The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-03-08
A. WAY OUT OF OFFICE.
How ssay Became Governor Of Okla
homa.
Cwaahlngton postl

tb-Oi NtiilOig VI OhidhoIld - tAAuN
ernor A. j. seay, who IS now a bank
er in what he calls the e. owing city
OF Kingfshcr. 2OOO inhabitants or
more" and the governor. as he is
known to his friends. has been in
Washington for a week or more as an
ardent advocate of the admission OF
the single territory Of Oklahoma to
the full rights of statehood. In his
spare moments he enjoys social chats
with his friends in the hotel lobbies
who, knowing his reputation as a
spinner Of good yarns, are ever ready to
listen.
The governor has passed the meri-
dian OF allotted life, but his good hu
NOR has increased with his age. his
syoirdupois, and his bank account.
He is an ardent Republican, and was
IN the union army throughout the en-
tire war of the rebellion
In speaking OF his political career
yesterday to a number of friends in
the lobby of down town hotel he
said:
There is only one man know OF
who has a larger girth and a larger
neck than I-Grover Cleveland.
Speaking of him reminds me of lit
tie experience | had with the gentle
man once upon a time Late in the
Harrison administration, the guberna-
torial chair was vacant and their
wasn't vel many Republicans in the
territory who thought they were smart
enough be governor But l was a
little more conceited than the 9th
ers, so when President Harrison be
gan looking for a man to MI the of
ice, l became very busy and was ap
pointed. Now, very shortly after this
Mr.. Harrison had to step aside to make
room for Mr.. Cleveland, who needed
great deal of room.
Kept Democrats Guessing.
Il knew my job was gone when the
Cleveland administration began, but
/ didn't care very much. There was
not much in it except lot of worry
/ hung on, however, as long as moth
ing was said There were other and
larger fry that needed attention under
the new administration, so ! was
overlooked for the time being But
had a lot Of fun out of it, for the
Democrats came nosing round every
day wondering whether l had tender
ed my resignation, o, whether | had
received my walking papers
"The weeks rolled past and it was
in May when a big delegation called
on me and demanded to know vheth-
er / had resigned / told the dele
gates collectively and singly that
had not and did not intend to- and
that furthermore, had had half doz
en- letters straight from Mr. Cleveland
asking me for goodness sake to hold on
to the office because there was not a
Democrat in the territory ne could
trust. l got out of the place by the
back way and left for Chicago where
dignitaries open the worlds fair It
dignitaries open the worlds fair 1t
was while l was up there that | de
termined to end the thing up in my
own way.
'Hoke Smith was therd you
know, and he and the president and
went out TO get something to eat one
day. President Cleveland left the Ia
bic for a few moments. and while he
was gone, very ca.elesly remarked
to Hoke my opinion of the new execu-
tive. It was a purely political remark,
for have a very high regard for Mr.
Cleveland personally, but Hoke color
ed up and then turned white. |
thought he was going to fight, but
he didn't say anything Next day we
all left for home.
Il figured to arrive in Guthrie on
Friday. while the presidential party
would arrive in Washington on Satur-
day. I figured, too, that Hoke would
ten Mr.. Cleveland on the way what
had said, and / calculated that
would hear from him the first thing
Monday morning. I went home and
told my friends about +; and predict
ed the message would come Monday
and surely not later than Tuesday
forenoon. Well, it turned out just as
said 1t would. Promptly at 10 o'clock
Monday morning I received a message
from the president saying | had been
relieved from the irksome duties OF
governor Of the territory. packed my
grip and went over to Kinghsher to
20 to farming. but the dividend fea'