The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-07-22
You can't vote unless you register
before Saturday night, July 25th.
You must get new certificate.

where ] have since made my home
In the fall OF 1906, Prof. J. l.. Truitt
who had at that time retired from
Grayson college and entered the Bap
tist ministry, wrote me letter and
stated that he understood | had con
tinued my work as a teacher, that he
and some Of the old faculty members
lad discussed me number of times
and felt that ] was entitled to my de-
gree. ! replied to him that If they
thought | was worthy, | should Ger.
tainly appreciate it, that | had quit
school a short time before school clos
ed without the consent of the faculty
with the intention OF raising a com.
pany for the Spanish-American war,
but If the faculty members who were
connected with the school in 1898
would all recommend that l be given
a diploma, | should gladly accept it.
Sometime after this, | had letter
from Mr.. Austin, or from his faculty,
stating that the whole faculty had
made favorable report and that while
they did not issue honorary degrees,
they really felt was entitled to the
Bachelor Of Science degree. At that
time | had never thought of running
for county superintendent The next
spring, however, in 1907, ! entered the
race for county superintendent. In
the fan | was elected county super.n-
tendent OF Grady county. Some time
after that Supt. Cameron wrote me
letter and stated that he understood
was a graduate of Grayson college.
If so, If / should file my diploma the
state board of education would grant
me state certificate on same. re-
ceiyed my certificate about the last of
May. Since then l have never used
the certificate but appreciate it just
the same.
Il never heard OF Mr.. Austin any
more until after was elected state
superintendent. received a letter
from him asking me If there were any
openings ia this state for city super
intendents. I think that was in the
spring Of 1911. lreplled that the good
places at that time were practically
all filled. The latter part of February,
1912, was at st. Louis attending the
National Superintendents association
with a number of other school men
from Oklahoma and | met Mr.. Austin
for my first time. We recalled the
correspondence of the year before and
/ advised him that Supt. French OF
Wagner had been recommended by
President Charles Evans as professor
OF history in the Central State Nor
mai and in my opinion Mr.. French
would be elected; if so the city
schools OF Wagner would be open. |
advised him to stop at Wagner as
he returned to Whitewr.ght, Texas,
and look after the situation. He did
so. and the board elected him as city
superintendent
Mr.. Austin never made a personal
request Of me and | never made a per-
sonal request Of him. am under no
obligations to him, and he is under
none to me.
1T is true, offered no objection to
Mr. Austins election at Ch.ckasha
after the board had voted not to re-
tain DR.. Eskridge, because I know.
nothing against Mr. Austin and be-
lieve him to be a very capable school
man.
"As to that unfulfilled promise re-
ferred to in the advertisement, made
il to one of the best school men IN
the state, man who had formerly
been connected with one Of our state
normals. A majority of the board,
however, were opposed to him and
failed to elect him. / have made no
promise In this campaign and shall
make none. The statement recently
made that / am campaigning at the
expense OF the state is also false.
have remained in my office and at
tended to my work and depended upon
my friends to look after my candi-
dacy. The records will show that it
has cost less to maintain this depart
ment the last twelve months than any
other year since statehood and defy
anyone TO prove the contrary. chal-
lenge lly opponent to name commit
tee of his friends, not my friends, to
investigate my records as a public Of
ficial and defy them to find a single
fact tending to discredit my attitude
or my actions as an official"
Mr.. Austin said, "Mr. Wilson's state
ment as to the time and circumstances
under which Grayson college granted
him diploma and also as to his rela
tions with me is correct in every de-
tail. AS | stated on my arrival in
Ch1ckasha, never had any intimation
that ! was even considered in connec-
finn with tha college here until n mem