The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-26
DEPENDS On N'K|NEY
Whether Governor Barnes
Shall Go or Stay. !.
HIS FRIENDS FEAR NOT
Jenkins Following, However,
Feel Sure of Victory.

Guthrie, o. T., Sept 25.-The depart
ment has given out the charges filed by
several men at Oklahoma City against
Governor Barnes. It is regarded as sig
niacant that the charges have been made
public by Secretary Hitchcock. Hitherto
he has held them sacred and refused to
let anyone see them. The charges are
the old ones. made over and over again.
They have been published before. But
until now the department has refused to
give them publicity from Washington
The general supposition is that Secre-
tary Hitchcock and Mr.. Vandeventer,
who investigated the matter as attorney
in the department, have decided against
Governor Barnes. The matter next goes
to the president. None Of Governor
Barnes friends believe that the president
will o. X the charges and ask for Gov
ernor Barnes removal. On the other
hand, Secretary jenkins friends are jubi-
liant and believe that Governor Barnes
will go, and that Secretary Jenkinsn will
signers are as follows:
To the President, Washington, D. c.
We, the undersigned citizens, business
men and taxpayers of Oklahoma Terri
tory, having the best interests of the ter
ritory in view, and wishing to keep and
establish the good name and fame of this
future commonwealth and in the interest
administration Of the same, do charge
that Hon. c. N. Barnes is not a fit per-
son TO occupy the high and honorable
position of chief executive Of this terri
tory
We charge that by his official acts he
has furnished proof of his unworthiness
TO discharge the duties of the office, and
we do make the following charges and
specifications:
First-That one Of his first official ap-
pointments was the selection Of Harper
S. Cunningham as attorney general a
man who has been shown by the court
records in this territory to be unworthy
to fill position of honor or trust.
In support of this charge reference is
made to decisions of the supreme court of
this territory in the case OF the United
States National bank, plaintiff, vs. Ma
tional Bank OF Guthrie, defendant, re-
ported in Sixth Oklahoma Report, at
page 1853; the same case is reported in
the Fifty-first Pacific Reporter, al page
119.
The character OF this man is such that
when his name was sent to the council
for action 1t was rejected, but notwith-
standing this fact, and in violation Of
the letter and spirit of paragraph 1913 of
the statutes of Oklahoma, the governor
reappointed him attorney general. Said
statute reads as follows: ANY person
rejected by the council. shall not be re-
nominated for TIE same Office
Second-That on the 18th day Of March.
1898, the governor placed his approval
upon a contract for the erection of a
normal school building at Alva, to cost
over $4,000, when the legislature of the
territory had appropriated but $1,000 for
the maintenance of said school and had
never made any express appropriation
for the erection of said school building.
AltL ny the uuduJnOTlZeu act or signing
said contract an Indebtedness Of almost
100000 has been incurred without any
authority of law.
In support Of this charge reference Is /
made to chapter . of the Session Laws
Of Oklahoma 1897; the contract made
with John Volk & Co, of Rock Island,
Ill, for the erection of said normal
school at Alva, and the governors mes
sage to the legislature as we'll as the
records of the board Of education Of Ok
lahoma Territory. accepting said school
building.
Third-The governor was a party to a
contract whereby there was turned over
TO Harper s. Cunningham school land
and notes amounting to $4,000. under a
verbal contract. whereby the said Cum
bingham was to have 10 per cent of all
sums collected. when most Of said notes
provided for attorneys fees and the leg