Graham guardian., 1916-08-11
ROUS|NC OLNEY
MEETING AT eden

Continued from Page One)
Olney would labor for the best
interests of the whole State, just
as much as he has worked for
the best interests of Graham
county in the past.
A. E. Jacobson was chairman
of the Lands Committee of the
First Legislature and his address
bristled with facts and figures
regarding the three-man power
of the old Land Commission.
During the first year of the ex-
istence of this commission not an
acre of the land given the State
by the U. S. government was
selected. Instead, however, they
presented the legislature with an
enormous volume, richly litho-
graphed with illustrations show
ing the best automobile camping
sites in the State. The book
shows the automobile owner how
to get out of a mud hole and it
illustrates roping and branding
of cattle; but it did not show any
results in regard to the actual
selection Of any land for the
State. True enough it cost the
people of the state $4,000 for
every day this Land Commission
spent in making the Grand
Tour Of the State" and so it took
thousands Of dollars of the tax
payers money to be able to have
these beautiful pictures. But for
all that the money would have
been well spent had the govern
ment land been selected. Today,
we find that these choice acres
have all been scripped by specu-
lators and so our inheritance has
been lost. Had these lands been
selected when the opportunity
was ripe, the revenue from them
would now materially reduce our
burden of taxes.
Mrs. w. w. Pace presented an
appeal to the women to use their
privilege in selecting the best
man for governor. The women
had worked so hard to secure
suffrage that they owed it to
themselves to show the men that
they appreciated the privilege.
Mrs. Pace showed the difference
in the principles that the two
candidates stand for and urged
the women to work for the sue
cess of Mr.. Olney because of his
true democracy.
Bishop Merrill thinks and
speaks seriously of the response
bility of American citizenship.
Being the best citizenship on
earth, we should use great dis
cretion in selecting the men for
public office. 1t is by the actions
of there officials that the whole
State is frequently judged.
Since Statehood increases tax
es, we should be very careful
how we start. The resources are
scarcely touched. The mines and
reservoir sites. are but partly
developed. These assets require
craftsmanship from real business
men to prevent them falling into
the hands Of schemers who have
no thought for public welfare.
The taxes for schools equal all
other taxes, and since the chief
executive is responsible for the
operation of the different depart
ments, he lis therefore directly
responsible for the failure of the
Land Commission in not being in
a position to produce a revenue
from these school lands.
The record of Mr.. Olney is
worthy of commendation and had
he been in the chair of the pres
ent incumbent, we would now
enjoy an administration charac-
terized as efficient in every sense
of the word. We would do well
to support Mr.. Olney for no other
reason than for his keen ability;
fair mindedness, and because of
his attitude toward public ques-
tions. On one side, we find Mr..
Olney fighting constantly to keep
the taxes as low as possible; on
the other side, we have a chief
executive who shows himself in
competent otherwise the taxes
would not be so burdensome.
Mrs. Andrew Peterson quoted
other speakers of the evening
who are working for the best
interests of all the people and
cited this as a guide for con-
scientious voting. 1t is safe to
compare the character of the
men through the State who sup.
port Mr.. Olney with the charac-
ter of the men who are support
ing the present incumbent. Mrs.
Peterson stated that there are
enough good men in the State,
so that it is not necessary for one
faction to have complete control