Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-09-08
PRAISES ADMINISTRATIONS
WORK IN DEAF SCHOOL


School for the Deaf, at Sulphur. He
is high in his praise of the work be-
ing done there, and of the State ad-
ministration that has brought 1t
about. The letter is as follows;
sulphur, Okla, Aug. "a, 1916.
Dear News;
It is a common practice of great
many people in Oklahoma TO grum-
BILE and find fault with the State ad-
ministration of affairs in regard to
taxation, expenditure of public mon
eys, etc. With those pessimists (and
there are many of them) everything
connected with the State, District,
County and Municipal government, as.
administered by the Democrats, is
wrong. If they were in control,
things would be different. They
would have taxes lower, but they
would be more liberal with state In
stitutions. There would be fewer Of
ficers to enforce the law, but all laws
would be better enforced, If they
were in power, and so on, to the END
of the chapter.
I have just had the pleasure of
visiting the state Institution for the
Deaf. at Sulphur, and under the
guidance of the president of the
school, Mr.. ]. w. Blattner, 1 went
through every department and room
of the splendid structure. In NJ es-
timation, no exercise of intelligent
thought and care could improve on
the plans, there carried out, for the
comfort and progress of the deaf
boys and girls of the State. 1id
not ask what the building cost. and l
do not care; and l agree perfectly
with Prof. Blattner in his desire fof
another structure to be used as
Hall of Industrial Science and Art
Also 1 agree with MIN that a hospital
is needed, that sometime such an ep-
demic like that at Buckner's Orphan
Home shall be averted.
Prof. Blattner has spent his life
in care of the deaf. In his native
State of Iowa he spent two years SUI
perintending a deaf school, some
years in Colorado and the Oakulas.
and, later. twenty-five years in
charge of the State School for the
Deaf in Austin, Texas.
His long service has perfectly
equipped him for the position he
holds, and his long association with
the deaf boys and girls has made of
him a "Big Brother" to all of them
Sulphur is a healthy town. There
Is nothing like its water supply in the
South, and nothing superior to it
anywhere. The former division be-
tween the East and West Towns has
about disappeared, and it will be to
the everlasting shame of the town If
they ever again arouse the old ami
mostly.
The State should advertise Sulphur
to the world at large, and the city of
Sulphur and the County of Murray
should set aside all i'll feeling and
prejudice, and unitedly push the
claim of their greatest asset - the
life-giving waters of their wonderful
springs.
In East Sulphur stands Dcmoc-
racy's monument to the deaf of Ok
lahoma. The site is commanding and
beautiful. At small cost the waters
from the heating springs of sulphur
and bromide can be thrown into the
rooms of the school building.
Four fine st uctures now adorp
the campus. Hhe main building,
dormitory for the boys, a dormitory
Off the girls, ard a fine brick build
ing just completed, which IS 10 be
1t oh fra
room, and cold storage.
The girls arc taught all kinds of
fancy work, and in their industrial
work may be seel samples OF their
dainty work fine enough to adorn tho
parlors of a palace The boys are
taught printing, drawing, all kinds Of
design work, besides all the u,-ful
trades. Chairs made by the boys,
and tables and cabinots, are in use
in the building, and this kind of work
is equa Ito the hest to be found in
the furniture stores.
The enrolment last year was :2S.
and will probably greatly exceed that
this year. Let some Of the grumblerg
in Oklahoma go and visit this school
where the unfortunate leaf boys and
.tgirls of the State are given this splen-
did chance to become useful citizens,
and a chance to lead a happy and in
dependent life; then 90 home and
change their pessimism TO something
with tinge of hope and truth, or, at
least, keep shamefacedly silent.
Cuss Bob Williams as much as you
viii, but keep it in mind that it was
Governor Bob who puc out the drag
net which caught the eminent teach
er Of the deaf and the State is to be
congratulated on the acquisition Pro
fessor Blattner thinks that many dea'
children of the State are being kop'
at home, and he bases this assertion
on the percentage of deaf in 0thej
State schools of tbs kind This shoplc
not be the case IL indeed IL is so fol