Cluttered Corner Hindsight Better Than Foresight By Milt Phillips March 19, 1973 FORESIGHT IS SOMETHING MOST OF US wish we enjoyed in greater abundance. Few of us possess it to any major degree. We were reading in Sunday Oklahoman the speech Publisher E. K. Gaylord made to a joint session of the Oklahoma legislature. Some of the things he recalled demonstrated how short-sighted most of us were in the early days of statehood. Among the things Mr. Gaylord recalled in his talk to the legislature was the offer to sell the state some 10-acre tracts of land on each side of Lincoln Boulevard just north of the state capital building.

“ON ONE OCCASION,” Mr. Gaylord told the legislators, “the state was offered the two corners on Lincoln Boulevard just north of the capitol building. Both were large tracts. I think ten or more acres at each corner. The total price was $33,500.

“We discussed the matter among the advisory commissioners and all were in favor of the purchase.

“Governor Williams was an honest man but very positive and domineering in his decisions. As spokesman I proposed to the Governor that he buy the additional land because it would be needed in the future. Her brushed the suggestion aside and said we already had too much land.

“I cited to him the fact that in Des Moines, Iowa, they had built the capitol building and then a few years later had to pay more than $3 million for additional land. Also in Sacramento the same thing happened and they paid more than $3.5 million for a comparatively small amount of land, and I argued that some day the state would need this land.”

Then Mr. Gaylord recalled that Williams emphatically refused to buy the land and yet, before Williams went out of office he paid $21,000 for about half an acre west of the capitol building.

Today two new office buildings sit on the land Williams refused to buy for $32,500 and the building trust which constructed the two buildings probably paid more than $1 million for the land now owned by the state north of the state capitol building.

And two more office buildings for the state have been started north of the two new ones – so the land up Lincoln Boulevard north of the state capitol building will probably represent an investment of a couple million bucks – all because some of the state’s officials, like most of us living today, were too short-sighted to look very far into the future.

WE NOTED with disgust two state legislators, one in the House and one in the State Senate, got some temporary headlines and some publicity on the boob tube and over radio, answering the speech Mr. Gaylord made to the legislature.

Of course, we must “consider the source” in listening to the two state solons. Both are noted for much talk but little action. Both are recognized by readers and listeners as in the lower echelon of ability in the legislature.

However, the speeches the two gave were even lower in common sense and reason than the ones they usually make – and brother that is getting mighty low on the scale.

We’ve often complimented people on the opposition they attract, especially in public life and public affairs. We’ve always contended we’d appreciate being known by the detractors and critics we make as well as by the boosters who support us and our efforts. Both are acceptable scales upon which the public may measure an individual.

The two speeches we heard and read attacking Mr. Gaylord certainly confirmed our conviction that often one’s detractors help one almost as much as one’s well wishers.

The two speeches in the legislature will enhance Mr. Gaylord’s image tremendously. If Mr. Gaylord needed any boost the two silly and critical speeches delivered in the legislature this week (one speech delivered by two legislators) were certainly fine boosts for the 100-yearold publisher of Daily Oklahoman- Oklahoma City Times.

-oOo March 21, 1973 Cluttered Corner State Senator Proves Scribe’s Statement By Milt Phillips Milt Phillips THE SEMINOLE DAILY PRODUCER Seminole, Oklahoma Dear Milt: I read with amusement your “stupid” article which again appeared in print. As a Senator of Oklahoma, even though it causes you disgust, I shall continue to voice my opinion on statements made by responsible “JACKASSAS” whether they be Mr. Gaylord or you.

Journalism has suffered a new blow when “BUMS” like you write for the public.

E. Melvin Porter State Senator, District No. 48 P.S. Have you got the guts to publish this letter?

NB-THANK YOU, Senator, for confirming fully what I said in the column. There could be no better proof of the truth of my statements than your letter.

MP