The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-12-02
The Sage of
TiShomingo
Issues a Statement Regarding the
Special Session of the Oklahoma
State Senate

cational board as now constructed, be.
cause 1t does not meet the intent of
the provision Of the constitution. Well
do recall when Senator Van Deven.
ter requested my opinion Of this mea-
sure when it was up in the third leg
islature, while on visit to It. told
him that he could stake his all in tho
opposition that lie was making at the
time to the bill, that the governor
would have trouble with such board,
because it was founded upon wrong
principles, hence the board should not
be confirmed. feel impelled from n
sense Of duty to the people Of Okla
homa, by reason Of the confidence SO
recently expressed, which has resulted
from my efforts in their behalf in the
past, to make this straight declara-
ton of what ought to be done In tho
interest Of the state aud Of economy.
There are other offices, including
courts, which should be abolished, that
shall not mention here, but if all the
unnecessary offices were abolished we
could keep our schools, which the govr
ernor proposes tc abolish, rs easily as
We could abolish the schools and keep
the Offices but whether the schools
are abolished or not. there is one
thing certain, these offices should be
abolished as expensive luxuries and
unnecessary We created in the first
legislature al the offices that should
have been created, but since assist
ants have been created, even assist.
ant supreme judges" and, in fact, we
have assistants now TO every depart.
ment Of the state except an assistant
governor. believe IN keeping cur
schools I do not belong to that class
Of men whom We met years ago On
tits side Of the state. who oppose edu-
cation at public expense. When the
! Curtis bill had passed. the first and
only provision whereby public schools
might be provided for the Indian Ter
ritory side Of the state, bonds to build
school houses, and proposed levies for
the support Of schools we're submitted.
1 We were met in almost every town by
men who strongly opposed the estah-
fishing of public schools. believing ia
| the old system of private tutelage. ]
find today many Of these selfsame
men in high public positions. While
doubtless they realize they cannot
abolish the common schools, but they
will do the next closest thing. and that
is, destroy under the plea OF economy
our schools for intermediates educa
ton. The people OF Oklahoma VIII
rue the day they permit this to b
done Let us abolish all unnecessar,
offices and keep an the schools pos
5 sible. But repeat again, if the legis
g lature this winter intends aboliahinl
+ any Of the offices they should not nov
E confirm their appointments, lest the.
e will meet legal complications that vii
i hold theml in office until the expire
l. ton oi theiv appointed time, for tw
! years. All W1o hold Ike views shout
4 set busy Vita the members of the ser
l. ate by petition, letters and telegram.
l. foi these officers, having served tw
It years without confirmation. could oal
e ily enough serve two months NOR
S, without confirmation, or. at least. III
Is til the legislature has determine
Ii which it would be wise to abolish.
le repeat again. surely the governor wi
n not insist upon the confirmation
n the election board which the Dem
to cratic platform last August demands
~ abolished as unnecessary and expe
sive and contrary to wholesome ele
u ton principles.