The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-14
IN A REMINISCENT MOOD COL. LEEPER
RECALLS THE PAST AND EXPRESSES "A
HOPE ARDMORE WILL CONTINUE TO
GROW WITH MANAGERIAL GOVERNMENT

Il am proud to know" stated Col.
Graves Leeper, the prominent humorist
that the people of Ardmore are max
ing an effort TO change from the pres
ent menagere form of government TO
the managerial form, and wish the
citizens of this city the greatest sue
cess in their worthy efforts.
''TIhis is Ardmore, and | start out
by quoting what some great parsonage
said of Greed, Colorado, a number of
years ago. | do not remember whether
it was General Freezing or Rudyard
kipling vino is the author Of it but at
any rate the quotation is this, It's
daylight all day in Greed and there is
no night. This quotation is applicable
to conditions prevalent in Ardmore at
this good hour.
Being an old-timer of the south
west, l am frequently asked by some
newcomer how long | have known Ard
more. My answer is that l have known
Ardmore since the time when Colonel
Suggs only weighed li9 pounds, since
Dick McLish was wearing knee pants,
since Colonel Spragins opened his
hardware store. | cannot recall dates
however, you will at once arrive at the
conclusion that this has been 4 long
time ago.
when first visited Ardmore it was a
town Of 10000 population composed of
1900 human beings and is, 500 hogs with
due respect for the citizenship and be-
lievng that their efforts We're laying
the foundation for great town. In
those days Of the beautiful Indian
Territory, conditions were such that
the territory could have no corpo-
ration laws, no funds to build school
houses, nor have any sanitary laws,
so nature came to the rescue ana the
hogs took the contract.
My business at that time was as
a travelling man, calling on customers
here and trying to show them the vir-
tue of my goods. The men to whom
l was selling could not discuss the
quality of the goods with me on ac-
count of the noise made by the hogs,
many Of the animals being on the
porches, under the houses, or in the
houses. In order TO converse with a
customer, 1 either had to hire a buggy
and drive out with him to the broad,
silent and sun-kissed prairie, or go
down in the cellar to consummate the
deal, and land the contract on the
barrelhead.'
MY recollection is that all my
customers had to construct a flea
catching room in order that they might
hold the ladies trade.
'As | look back in The past, / think
greatly of Ardmore and am con-
strained to believe, however, that If
there had been no Gainesville in those
days, there would be no Ardmore these
days. This fact was verified a few days
ago when a band from Gainesville, ac-
companied by number of Gainesville
citizens, came to Ardmore for the pur-
pose Of taking in the auto show. l
understand that the excursion con-
sisted of $50 people, including the
band, and that every member of the
party shook hands with cousins, uncles,
grandfathers, and step-brothers, and
widows-hay, grass and sod-relatives
having come from Gainesville during
the past 80 years.
"The strongest members of the bar
in this county, all came from Texas;
the best officers of the county and
city came from Texas; the prettiest
wives and mothers came from Gaines