Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1912-11-14

1A11ng 4 . department Of Ne Univss.
city. ! have conferred with he lead.
ing educatose I'll ovVr tAe United
states, and almost without exception
they advise that the number q nos.
mails IN . state having the populatien
Of ours be limited TO two; that pre-
paratory schools b abolished, and
that the School Of Mines b made Q
department Of the State University.
To pass this sort Of legislation win
require courage and determination on
the part Of your body; every sort Of
pressure will b brought TO bear upon
you - Il has upon me. You will be
aattered. you Will be threatened, but
the taxpayer. whose money 10 being
wrung from them to support these in
stitutions, have the right to expect
from you careful consideration Of their
interests. The elimination Of the
schools that have suggested will
make II possible to have in this state
q first class university. first class A.
4 M. college and creditable normal
schools, and will encourage the work.
ing out Of . well balanced educational
system.
The last legislature very wisely
adopted law creating . single board
to have control Of all of the educa.
tional institutions Of the state, with
the exception Of those that are under
the board Of agriculture. Through the
efforts Of this board much good has
been accomplished IN the way Of cor.
relation OF schools, avoiding duplica-
ton and thus saving many thousands
OF dollars, and at the same time max.
Ing the schools serve q much better
purpose than they have hitherto serv-
Cd. Much work yet remains to be
done by this board. and am sure that
its work. whom finally completed, will
justify In full measure the claim of
merit In the bill contended for by it,
advocates.
Good teachers in the primary grades
OF the schools are of the first impor.
tance. The history Of education in
most states 10 the same. The person
desiring to teach, unable to get EN-.
ployment In city schools, drifts to the
country districts and too frequently
nnds employment In our rural schools.
Holders Of third grade certificates are
too frequently found occupying the
position Of teachers In public schools.
Graduates Of grammar grades feel that
they are qualified to become the in.
structors Of children in rural districts.
and with the result that many thus
poorly equipped are trying to teach
the youth Of this state.
! suggest that you enact law that
VIII raise the standard Of teachers in
oklahoma, and that you provide, at
the end OF q period to ba definitely
hxed. that no teacher shall be lteused
20 teach In this state who has not nm.
ished an educational course eQuiva.
lent to four year high school gradu.
alton.
That the university may be hxed
upon . basis Of permanency and &C.
complish Its purpose a. the head Of
our educational system, II should be
placed upon financial basis Of sup
port that will relieve II from the nec-
essity OF annually importuning the leg
islature for appropriation. The best
state universities in the Union are
those that have q fixed millage tax
levied for the support Of the univver.
sity.
! recommend that such q law be
passed In this state, placing the uni.
versity upon this substantial basis.
BANKING.
The last legislature very wisely
amended the banking law of this state
by providing for banking board to
be composed of experienced bankers.
The splendid work done by that board
In the past two years has vindicated
every claim made In behalf Of the
passage Of such legislation. The two
years Of administration BY the pres
snt banking board have brought us
through the most trying period In the
history of the banking law.
believe that a tax upon the average
daily deposits Of banks should be lev.
led each year and that that amount
should be fixed and certain. 90 that
the banker may know what his liabil.
tiles In the way of taxation will be.
This fund should be used for the pur.
pose Of liquidating deposits In state
banks; and II this fixed tax should fail
in the future to be euflcient to meet
the payment Of deposits In failed state
banks. the residue should be borne by
the state.
ELECTION LAWS.
The ballot 10 the most sacred thing
In American political life and the leg.
islature cannot hedge II about with too
many safeguards. A government foun.
ded upon the principles that underlie
this state and republic can feel secure
only 90 long as the ballot is uncontam.
mated. Many Of the worst Ills that
have afIiicted this country are directly
traceable to corruption at the ballot
box. A pure and untramelled cleo.
torate will insure the people wise laws
and good government.
! believe that our law should be 20
amended ~ to make It Q penitentiary
offense for any man, who is not quail.
ned under our laws. to participate