The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-14
TRUTH ABOUT OKLAHOMA

stamps this year Oklahoma is asked
to contribute $47OOO,OOO. She has
been given this big allotment because
Of her willingness to aid to the fullest
extent of her ability.
The Oklahoman assumes that a
copy Of Provost Marshal General
Crowder's report to the secretary of
war is in the office of the Detroit
Journal. Reference to that report will
show that the per man cost of the
draft in Oklahoma was the lowest in
the country. Michigan's cost was
somewhat above the average. The ex.
planaton for this is partly, but not
fully explained in General Crowder's
report which shows, for instance, that
Michigan physicians, in the first draft
charged $5,529.5O. Oklahoma physi-
clans made no charge. What the
Crowder report does not-and of
course could not be expected to
show is this: In Oklahoma the mem
bers Of the local and district exemp-
ton boards serve without compensa-
ton.
In proportion Of quota to actual en-.
listments Michigan has the better of
US, her percentage being 536S as
against our As. CThis report gives Ok
lahomas percentage as 1892, but that
is an arithmetical mistake) In this
connection mention might be made of
Michigan's premiums 10 enlisted men,
voted, of course, to stimulate enlist
ment. This remark is not offered in
a critical spirit. Indeed, we think it
is to Michigan's credit that she is
making such generous provisions for
her soldiers.
Under the heading of Relation of
Called to Not Appeared" Michigan is
less fortunate than we, her delinquent
percentage being 7.29 as against our
6.25.
But may Michigan be called a slack
er state because Of this thin little strip
of yellow" That Nebraska federal
judge might hand down such opinion,
but no intelligent, informed man
would think Of it. And if Michigan
should be censured on this score, what
shall be said Of Illinois, with a Stacker
showing Of 1914 per cent?
The Detroit Journal could not fairly
| be criticised for not knowing that Ok.
lahoma City last year had 1880 back.
yard gardens which produced food
stuffs to the estimated value Of S64O.
600. But that paper must be aware
of the fact that this city was the first
city in the country to pass an ordi
nance compelling the observance OF
wheatless and meatless days.
The statement of this Nebraska
federal judge that the machinery OF
government there appears to be de
voting itself to making trouble for the
draft" has been officially and effectu
ally answered by the provost marsha
general. But a few words may be-
added describing the scope and modu.
operandi of our war organization. The
parent body of course, is the state
council of defense. 1t is made up OF
men prominent either in the public OF
business and professional life of the
state, but who make time to perform
these additional eXacting duties. They
make time by working nights anC
Sundays. Every county has a county
council of defense. Every school dis
trict is its district council of defense
The whole organization is integral
ed, with the result that there is
fine, uniform efficiency, a capacit.
to meet almost every situation. Fo
instance, the state council Of de
fense had a Patriotic Speakers Bu
reau in which are enrolled 200 mel
of state reputation whose services arr
available at any time. If a drive o
any kind is slumping anywhere in tn
state one Of those speeding.up expert
is sent there. If more are neede,
they are put on the job. Through it