The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-08-12
MURDAUGH'S REMOVAL
WILL CAUSE TROUBLE
Likely to Be Opposition to
Confirmation Of Govern
or jenkins

Washington, o. C., Aug 12.-Recent
developments indicate that he soren.
ICY Of the Republics administration
in Oklahoma will be disturbed, and
that Governor William NJ. Jenkins viii
be compelled to run a severe gaun,.
let for confirmation by the United
states senate. Plans are already be
ing laid for an organized and systemat-
ic attack upon him. and al least three
United States senators have openly
declared that II his confirmation can
not be defeated in the sena e. il can
oe az least prevented. In other words
If a majority OF tho senate cannot be
induced to vote against him. action
upon the nomination will be indef-
initely postponed 80 that vote can.
not be secured az the next session.
This would be prac ically the same as
a defeat and would be interpreted by
the president as sufficient notice to
justify him in appointing some other
man as governor Of tue ,errltory
The trouble arises over the recent
removal of President e D Murlaugh
OF the Edmond Normal school, aud the
appointment Of Professor Umholtz as
his successor Umholtz is from Ohio.
and has been for years close per.
sonal friend of jenkins Murdaugh Is
a Democrat, bu, it Is admitted by all
that he is a competent and efficient
instructor and has done much to
build up the Territorial Normal school.
Some ime ago when It was sl.
nounced that a change was likely to
occur a number of prominent sena-
tors, Republicans and Democrats.
wrote Governor jenkins urging him to
retain Murdaugh Some of them saw
the governor in person during his re-
cent visit TO Washington, and it is
stated that assurances were given
I which led at least two senators to be
| lieye that there would be no change.
No sooner had he governor returned
TO the territory. however, than Mr..
Murdaughs resignation was demand
ed and accepted without delay.
The position Of president OF the Nor
NAL school is universally conceded
to be outside Of the scope Of politics,
and It is insisted by Murdaugh's sen
atorial friends that his removal for
political reasons is a prostitution OF
the school system Of the territory.
Since his occurred another indict-
ment has been found against the gov
ernor. In his letters to members Of
the senate who wrote him In Muir
daugh's behalf, he offered various ex
plantations which did not tally Unfor
tunately for be governor. those let
ters we're forwarded to Mr. Mur
daugh's brother IN Washington. In
some Of the communications the gov
ernor states that the change was not
made for any personal or political
reasons" while IN others be asserts
that was a political necessity"
other contradictions occurred In the
governors communications which I'M
dica that he did not deaf fairly with
the senators who communicated with
him in Murdaughs behalf Those let-
ters have been carefully collated and
placed Ia he hands OF Senators IIar
ris, of Kansas and Daniel OF Virgin
1 IA. for use when the senate recon
yenos mex December.
The fact that Murdaueh was re.
moved for political reasons would
furnish q cause for contes ing Mr..
jenkins confirmation but it IS prob
able with large Republican major
fly in the senate, this wiuld be over
looked The fact however tina. he
attempted 20 willfuily mislead mem.
bers Of thc senate in communications
10 them is a more serious charge, and
one which cannot be passed by ligh
Ily It ls upon this Issue thar the main
Opposition 20 his confirmation win be
based