Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-07-30

But states. like men. have destlnles
which take them
And bear them on. they know not
why nor where"
Considering the achievements OF "A
state over whose head less than a de-
cade has passed II would be bold
man indeed who would presume TO
foretell her destiny.
This Is Oklahoma Day at the Es-
position, and high in the breasts OF
all OF us flourished the hope that OF
this occasion we might have the chte.
executive OF our state, the Honorable
Robert l.. williams. with us to take
part In these proceedings. That he
is not here is TO all most heart
felt disappointment. But In the eE-
ercise OF his good judgment he mas
done much TO make amends for his
absence In the selection OF his official
representative In the person OF that
distinguished. handsome. and alto
gether lovable and magnificent spec
imeE OF our citizenship. whom l shall
have the pleasure OF presenting to
you shortly. as the Chairman OF the
Day. Before doing so, however, de-
sire to be permitted TO say few
words concerning the distinguished
parsonage whom he represents. not
so much from the viewpoint OF Gov.
ernor, but as I have known him rs Q
man and friend. Bob Williams, OF
Bob, as he is familiarly known and
called by those who know him well
was one OF those aggressive. acti u
fellows TO whom the sleepy little city
in the Southland was impossible. lii
impulsive energy drove him north
and when the great rush for homes
took place in 1893. he settled at Psr
! ry. in Noble county, but falling ou
with either the dust and dirt. the hn
winds and alkali water. or the jay
hawkers, he Abandoned his sole law
book, the Oklahoma statutes, and an
swered the call OF the Kiamich
Mountains and the woods, the valley
OF Southeast Indian Territory, AM
soon became one OF the dominatinl
legal. banking. and political factor
OF that section. II was not a highwa
fof ease or comfort that he Travelled
q but had learned 20 rely upon him
self In his unaided struggle throug
college. and that experience her
: served him well. From the time n
2 moved into Oklahoma and india
Territory up TO this good hour gu,
cessful enterprises 20 which he ha
turned his attention have come trOoI
. inRly 10 him He has been so bus
2 during all these years that he hu
. never had the time either to com
his hair, read novel. OF get marrlo'
In bitter fight he became nations
: commi ueeman for the Indian Terf
tory in 1904. lie was always for siI
2 gle statehood. that Is for statehoo
. with Oklahoma and the Indian Terr
= tory combined. and while he reeoi
r nlzed that friction would renu
= thorefrom during the first years {
r it's organization. he readily saw thI
+ the people OF both territories belr
a worthy OF statehood, would ultimat
ly be equal to any and all problem
0 which might follow. When In 100
: the statehood bill passed he immo'
j lately announced himself as canJ
4 date for the constitutional conve
!. ton; he war elected and served d.
4 ing the entire session OF that bod
taking an active and prominent pa
: in all the debates on the formatls
OF that document. submitted 10 a
n people OF the state for their adoptlo
His most signal service WAS as chai
a man Of the committee which prepa
cd and submitted. and had adopts