The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-09-10
BY FRANK o. NoRTHUP
(Associated with Fields ia bushes. for
many yearsD

(Associated with Fields IA bu.ipe.. fos
many yearsl
first met John Folds when ne
got out OF the old y-Stillwator
mack, shook the dust from his
clothes, walked into the old Youst
motel and registered -- from sim.
water. That was In April 1895
ne was fresh from New York. hav-
ing come to the territory to take tho
p,.lli1n or assistant chemist at the
Oklahoma a. & NJ. College and
oklahoma agricultural experiment
station. lie was one of seyeraI new
men who came 10 that Institution
from the east that year. lie was
alone as a slayer Tho crude col.
lege and station buildings received
no snub from him, and he ten into
the ways OF the pioneer as to the
manner born. In fact, he seemed to
have found his place.
! did not know him well. how
ever until after / had returned in
1899 from a trip with a lot OF other
adventure seeking chaps I'm which
we did Our best to settle satisfac-
torily the little controversy with
spain. That spring / was appointed
TO a place on tho faculty force OF
the A. Il NJ. college, and ! really
began TO know John Fields. | re-
ported tg the then President Nor
row for Instructions as 20 my duties
and turning from his desk he looked
at me for a moment and said this
surprising thing.
"Mr. NOrthup, you so over to the
chemistry department and see Mr
John Fields. lie will tell you what
you want TO know. You will find
TN, 30 hn hyslfv mi "a ~
who has the affairs OF this institu-
lion well In hand" Then he smiled
az the evident show os astcnishment
on my face and explained: For the
past year my health has been any
thing but robust ana very large
part OF my burdens have been as
sumed by Mr.. Fields
He Was president Pro Tenn"
| found Il as he said. that John
Fields was a very bright young mal
and that he did have the affairs CT
the institution well In hand. also
soon discovered that, instead Of
faculty members going 20 the pres
ident for instruction and advice,
they were going TO John Fields. ]
was also able to learn that he ha1
prepared the course Of study to BE-
submitted TO the faculty for ap-
proval, taken care of the presidents
correspondence, and I'm quiet. un-
obtrusive way. directed the affairs
Of the institution with reference 20
the appropriations to be asked Of
the legislature about to convene
and later personally presented the
matter to the appropriations com
mittee of that body There was no
extra pay in this for John Fields,
O. o.
bers Of the faculty knew nothing or
little OF tho manner in which tho
presidents personal duties were be
ing cared for, until n long time
later, but the work was there aud
then only n youugster, the young
est man connected with the insti-
tuition recognized the need OF
service and gave II willingly.
That act Of charity toward a sick
president. and a might fine old man.
Is characteristic of the entire life
OF John Fields. Since coming to
this state in the pioneer days.
more than 26 years agO-until th.a
day he has been carrying the bur
dens Of others.
Made Valuable Experiments.
In June Of 1899 John Fields Wa
appointed to the dual position Of
the director Of the government cN-
pertinent station and business agent
of A. & NJ. college, making him re-
sponsible for the carrying ONT Of
experiments to determine definitely
the character OF the crops hest
suited to Oklahoma's varying ell
matte conditions and the direction
OF the expenditure OF tho G0vern-
ment and territorial appr 1pria-ions.
That was some iump--trJm nsso-
rlatc chemist 10 the directing head
Of the institution. And bear In
mind he was Of an a"e when me