The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-01

and own Greer county, the decision was
rendered in behalf of the United States.
By that decision Greer county, owing
10 the act of 1890. became a part of the
territory of Oklahoma. Greer county
has been electing its county officers the
same as any other county In the state
of Texas.
THE bill as reported provided that
the governor of the territory OF Okla
homa should make new appointments
of officials in that county. l did not
think it would be just TO those people
who had been elected that that recon-
mendation should be approved by con-
greSS. So. that in order 10 show the
people of that county that we had no
desire to interfere with their county Of
ficers that they had elected. have Of
fered this amendment. Let me say
here that there is no politics in this IN
my favor. Greer county, / am inform
ed. has LOO votes. and / understand
that 50 of them are Republicans, so that
there is mo- danger of confirming any
Republicans in Office by this amend
ment- But do say, in justice TO those
people who have been elected to those
offices, it is but right they should serve
out their terms until next November,
when the general election in Oklahoma
will give them authority 10 elect whom
soever they see fit. / do object to any
governor, no matter what his politics
may be, being authorized TO remove
these men and appoint new officials in
their places"
Mr.. CulbersonI should like to ask
the gentleman from Oklahoma If he
proposes to confirm in office the Demo-
Gratis who are now holding office in this
county?
Mr.. Flynn propose to confirm every
officeholder who has been elected by
these people, no matter what his poll
tics may be.
Mr.. Culberson-Do you not know that
there is hardly a Democrat in office IN
that county?
Mr.. Flynn-No. I do not know any
such thing. / know l am told that
there are 700 Democratic voters and
only 80 Republicans, and let me say 10
NV friend from Texas that this amend
ment is acceptable to the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. CockrelD who mas
renresented Greer county in this house
so long.
Mr.. Culberson-Then 1 withdraw all
objection TO it.
Mr.. Cockrell-I want TO say this IN
explanation: AS to whether these or
ficers are Democrats, Republicans, or
Populists, my impressions are that
they are about equally divided. know
that some of them are Democrats and
I know that some of them are Repubi-
cans.
Mr.. Flynn-Republicans?
Mr.. Cockrell-Populists but l think
ii is nothing but fair that those people
who have been selected under the laws
of Texas at an election properly held
should hold their offices in preference
to others to be appointed by the gov
ernor. do not think there is any pol
tiles in this. consulted with my col
league OIr. Culberson) about this be-
fore this bill was framed. He told me
he did not believe that congress had
the authority to pass a law confirming
these men in office. With that view
the bill was framed leaving them out.
The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr.
FLYNN asked me if l would accept this
amendment and told him l would do
it most cheerfully, because think it is
just and right
Mr.. LACEY may say, in justice to
the attorney general, that the bill In
troduced by me was drawn by him.
He suggested that he would recon-
mend the appointment of all those of
ficials, and that he thought perhaps
that was the best way out of Ii, the
way that the bill was originally drawn.
/ am quite sure that he would have no
objection to the other form, as it was
his intention to recommend the appoint
ment of these men over again.
The bill was passed with the amend
ment Dennis Flynn has nothing to
expect from the people of Greer county.
They are not of his political party. But
the officers there, duly elected by the
people, are entitled to hold their of
fees without being put under any obi
cations to anyone but the people who
elected them.