Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-07-24
STATE UPERINTENDENT
WILSON MAKES GOOD


The following article clipped from
the oklahoma Farmer, was written
by Hon. John wilkinson, who man
aged the campaign against Mr. Will
son in the primary of 1910, who Is
not now citizen of Oklahoma and
who has no personal interest in Mr..
Wilson's campaign.a 'duH $500 o
This article, written by one of the
ablest educators Oklahoma ever had. t.
gives fair and impartial account of
Mr. Wilson's success and the diff
culties under which he has labored.
"Oklahoma is justly proud OF It's
school and its rank In educational
circles No other state in the union
has made such wonderful progress as
has been MADE by Oklahoma in the
last ten years W
II has six norman schools that has
a combined attendance of six thou
sand pupils or an average OF one
thousand students to each institution.
Its state university and agricultural
college are excellently equipped and
carry total annual enrolment of
approximately three thousand stu
dents. The State School of Technol-
ogv. School of luines and Oklahoma
Industrial lcollege are also well equip
ped -and well attended. These in
stitutions with six agricultural dis
trict schools give Oklahoma the best
arranged school system Of any state
in the union. snff ..s.r b.
The public schools of Oklahoma
have likewise made an excellent re-
cord and are among the best in the
United 3totes. Much of the pro
gress of these schools, as well as the
higher institutions of learning is due
to the energy and perseverance, ol
State Superintendent r. II. Wilson
who has put forth every effort pos.
sible to make them models of excel.
lence and efficiency. IsnoI -
Mr.. Wilson in his first race for the
office OF State Superintendent took
positive stand for the elimination oi
politics from the state institutions
and from the public schools of Ok
lahoma and declared that no appoint
ments to the school positions should
be made except of the basis of meri
and efficiency. Since he has been II
office he has shown in many way
that he was faithful to that trus
. and to the campaign promises Aftei
his election no surprised his friend
as wei las his enemies by insisting OF
the presidents of the three state in
stitutions who took an tctive par
! in the campaign against him.
In making all appointments to tn
school positions Mr.. Wilson has in
sisted that merit, ability and effic
, iency should be the only factors con
sidered. He has permitted no ques
tions to be asked of the applicant
concerning their religious and po
litical affiliations The wholesal
! dismissal of employees requested b,
politicians was Indignantly refuse,
and as a consequence peace and har
mony prevail in all the state institu
tions under his supervision.
Soon after his election Mr.. Wilsoi
insisted that all the useless and Tin
necessary employees of the stat
schools should be dispensed with an
their salaries saved for the stat
for the benefit of the taxpayers. Thi
was done without in any way impair
ing the efficiency of the schools. Nj
! Wilson also oppose tdhe expenditur
r of state money for unnecessary equI
, ment and has saved the state thor
sands of dollars in this item alon,
. Mr. Wilson has always stood clos
to the farmers and their best inter
ests. Having been brought up in tn
; country he knows the needs of tn
rural schools. He has favored stat
! aid to rural schools and better rura
} schools in order that the children /
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