The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-11-04

Hon. l.. r. Laverty. er Chairman Populst
Committee, Guthrie q. T.,
Sir. Having been associated with
you in politics since the organization
of the Peoples party in Oklahoma, and
beirg we'l acquainted with your po-
litical history during these years,
feel called upon to present a few
thoughts and put few questions TO
you respecting your recent political
course
! Do not suppose | seek an advantage
Of you by opening up this controversy
at so late time. l do not suppose
your act has changed a single vote in
this territory, hence your answer to
this may come soon or late, just the
same.
Your effort TO explain why you ok
the course you did, must be ,onsidered
by every thoughtful mind a failure;
especially when taken ong with
your history for the past seven or
eight yeas An honest politician,
who has been in the campaigns Of his
party through the acrimonious con
fiicts incident to fusion in this couI ty
and never fell out of the ranks so long
as he was a ben. ficiary OF the partys
success, would disdain to pre- ent such
ridiculously absurd reasons for such
an act as yours.
You we're in possession of informa
tion before the campsign opened that
you now bring 9or~ ard and parade be
fore the people and plead for stidca.
tion for the commission OF a. act more
culpeble than thai for which more
useful men were expelled from our
party. You presided at that adjudica
ton, and yet was at heart no less a
traitor than they
II you were convinced that the Dem
ocratic party was misleading us, why
did you not souRd the alarm months
ago?
II you were convinced that com
bined convention meant the nomina-
ii Of Democratic candidate for
delegate to congress, why did you not
so dec are in our eau us?
An If you were SO sure OF hypocrisy
on the part Of the Democrats then,
why did ), u not resign as chairman of
the territorial committee and walk
out # that convention?
Instead Of that what you do9
You assisted TO nominate Judge
Keaton; sought for and was select d
TO the place Of a territorial commit
teeman for your county, accepted sn
offer TO assist the nominee ia the cam
paign; and when your partner in the
publishing business sold his influence
to the Republican party you tried to
buy the paper back upon the promises
of certain Populists that YOU would
ec-ive profit Of sloo, and the nomi
nation as county treasurer upon our
ticket.
Ahl you political hypocr.te, we'll did
the roet say:
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice TO deci- ve,'
You have been parading before the
peopieIof other counties some Of your
personal experience and observati Jns,
ostensibly in the interest OF Mr.. Han
kins. May | inquire who pays our
expenses? And did you tell the peo-
pie how often ia the last eight years
you had been in office, or tried TO get
in? For future reference / will fur,
uish yo u sou data, well known 70
some OF us in th 8 county. Here IL is:
You were in favor OF fusion in this
county in 1900, and was elec ed county
treasurer on our ticket.
In 1892 you we're on the ticket for
some place and never ssid a word
against fusion.
In 1894 there was no fusion, but you
were to be q beneficiary in case We
elected our ticket You knew this a.
well as others in the county.
In 1896 we again fused with the
Democrats and you never objected
Why? You were 90 be deputy tire. 5
urer il we elected our man.
After Mr.. Vincent resigned you wer'
put forward by certain Populists Il
this and adjoining counties Tor the po
sition as chairman Of the Ierritoria
committee, aud secured the place. Il
toat position you were close to Mr.
Callahan. BY his help you got cen
.rcl Of the Rep esentatiVe. You ~er
anxious to secure IA re nomination
will not arge you with any mer
cenary motives. No doubt you wer
prompted by a sincere desire 70 sc
him again hopored. Bat he failed 1
1 secure a denomination aud you los
! your grip on him. You turned to Jad Z
: Keaton but some how or other be gs
! tangled up With NJ. cTayens and coul