Volume 9 , Issue 17

January 11, 1924 - Rural Philosophy

I found this interesting column in The Alva Record, Alva, Oklahoma, dated Friday, January 11, 1924. The column was called "Rural Philosophy" written by Herb Gold. Who was Herb Gold?

This is similar to the old days when they mentioned who visited who; who was in town; etc... Also, it has a hint of an editoril feel to it.

I love the first paragraph that Mr. Gold started is column. AND... Does anyone have any memories, information or map showing where "Cottonwood precinct" was located?

Rural Philosophy -- "Say, but 1924 started in rough, I've heard it suggested that the weather clerk and the old maids were in a conspiracy to freeze the batchelors out. The more moderate weather this week is quite welcome. There is promise of an early resumption of roadwork as the ground is thawing rapidly." Gold goes on to write, "Mr. and Mrs. Davidson of 41 School were in Alva Monday. They speak of splendid work done by the school under the instruction of their capable teacher, Miss Cora Murry."

"While in Alva Monday, I met a former neighbor, John F. Crooks. John left here five or six years ago and settled for a time in Northwestern New Mexico, but later moved to Los Angeles, Calif. Where he yet resides. Had been here for a week on a combined visit and business trip and was leaving Monday evening for home. Twenty years ago he lived on the farm now owned by G. H. McReynolds, north of Alva. John is fairly prospering in his new home."

"Jas. W. Springer, one of the big farmers of Cottonwood precinct, was doing business at the Court House Monday. Mr. Springer complains of a lack of wheat pasture in his locality."

"Bert Jones, the watermelon king, and his family were down from North Driftwood sunday visiting John Read and family. Bert tells of much road work in his section until the freeze called a halt, but he thinks some of the roads are left too flat for proper drainage."

"Earnest E. (Boss) Parker from the northwest corner of the Woods was in the metropolis Monday. It does one good to bump into the big, jolly cattleman occasionally, especially since "Boss" is a stalwart Democrat in addition to his other good qualities. Boss has an abiding faith in the cattle business righting itself. Says now is the time to stock up while they are at rock bottom prices. He but recently shipped a lot of young stock cows from Wichita that cost him, unloaded at Coldwater, $20.34 a head."

"I learn with pleasure that me Irish friend, Patrick O'Neill, is now a free holder of Fritzlen township. He recently acquired the Arterburn, 240 in 31,28,14 for something like 6000 units of the exchange medium. Pat avers (sic) that "Begorra an you'll see a different farm av (sic) it in another year." However, the writer entertains grave fears for the future of handsome energetic widower that's Pat. I'm guessing that some old maid will have him catnipped before the year is done."

"The stockholders meeting of the Paragon Telephone Co. was to have been held in Bob Strong's office Saturday p.m., but lacked a quorum. consequently, no business was transacted. The Secretary's report was looked over by those who came and went and no fault was expressed with the document. If folks care so little about their business that they let a cold breeze bluff them out, they deserve, and are liable, to be skinned out of two or three million dollars before the next business meeting."

"Fred Gallon returned from Wichita Monday much improved in health and confident of a complete cure, which however, will require sometime yet. His friends and neighbors are glad that he is back and on the road to health again."

"I have of late heard much favorable comment on the way Judge Jay Glaser chucks flimsey cases overboard when they come up for preliminary hearing. I hadn't particularly thought about it from a legal standpoint; but it is good, sound sense and it saves the tax payers a lot of good money. I've suffered no pangs of regret on Jay Glaser's account."

"Hugh Martin is in Oklahoma City during the front end of this week on business connected with his office."

"'I don't know what we would do without Bob', remarked a farmer whom Bob Strong had just helped to straighten out a tax tangle. Yes, it's too bad that Bob is only a Republican instead of a Democrat. Most democratic guy one ever saw. Don't give a cuss whether one be good looking, homely or what one's 'politicks' may be; Bob is the ready servitor to anybody who had trouble with the tax gatherer. He is a veritable compendium of universal knowledge, and the prince of story tellers. Always has the very latest story going, Yes. Verily, the Court House would be a sorry place without Bob."

"Chas. Wolgamott and Wm. Derrick, ranchmen from out on Yellowstone Creek 14 miles west of Hardtner, were Alva business visitors Monday. The seemed cheerful concerning the financial outlook and are confident better times are in store for the farmers and stockmen. I believe they are right; that we are rapidly attaining normalcy. Nothing is as blue and dismal as the fellow who feels that way."

"I had the pleasure of meeting Prof. R. J. Bilyeu recently. He teaches agriculture in Alva High School. I had heard students speak enthusiastically of him and wondered what manner of a man he might be. I have ceased wondering why his pupils so 'cotten' to him. 'Twas at Will Hatcher's that I met the Prof. He and Harley Hatcher walked all over the farm to find the best soil for the planting of peanuts and a test acre for corn or kafir. Upon returning from their rambles, they found Mrs. Hatcher had made some taffy for the little chaps, who prevailed upon the Prof. to join them in a taffy pull. One essential of leadership is to get down off the high horse and join the crowd. That is why Prof. Bilyeu has such a following."

"Last Thursday, Wm. and Harry Vetter whetted their knives and heated a kettle of water preparatory to staging a hog killing, but when they sought their victims, they found his porkship had broken from the enclosure and sought safety in flight to parts unknown. 'Twas not until the following morn that their diligent search was rewarded and the fugitive was returned home to fall a victim to their appetite for pork."

"Many people at the Wheat Growers' meeting Saturday were disappointed because Clayton Hyde wasn't there. But Clayton was busy attending the farmers interests just the same. He had a very important meeting with the directors of the State Farmers Union at Oklahoma City."

"Say, it listens good; the news that C. D. Schultz has got a drilling contract on his block of oil leases N.W. of Alva. Also that Tom Pugh at Avard is about to realize his hope and ambition of seeing a test well drilled on his block. If ever the store of liquid gold beneath our feet is tapped and bring us wealth, all honor is due to the pluck and energy and abiding faith of such men as Schultz, Pugh and the McCary's. 'Tis the lot of the pioneer to suffer misrepresentation, ridicule and abuse unfalteringly and without complaint. But, also, too often, when the battle is own and wealth comes to their detractors, their sacrifices are forgotten and they are consigned to oblivion. We ought all be interested in the development of Woods county mineral resources; but we lack the capital (sic) and the unity. If we have the unity of purpose the capital (sic) will be forth coming. No worth while concern will spend from 40 to 100 thousand dollars drilling a hole indeed they have a solid block of leases. No one with money or sense will spend such a sum for the benefit of others. There is sufficient wealth for all here; why not join together and persuade some one to get it out of the ground?"

"Sunday was such a nice day that I took a stroll for exercise, to keep in training for the next war. My line of march took me over some road graded with the horse grader and some graded with traction power. Quite a difference, I noted. While the cost of grading was almost the same, the power grader made a clean ditch and a smooth, firm roadbed. The horse drawn machine merely 'woolled' up the grass and left earth and grass in unseemly bumps all along the way. And there are places where the middle of the road is lower than the bottom of the ditch. The tractor graded road is finished as to grading, the other is merely commenced. Here is the trouble. A lot of horses are like their masters, the farmers. There is no concerted action. Some pull, while others loaf. The big tractor is one powerful unit, an organized machine. It pulls altogether; all at once. And big, powerful, organized puny, individual units in many efforts other than road grading."

"The first week of the New Year was marred by two tragedies that brought death to two Woods county homes. The awful holocaust that, on Friday morning destroyed the home of Harve Osborne out in Flagg neighborhood, and snuffed out the lives of father and three children, shocked the whole county. Saturday the bodies of the father and two children were laid to rest in Whitehorse cemetery; Monday the third, having found surcease in death from the tortures of the fire fiend, was put to rest beside them. Will people never realize the fearful risk incurred in pouring kerosene from a closed container on to a fire or a smoldering bed of coals? A strange fatality apparently pursues the Osborne family. Or may we attribute the ill fortune to a careless disregard of the rules of safety? Some 18 or 20 years ago, Harve Osborne's father was killed in the cave-n of a well. The well was part way walled with stone. Neighbors, whom he had asked to help him to clean it out, pronounced it unsafe. He himself went down and the wall caved in on him. An additional touch of pathos to the tragedy is the fact that the Osborne family are about to lose the farm, that has been their home for 25 years, thru foreclosure. In fact the sheriff arrived to serve the papers while the flames were consuming the hapless home. Harve had been expecting to give up the place soon. The past two years he had farmed some of the Blackstock land near Stubb's Station and had but recently moved back to the homestead to make one more summer crop. I had known Harve Osborne about 20 years and had ever found him a good, agreeable fellow. There comes to mind and incident of some 16 years ago, in which he figured. I was then on the township board with Jake Herold and Sandor Hada and Jake had got me to help him with the assessing. So, one day, I visited the settlers on Bogy Creek Mess. Only Alex Sechrist is now left of them; then Levi Maxwell, Arnold and Squire Elliott and Joe York held down the top of the divide. West of them, on section 24 lived Harve Osborne. The boys had a story of grief for me that day. They had to get their drinking water from Pittman's spring, 4 miles west and Harve had closed the road across his place. While we were talking there in Squire's shanty, Harve came driving along the road that wondered hither and yon along the backbone of the Mess. Then I suggested to the fellows that, since Harve had closed the road going west, they ought to close the raod leading east to all except those who had special permits. Squire was quick to catch on. He rushed out, halted Mr. Osborne and notified him that the road, as an avenue for public travel, no longer existed."

"'Since when?' quired the bewildered Harve. 'Since you closed your end," replied Squire. Harve saw the need of mutual concession, the ban was lifted and the whole stretch of road was re-opened. We all had a good laugh over it."

"I am sorely grieved because of the death of my friend, Bill Humes, out north of Freedom. Bill was one of my earliest acquaintances in that part of the country and one of the kindest, likeliest fellows I ever met. His home, too, was doomed to go under foreclosure; and Bill simply grieved himself to death over his failure to retain it. Maybe it was his own fault, but it was one of head and not of heart. Bill always said, 'there was nothing too good for his family.'"

"He built a nice home, bought a piano to enable the daughters to become proficient in music; owned a good car to please his children. And he would have made it allright had he not, like thousands of others, been caught under the 'deflation' steam roller. That, with a run of poor crops, overwhelmed him. Then he died of a broken heart.""The first week of the New Year was marred by two tragedies that brought death to two Woods county homes. The awful holocaust that, on Friday morning destroyed the home of Harve Osborne out in Flagg neighborhood, and snuffed out the lives of father and three children, shocked the whole county. Saturday the bodies of the father and two children were laid to rest in Whitehorse cemetery; Monday the third, having found surcease in death from the tortures of the fire fiend, was put to rest beside them. Will people never realize the fearful risk incurred in pouring kerosene from a closed container on to a fire or a smoldering bed of coals? A strange fatality apparently pursues the Osborne family. Or may we attribute the ill fortune to a careless disregard of the rules of safety? Some 18 or 20 years ago, Harve Osborne's father was killed in the cave-n of a well. The well was part way walled with stone. Neighbors, whom he had asked to help him to clean it out, pronounced it unsafe. He himself went down and the wall caved in on him. An additional touch of pathos to the tragedy is the fact that the Osborne family are about to lose the farm, that has been their home for 25 years, thru foreclosure. In fact the sheriff arrived to serve the papers while the flames were consuming the hapless home. Harve had been expecting to give up the place soon. The past two years he had farmed some of the Blackstock land near Stubb's Station and had but recently moved back to the homestead to make one more summer crop. I had known Harve Osborne about 20 years and had ever found him a good, agreeable fellow. There comes to mind and incident of some 16 years ago, in which he figured. I was then on the township board with Jake Herold and Sandor Hada and Jake had got me to help him with the assessing. So, one day, I visited the settlers on Bogy Creek Mess. Only Alex Sechrist is now left of them; then Levi Maxwell, Arnold and Squire Elliott and Joe York held down the top of the divide. West of them, on section 24 lived Harve Osborne. The boys had a story of grief for me that day. They had to get their drinking water from Pittman's spring, 4 miles west and Harve had closed the road across his place. While we were talking there in Squire's shanty, Harve came driving along the road that wondered hither and yon along the backbone of the Mess. Then I suggested to the fellows that, since Harve had closed the road going west, they ought to close the raod leading east to all except those who had special permits. Squire was quick to catch on. He rushed out, halted Mr. Osborne and notified him that the road, as an avenue for public travel, no longer existed."

"'Since when?' quired the bewildered Harve. 'Since you closed your end," replied Squire. Harve saw the need of mutual concession, the ban was lifted and the whole stretch of road was re-opened. We all had a good laugh over it."

"I am sorely grieved because of the death of my friend, Bill Humes, out north of Freedom. Bill was one of my earliest acquaintances in that part of the country and one of the kindest, likeliest fellows I ever met. His home, too, was doomed to go under foreclosure; and Bill simply grieved himself to death over his failure to retain it. Maybe it was his own fault, but it was one of head and not of heart. Bill always said, 'there was nothing too good for his family.'"

"He built a nice home, bought a piano to enable the daughters to become proficient in music; owned a good car to please his children. And he would have made it alright had he not, like thousands of others, been caught under the 'deflation' steam roller. That, with a run of poor crops, overwhelmed him. Then he died of a broken heart."

"I hope that I err, but from the information obtainable, I gather that neither of these departed friends carried any life insurance. They were good to their families while with them on earth, but overlooked the need to providing for their dependents in case of death. Considering the reasonable cost of life insurance to those physically acceptable, there is little reason why one should not provide a small amount of protection. In this day and age, a life insurance policy is almost a business necessity. The obligation to care for our dependents after we, ourselves, have laid down life's burdens is not to be lightly dismissed."

"When I noted the unselfish devotion of President Geo. Bell, of the Alva C. of C. to the upbuilding of the metropolis of the Woods, and the splendid activity of Secretary Billie Lamont, that steady pulling together of all the members, and the results achieved by their co-operation, I can not help wondering what would happen if Woods county had a Chamber of Agriculture with the same capable management and imbued with the same unity of purpose."

"The world changes constantly. Mighty changes have been wrought in the past 100 years. The evolution is yet under way and is fated to continue. The farmer must adapt himself to changing conditions, must be alert to seize upon every opportunity for advancement or be hopelessly left in the lurch. The old fashioned farmer is simply a back number. He must keep step with the procession in adopting modern ideas and applying up to date methods, else he will be but a lame, limping tag along."

"Under the title 'This is too much to lose,' Capper's Farmer prints the following statement: "It cost wheat growers of the Southwest $400,000,000 in 1922 because they did not market their plan co-operatively is the opinion of Geo. E. Marcy, president of the Armour Grain co., and one of the greatest grain marketing experts. He insist that if the grain farmers had possessed the right kind of co-operative marketing association they might have received on an average of 40 cents more a bushel than they got. And an important point Mr. Marcy makes is that this increased price to the producer would not have affected the price of bread to the consumer."

"Mr. Marcy ought to know what he is talking about, and if his statement is even approximately correct wheat growers certainly can not afford to let the other fellow handle the marketing of their grain. Somebody, but not the farmer, got that 40 cents a bushel in 1922."

"Senator roy Hughey returned to Oklahoma City this week to be on hand when the session resumes next Monday. The investigating committee has been very busy during the holiday recess and has a great mass of evidence to report to the legislature. But even now the investigation will not cease. The general committee of the House will again take up the task. it doesn't take so awfully long to just sweep and scrub a house; but if you have bad bugs and cockroaches to exterminate, it takes a long time to make a thoro (sic) job of it. That is about the case at our State Capital."

"Before leaving, Roy asked me to tell the folks that he will be glad to hear from them most any time. But they must not be offended if he finds no time to answer. There will be work enough to keep him busy 16 hours a day."

"It looks now as if John Whitehurst can not possibly escape impeachment. Judge Tolbert's committee has a mass of evidence. It is joyfully good to know how this committee has proceeded, fearlessly, relentlessly and ..... They have neither swerved or faltered; but have hewed to the line without fear or favor."

"E. W. Hardin, the Insurance Commissioner, has resigned rather than face the inquisitors. A strange fate has pursued the incumbents of that office since statehood. Perry Ballard was impeached and ousted. His successor, A. L. Welch resigned in the winter of 1921 because of a threatened investigation. Now Hardin cannot face the music."

"The State Auditor, the Attorney General and the School Land Department are assured of a hauling over the coals, 'Tis said, other departments are listed for a thoro airing."

"Tax reduction will occupy considerable time. Some departments have already been pruned by executive order of needless employees, while the legislative axe will be wielded to lop off entire Boards and Commissioners. Some minor State Schools are to be abolished. It is expected that the savings accomplished will total 1 1/2 million dollars a year."

"A real honest effort will be made by the legislature to remedy the high cost of campaigning; but the plan, to abolish the primary and substitute the convention, is not regarded with much favor. Neither is the plan of High Commissioner, Paul Nesbett, to call a 75 million dollar bond election for paving main highways between cities, making much headway. Many of the smaller county seat towns deem it more important to have roads leading to them rather than away from them. A city to city road is alright for pleasure; a good road to the city from the country means business. A law will be enacted providing for the collecting of the Automobile Tax by the local authorities and the retention locally of the county's share thereof."

"I regret the seemingly growing dissatisfaction with Governor Trapp's administration, began with such promise and under favorable auspices. All had but the best of wishes for Ed Trapp. It stood us in hand to wish our hired man all possible success and to co-operate with him to the fullest extent of our ability. But now the Governor has practically slapped the legislature in the face twice in succession. Before recessing for Christmas, the house recommended to the Governor the cancelling of the penitentiary contract with the Reliance Shirt co. That contract has been found to be a bad proposition for these reasons:"

"First. it loses the State money; the expense of maintaining the prisoners exceeds the income from their work in the factory."

"Second. The contract is fruitful of graft and official corruption."

"Third. The employment of prisoners at monotonous piece work defeats the purpose of the institution. Prisoners learn no productive avocation to enable them to earn an honest living when discharged. The tendency rather is to confirm them as criminals than to reform and rehabilitate them and restore them to useful citizenship. Governor Trapp, instead of cancelling the Reliance contract, has seen fit to disregard the recommendation of the legislature and enter into a new contract with the Shirt Company."

"Both houses of the legislature had, before recessing, enacted a bill designed to unmask the Klan, which measure seemed generally satisfactory. Now the Governor appearently (sic) has joined the extremists who insist on a quarterly filing of membership lists of all secret orders. He is quoted as saying that he considers no Klan legislation as having been enacted. This change of front on the part of the Hon. M. E. doesn't go well with the Solons. 'Twouldn't surprise me much to see them riding him bug hunting."

"The quarterly filing of membership lists by all such organizations will entail lots of utterly useless labor for their secretaries; cumber the County Clerk's office with a lot of papers, create a lot of red tape without in any way tending to abate the evils alleged. i deem it a monstrous piece of foolishness."

"Here is hoping that the Democratic committeemen the County over will see the coming Friday that complete working committee is elected in each precinct. That real live material is selected for committee workers and that all good timber is put to use tho the membership be swelled to thirty instead of seven. We need to make use of the younger party members and train them for the work. And don't neglect the women. They may not be as keen politicians as the old timers, but we have got to give it to them, they are more astute citizens than we men. So get them on the committies (sic). It (sic) the bell wether does not call the meeting on Friday then it is incumbent on every good democrat to see that a meeting is called later and a precinct committee organized. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of each precinct committee are of the County Central Committee and are expected to be at the meeting Saturday, January 19th (1924), in the District Court room at Alva, when the new County Central Committee organizes itself for the impending campaign. I want to leave my successor as good an organization, or better tan I found two years ago. And I am truly grateful for the unselfish assistance rendered the past two years by my fellow democrats."

"I also wish the republicans the best of fortune in their impending committee election. 'Tis well for the State and Nation if both parties choose for leadership, the ablest, cleanest and best of their adherents. If we consistently conform to this plan no one can be seriously hurt. The country will not suffer. The clean and fair campaign of two years ago I consider one of Woods County's best achievements. - Herb Gold" -- research submitted by NW Okie
  |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---