The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-07-22
State Supt. Wilson Refutes Sugges-
ton Of Advertisement that He
Was Responsible for Re-
movaI Of Eskridge
RECEIVED DIPLOMA
SEVEN YEARS AGO
Left School to Enter War and De.
gree rendered to Him at Later
Date = Other False State.
ments Corrected

In statement prepared al the re
quest of the Daily Express, State
supt. Wilson replies to an advertise
ment published by his opponent and
refutes the charge that he was respon-
sible for the removal of Or. Eskridge
as president Of the Woman's College
G. w. Austin, the president of the col
lege, was interviewed and he confirm
ed Mr.. Wilson's statements as to the
time and the circumstances under
which the latter was granted a diplo
ma by Grayson college. Mr.. Wilson
deals with the entire matter fully and
frankly, his statement being as fol
lows:
In the Daily Oklahcman Of Sun
day, July 10, in paid political ad the
question is asked by my opponent:
Has r. H. Wilson paid another polit-
ical debt? The article intimates that
secured the removal of President
Eskridge in order to reward Prof.
Austin for giving me, as the article
alleges, a diploma from Grayson col
Icge in Texas. although / had never
finished the course of study of that IN
stitution. II also intimates that in
flueneed the board to remove Presi-
dent Eskridge but voted for his reten-
tion that might keep myself in the
clear, all Of which is false.
The records OF the board will show
that | favored Pres dent Eskridge and
voted for his retention The state
nent Is false that / called Mr.. Austin
over the phone. A member of the
hoard. without my knowledge, called
Mr.. Austin.
y have declined all along to make
any statement at Chickasha, feeling
that the people would sooner or later
find out my attitude in the matter
and do me jusice. am DIR. Eskridge's
friend at the same time. II Mr.. Austin
is to be the president of that school,
want to cooperate with him, and |
assure you that | hold him in very
high esteem
Without discussing the merits Of
the case, wish to make a few brief
statements. First, positively, | sup
ported Dr. Eskridge In that institu-
tion. like every other institution, when
she board members asked me about
certain points. If knew anything un-
favorable. ] reported it to them,
as | felt IL my duty TO do so
but | have never said word against
DR. Eskridge. Mr.. Hester stated in
-the meeting OF the board in the pres
ence>ei the committee from Chickasha
that had been pleading with him for
a year not to fight DR.. Eskridge. |
think every other member would make
the same statement.
In regard to the reflection on Mr..
Austin and myself, and the other
members OF the board, want to asy
that never knew Mr.. Austin until
after | was elected to the office OF
state superintendent had never had
any correspondence with him except
when he notified me in 1906 that the
faculty of Grayson college, upon the
recommendation of the members of
the faculty who were there at the
time ! attended school, had voted to
grant me diploma.
q entered Grayson college on Sep
tember 3, 1898, and left the college the
first Of May. 1898, my senior year.
lost one year IN the meantime teach
ing in order to raise money to pay for
my board bill, books, etc. left school
with a good recommendation and with
the good will of every member of the
faculty. l. never received demerit
during my four years in school. After
quitting school and failing to get into
the army under the second call in
1898, found myself several hundred
dollars in debt. / taught school in
winter and farmed during the summer
in order to pay what | owed,
In 1908 moved to Chickasha