Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-12
COLUMBUS nay.

This Is tho day generally accepted
as the i26th anniversary OF tho dis
covery OF America by Christopher
Columbus IL is the first time the
national government has given the
day public recognition. President
Wilson conceived tho idea Of using
this anniversary to conjure su bscrip-
tions TO the fourth Liberty loan, and
by proclamation has declared II a
national holiday a few statues have
been erected to the memory OF the
pathfinder to the new world but II
has never before been generally OBJ
served as a holiday. True. 20 states
have attempted to keep green the
memory OF Columbus by naming
cities in his honor. and few years
ago, the Oklahoma legislature. hav-
Ing not much else to do. and con-
cludlnR that the state needed an
other holiday, some member. Bill
Durant we believe. suggested octo-
Der IL a. Columbus day. and II was
done.
Christopher Columbus was born
OF lowly parentAge In Genoa. Italy.
about the year 1i3S. At a very early
age he developed an adventurous
spirit. became 4 dreamer OF fantastic
dreams and 4 reckless rover of the
seas, Ho got tho idea that the earth
was spherical in shape. but when he
attempted to convince the wise men
OF that day he was promptly pro.
nounced "a nut" His native land
turned him down when he suggested
the probability Of other lands to the
west; 90 did tho King OF Portugal and
twice did Spain. Chris. however, was
soma politician, a smooth taiker, and
like Judge Robertson. met defeat
by coming up n smiling candidate at
the next election. For seven years
Columbus and his dreams were the
paramount issue in Spain. and twice
he succeeded in having The leEisla-
ture appoint a commission to inves.
tiEate his proposition, After the
appropriation for expenses had been
exhausted both commissions made
adverse reports IN which they took
off nearly all the cuticle which King
John Of Portugal had left on his
person. DismAyed and discouraged.
he was about to try his fortunes In
France when some OF his campaign
managers suggested that he might yet
succeed II he could get an audience
with the higher ups, by this time,
the high cost OF living-ahout t36 a
year at that time--had No depleted
his own resources and all he could
touch his friends for. that he was
compelled TO return 10 his profession
OF map maker for the Spanish oil
wildcatters to get money enough to
buy q cheap court suit, II took him
nearly two years to DO II. Finally.
dressed IN his best. he managed to
get by the outer guards and have a
talk with King Ferdinand. But
Ferd. besides having crouch and
being somewhat Of a tiEht-wad. also
held 10 tho superstitious belief OF his
two commissions, which, by the way.
were controlled by the socialists. that
Just because one side Of the sea was
held up hy the shores Of Spain there
was no justification for the belief
that there was anything on the other
side, and promptly told his private
secretary % keep chris or the
premises.
Christopher, having tried deep re-
ligious fervor and eloquence to get
recognition without success, got
word to Queen Isabella that he was
inclined 10 favor woman suffrage.
This worked like a charm, and after
hearing his story the queen was SO
impressed that she told the SeCre,
tary OF the treasury that II he could
not put over a bond issue to finance
the enterprise she would pawn her
iavallier TO raise the money to outfit
H.
The skies began 10 look brighter
70 Chris. and when II came to sign.
Ing the contract he showed that
though he might he a dreamer he
was still 4 pretty smooth politician
hv insisting that he not only be APP
pointed 10 several choice offices but
that he also be GiVen a first mort.