The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-05-18
MURRAY TERMS
REMOvA[PRES
BR|LES UNJUST
THE OKLAHOMA CONGRESSMAN
SCORES EFFORTS OF WILLIAMS
TO BUILD EDUCATIONAL INSTL
TUITION INTO MACHINE.

! OF OkIanOina mas gwen out SlSHeu
/ statement touching the removal of
Charles w. Briles as president of the
Ada State Normal. Mr.. Murrays
! statement follows:
"When | came to congress ! pro-
missed myself that since while | was
in state politics | did not interfere
with federal politics that now |
could avoid discussion of state af-
fairs, informing my friends that
would make no exception to this
rule except where the constitution
was sought to be amended, but
find myself constrained to make a
| further exception in the interest of
our institutions of learning. The two
things of which we are all proud are
our schools and the state constitu-
| ton. When it is recalled that year
ago n movement was put on foot by
law firm in Ada, one of which
| being brother of the governor,
whereby it was sought to remove
President Bries through charges and
upon the hearing he was completely
exonerated by the same board now
removing him, for the reasons now
| given constitute one of the most
serious questions so far affecting our
school system. Connected with this
! is also the fact that the governor,
while on the bench, participated in
decision to the effect that so long
by the senate he could be removed
| by the governor, coupled with the
further fact that since being COVER
nor he failed to submit, as | under
| stand. both the board of agriculture
and board of education to the senate
for confirmation, leaving him
with the whip-hand to force their ac-
ton in obedience to his wishes in
the control of our educational insti-
tutions. and connected with the fur
ther fact that the excuse for the
removal was given upon the state
ment that the heads of these institu-
tions ought to be removed upon the
expiration of each governors term in
office. compels the belief that the
governor ordered the removal of
Briles. This board was made a re-
yolving board-their terms not eXpir-
ing at the same time-with the eX-
press view of continuing the faculty
in these institutions for a longer
period.
The statement generally made that
not stenographer or assistant can
be made in any department of the
state government without the approx
al of the governor is not yitally inn
portant to the people because this
will end with the ending of the gov
ernor in two years; nor that he has
insisted upon one Of my opponents
making the race against me and fur
ther directing employees in the state
administration to oppose my election,
while concerning me, Goes not vitally
concern the people. but it does con-
cern them vitally in his destructive
course toward our institutions Of
learning The governor assures us
that he is opposed to all political
machines. No doubt of that. We are
assured and fully convinced that he
does oppose all political machines
except his own. Nor are we afraid
Of it except when it is used to de-
stroy our schools
The reasons why private education
al institutions of learning so often
make the greater showing is be-
cause often their faculty serve from
twenty to forty years, stamping upon
that institution and the character Of
the pupils the Impress OF the faculty 5
intellectual force and character, 1t
will be recalled that DR. Burleson,
hraG of Baylor University in Texas,
for many years turned out the public
mon who filled the public positions
of that state. i will be recalled that
Mercer College, which had a faculty
who served, many Of them, for forty
wears, had six congressman from the
state of Georgia and the governor OF
i the state and the governor of Ala
bama at the same time. all of whom
were educated in that institution.
When as a rule in the state insutu'
tions the teacher is here today and
gone tomorrow. breaking a continu'
ity of force and character and public
sentiment so essential for the build
ing up of these institutions. This
removal in the Ada Normal will put
back this institution for five or ten
years. granting that the man who
comes there is equally as well equip
ped in every particular as President
Briles himself. The question then
arises. what should be done! / make