Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-26
Alfalfa Bills Reforms Stir
Interest But Not Conviction

Inauguration of william H. (Alfalfs
BID Murray as Governor of Oklahoma
arouses national interest because of his
attack on college athletics, his desire to
guard legislators against lobbyists, an
effort to cut taxation, and expression
OF belief that practice by legislators
before the departments is against pub
lie policy. Sympathy is expressed, but
there is little thought that he will be
able to effect reforms The picturesque
character Of his induction into office
coupled with his challenge to his enc
mics who might want to irnpeach him
| gives color to the scene reproduced in
general comment.
Commenting on the Governors OBJ
lection to the item of $4,000 year for
| the sports faculty" at the State uni
versity, his belief that the faculty
members should teach eight hours q
day If they expect to draw full pay, -
the Cleveland News says: THE pictur-
esque Mr.. Murray, two-flsted, hale and
hearty, would hardly seem the type to
| favor the raising of race of molly
coddles. Perhaps, he reasons, every
true son and daughter of Oklahoma
should, by the time he or she goes to
college, have attained SUFFICIENT physi-
cal development to make gymnasiums
and Stadiums unnecessary. Or, per-
haps, because he was once a frontier
schoolmaster he Is determined to make
the mills of knowledge grind in Okla
homa as they never ground before. The
item of $4,000 year for coaches and
athletic instructors may or may not be
too high for the State school of Okla
homa, but Mr.. Murray seems to be in
danger of belittling the Importance of
physical training in the lives of stu
dents"
IF he fails in his effort to minimize
expenditures for foot ball and other
athletics at the University of Okla
homa," suggests the Lincoln State Jour-
nal, "it may be because the sports will
get him. There is fair foot ball fol-
lowing in that State, and they went a
bit wild and acted in an unseenly man
ner last Fall when they trimmed
Nebraska. Therefore, there will be few
tears wasted in this part of the country
If Gov. Murray kayoes the Oklahoma
team and gives 1t a chance to feel the
depression that follows getting on the
short end Of the financial score.
What we are wondering is Just
what Gov. Murray will say next Fall
in the last few minutes Of the last
quarter when Oklahoma holds the line,
5 yards away from its own goal, until
the gun cracks. A moving picture Of
the Governors facial contortions dur
ing two minutes at such crisis might
answer all he has said, and more, too"
X n X +
indicated radical changes at the
States institutions Of learning" in the
opinion Of the Kansas City Times, will
create serious misgiving in educational
circles. Foot bali might be subordi-
mated, or even dispensed with, but it
might be assumed that reduction of
teaching forces by one-half and other
changes of like nature belong in q
slightly different category. Okla
homa's experience with governors has
not been entirely free from turbulence.
The present executive of the State
seems to anticipate an element of strife
in his administration. 1t should be
hoped that nothing detrimental to the
States best interests will be q result.
The Governor faces his opportunity.
Oklahoma awaits the issue"
His ideas about colleges" states the
indianapolis Star, may not please the
rah-rah boys on the bleachers, but they
are such as one would expect from q
man whose bleached whiskers and
scanned face have known the burning
heat Of the desert and the biting gales
from the Northwest. He can see no
reason why plumber or carpenter
should work eight hours day while a
professor may escape with seven. He
also believes that q 'bunkhouse' should
be established In which legislators would
live, secure from the advances Of nefa-
rtouS lobbyists. The Governor would
guard the lawmakers as carefully as
murder jury. That suggestion is likely
to be vigorously opposed by the hotel
men, who would be minus a number of
lovely little dinner parties The Gov
Rrn0r saws that I0hbviStS lisa. mixer
liquor, women and even money for
bribery That charge will alarm the
public in numerous States where the
legislatures are now In session. Bl1t & |
probably Is only an old Oklahoma cuN-
tom" III