened with the interest ON the invested
school fund. and rentals on public school
lands, to provide not less than i've
months school in each district in the
state
The constitution Of this state provides
that 'the supervision of instruction in
the public schools shall he vested in n
hoard OF education, whose powers and
duties shall he prescribed by law and
until otherwise provided by law the gov
erhor, superintendent of public instrue-
tion, secretary of the state ana attorney
general. constitute the board Three
years have gone by without any serious
attempt on tile part Of the legislature to
vitaize this Important section or the con-
stution. Oklahoma has a splendid op-
portunity to inaugurate and maintain a
system Of education suited to the needs
of our people. ana thoroughly efficient
in all Of its details That we have nc
such system now and cannot have under
present laws Is manifest to every mar
who has given the subject serious
thought A half dozen different educa
tional boards. at the heads Of different