The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-12-03
TALK OF CORRUPIING
THE LEGISLATORS
Republicans to Make DeS-
perate Attempt to Con-
troll the House

The correspondent Of the Kansas
City Star has sent the following tc
his paper:
II a scheme now contemplated by
Republicans should succeed, the Dem
ocrats will lose control in the lower
house by the detection Of two fusion
lists to the Republicans. The latter
would have voting strength Of il
against 12 Democrats. Just who the
two fusionists are is a matter of spec
ulation but that certain men are in
view there is no doubt. The plan has
been submitted by its promoters TO
several Republicans, with varying re
suits. Some indorse It and others say
that the purchase of such disloyalty
would react upon the Republican party
fully as much as upon the men who
offered themselves for sale. While an
attempt would be made TO gloss over
the transaction with specious explana
tions, alleging possibly that committee
chairmanships were exchanged for
support, yet Republicans opposed 80
such methods declare that whether
compensation was given directly or
indirectly. no evasion in words could
conceal the fact of barter and sale.
In a former legislative assembly, a
Democratic minority in the lower
house made a deal with a Republican
and elected him speaker. This Repub-
lican never recovered the prestige his
dyuplicity cost him. Republicans were
humiliated and Democrats disguised.
One Democratic member said the Re
publican who went into the deal was
no more deserving of criticism than
the Democrats who joined with him.
and offered to help smash the combine
if the Republican minority would make
slate fair to both parties. This was
done. and chairmanships and clerk
ships were distributed regardless OF
the frantic protests of the combina
ton It hardly is probable that the
present scheme viii succeed.
If oklanoma should be still without
statehood when the legislature is con
vened the Legislators are expected 10
arrange a spectacular programme
The Legislators, as usual. will attack
that venerable octopus, the Standard
Oil company. The inspection Of oil in
Oklahoma has always been a farce
and remains 80 to This day. The Of
fee Of oil inspector pays from $40 600
to $4,000 in fees, every cent Of which
is taxed against the consumer by the
oil companies. The people are kept
in reasonably good humor by period
lical threats to throtNe the oil com
panies if they do not ship better ol
into the territory. The newspapers
print columns aboue the sale of better
oil until finally the oil bu-iless again
moves along on its well CREASED way
The contract for the care and main
tenance of insane persons. which VIII
not expire for about two years. VIII be
the subject of attempted legislation
The trouble Of the owners OF the SAM
tarium at Norman are SIN fresh IN
the minds OF Oklahomans.
A bill having the approval Of every
conservative banker in the territory
will be introduced to prohibit the fur
ther incorporation Of $4,000 banks,
which have grown so numerous uoder
the present laws as to be a menace TO
the financial integrity of Oklahoma
should there be a serious crop short
age The minimum capitalization
probably will be fixed at $4,000.