The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-17
Governor Renfrow of Oklahoma.

L 0OV6fflOI JN0IittOW VI SNio''S'e~'
Guthrie. O. T., Feb. 1s.-CSpecial)-Go
ernor Renfrow's term expires May ). next,
| and the fourth governor Of Oklahoma Ter
ritory takes his seat.
Serving notice Of explanation It is stated
| here that Oklahoma has been blessed sinsu-
| larry with strong executives No one Will
dispute that statement 50 far as il concerns
the first executive, Governor Steele, now
congressman from Indiana. Governor
Steele was appointed by Benjamin Harri-
son.
| He had not been in the territory ten days
before the realized the birthstone qualities
| of humanity in that unprecedented minSi-
| ing Of strangers which was then erroneous
| ly called a community. Steele was ar once
made the target OF the most vicious scan
| dals. He faced them down gallantly and
| brought into Inc of battle an independent
and ferocious indifference which silenced
the scandal rnongers and afterward para
lyzed whole legislature.
| It will be remembered that after one
struggle in which the capital question had
| figured Governor Steele had been warned
TO keep away from Oklahoma City. l re-
member going down to Oklahoma City with
him and asked him about the threat.
| He answered: "Bosh.' Steele was SOL
der and did not know fear, honestly be-
Iieve. No one at Oklahoma City touched
| him at any rate and he walked freely about
| the streets.
Steele grew tired of western life and re-
turned to Indiana to run for governor OF
that state. He went to congress instead
His place was taken by A. j. Seay, then
| judge in Oklahoma. Seay Is Missourian
! strictly his own master IN everything and
so proved himself as governor. He gained
wide respect and retains it to this day.
| When Grover Cleveland went in the sec
ond time he had one man in mind and only
one for governor of Oklahoma. That was
Sidney Clarke and for Sidney Clarke Gro
yer Cleveland stuck. But Hoke Smith
wanted Mr. Richardson of Oklahoma City,
and for Mr.. Richardson Hoke Smith stuck
The contest between Cleveland and his
Georgia friend In this matter was much
| more fierce than any one, not informed,
| supposes.
| Democratic politician In Oklahoma
| since almost forgotten, as road out Of the
difficulty, telegraphed the name of Rem
frow OF Norman. This was considered
| good joke and it was not meant that Gle
veland should appoint him. Renfrow was
| president of bank at Norman, had never
| taken any part whatsoever In politics and
never dreamed of being governor of any
thing else official. He was not even ad-
vised with In the matter. Cleveland ap-
| pointed MIN forthwith.
| Renfrow was shocked when No received
| the news. But he took the place.
You will hear from politicians on both
! sides in Oklahoma that Renfrow is terribly
weak" The politicians in many instances
say this from habit-in many instances they
honestly believe 1t.
| There IL an explanation for this, Re-
\ m ember that Oklahoma was settled in a
day. There were thousands of politicians
| among the claim-hunters. These politicians
had been dwelling with fellow politicians
on whom they knew something" KNOW
| ing something on a man in politics is stu
| pendous capital. 1t holds an enemy down
and CLUES friend to you tighter than any
| thing else. Here in Oklahoma the politi-
clans did not know anything" on one
another. But they went to work to find
out. Former homes were ransacked. At
| hdavits became as snow-fakes in Labrador
banning evidence on everybody was Sc
| iected by the bushel Renfrow had not long
been governor when he had to meet the re-
| suit of this condition. The strip had been
| opened, divided into counties and Renfrow
| had to appoint county officials. The poll
| ticians, not dreaming that he was a poll
| tician, came down upon him pell-mell.
They retired singly. frozen to the heart
| and Disguised. Renfrow would listen to no
one. He insisted on seeing the men he ap-
pointed. He did not care who backed them
| or what strength they carried. He broke
| round. The men he appointed were select
ed by eye; that is, Renfrow talked to them
and sized them up at best he could. He
made some mistakes and these he fired
forthwith, turning a deaf ear to all remon-
| strances based on the ground of political
expediency.
Then The leaders of his own party turned
against him. A mighty, vicious effort was
| made to Gust him. Tons of matter were
sent to Washington. Throughout 1t all
Renfrow remained the business man and
never became the politician.
The fight which was made upon him
shook the whole Democratic party of the
territory from center to circumference.
Democratic politicians who came to Guth-
RE avoided the governor and his ONCE.
It is hardly possible that he received any
approval from Washington, except that he
was not ousted.
But Grover Cleveland by that fight was
made the everlasting enemy of Oklahoma.
His speech on the corrupt west before the
Presbytery in New York was a result OF
this terrific onslaught on Renfrow.
The politicians could not bulge Renfrow
He was fearlessly business-like and fear
lessly non-political throughout It all and
today the Democratic politicians have ceas-
ed their fight except few who say he is
weak" And that is not uncommon as an
expression among the whipped.
But as business man Renfrow has made
a splendid governor. He has conducted his
Office honestly. ably and fearIessly. And
his reward has come. for he has lately re-
ceived from Washington expressions OF ap-
probation for his valor and labors, which
he prizes highly.
He has been governor OF the greatest ter
ritory IN the country. He has acted fear
lessly and intelligently and time will so en-
grave on the monument of his official
career.
He is now watching the Oklahoma legls-
lature. The territory may again have an
Instance Of his political weakness" for
just as sure as that legislature passes any
thing foolish, hurtful or vicious. Just so
surely viii Renfrow veto IL. The legislature
should understand THIS and viii before long.
Renfrow loves the territory of his adoption
| and he is not going to let II suffer from the
acts Of an irresponsible political fusion
Governor Renfrow viii not move from
Guthrie until Autumn. although his official
career vii lend in May.
IL hoil ua
this freely and frankly. He was without
r-nlfricaI IN hitinn when he entered TIE n-es-