The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-10-24
From Daily Leader Of Sept. 27. 1902.
JONES' AND MERTENs
RECORDS COMPARED.
What Merter Has Done for Logan
County; Eugar Jones' Work.

AlaGuEhllE NAlB tMU AAANAAuANn lQA
the legislature, Edgar Jones and w.
H. Merten, Greer in his state Capital
says: "Merten is such man the
people need in their law making
body" Guthrie owes much
of her proud position today 10 the
self sacrificing efforts of Merten."
Let see, Merten did come
10 Guthrie early. In fact, it is said he
was a particularly early bird, like
.ureer ard other sooners, who gobbled
the townsite up before legal occu-
pants arrived. Each spring and fall
election since then has seen Merten
candidate for Office, with varying
success. He was Guthrie's represen-
tative in the First Legislature. He was
unable to do anything for the town
then, as the Capital removal bill was
passed right over his feeble efforts,
and Guthrie only saved the capital
through Governor Steele's persistent
veto, Merten aided in no beneficial
/ Legislation during the first session
and could not even keep the capital
at Guthrie Then he was appointed
postmaster. Everyone here knows
why he was summarily removed.
Then he ran for various city and ward
Offices, sometimes elected, often de-
feated finally he landed in the legis-
lature again. and here is what he did
for Guthrie during that session.: En-
gineered a bill through legalizing old
illegal warrants issued by Guthrie's
self constituted government thirteen
years ago The money was raised
by the provisional government to
pay these warrants but for some
strange reason the latter We're not
Cancelled They were considered
worthless, picked up by Banker Nc
Neal at a few cents on the dollar, kept
for years, when the supreme court
held them worthless. Merten then
comes TO the rescue of McNeal, goes
to the legislature, gets a bill through
Ilegalizing these warrants, which costs
Guthrie $15U,U00-
The negro votes in the .rst, Fourth
and Fifth wards elected Merten.
Now Mr.. Greer, Mr.. McNeal, Mr..
Cottingham and other owners of the
state Capital printing corporation see
y million dollar cash school fund
and bring Mr.. Merten out for the leg
islature again as the man to help them
/ get their nand on this immense fund.
The StaIe Capital says about Edgar
/ Jones: Mr. Jones has never done a
/ thing for his city, his county, or his
people" Maybe not There Is an
official county record that speaks diff
I ferently and shows he hasn't done a
thing 10 Mr. Greer in his former
printing and supply graft on Logan
county This county record says
trutnully: Edgar Jones administra-
/ tion for 3la years as county attorney
has saved from the court fund alone
$4,000. This being the amount saved
! in court expenses less than any three
years previous, and this done in the
face of double the amount of business
ever before transacted. This snug,
little sum would buy the ground and
build US a new court house.
Eagar Jones, county attorney, does
not cater to the rich and strong. He
attacked high territorial officials
speculating in public funds, restoring
to that fund sil 900 interest and stop
ping the practice. lie instituted pro-
ceedings against ]. w. McNeal, presi-
dent of the First National bank, AMI
who as preside OF queer" invest
ment company was trying 10 force a
settlement with the many creditors at
seventy cents on the dollar and COM
PEELED a settlement dollar for dollar.
Edgar Jones, county attorney, cut
/ Mr. Greers stuffed bills down and
would not allow their payment two,
three and even four times as in the
past by Logan county.
Edgar Jo,ls, county attorney, was
unanimously and enthusiastically Sc
lected as a candidate for the legisla'
ture in a convention in which every
precinct was ably represented by liv-
ing. breathing, active delegates. A
beautiful contrast 70 the convention
nominating Merten-dominated as II
was by a national banker and railroad
attorney
This Is a short pen picture Of The
two candidates and what each has
done for this community