The Washington times., 1902-04-11
Republican Territorial
Committee, Finance Division.
Guthrie, OKLA, Oct. 16, 1900.

Dear Sir: On September l the commit
tee sent you an invitation TO contribute, as
you have been prospered, TO the Republi-
can campaign fund for the present cleo
ton.
The letter may have been miscarried, or
been mislaid. In any event we have not
heard from you. The calls on the COM
mittee have ali heen met IN to this date.
The outlook is very bright for our Terri
tory 20 remain in line with the nation for
the next four years.
I'VE will need all our resources and en-
ergy so that nothing may be left undone.
The amount of your subscrintion yet
unpaid is s........, and we hope you will
send it to Mr.. J. W. McNeal, treasurer,
at Guthrie, at once, as the committee
have contracted certain obligations which
must be paid.
Thanking you in advance, we are,
yours for success,
THE REPUBLICAN FINANCE COM
MITTEE.'
Letter Returned Unclaimed
On January 1. 1902, the Commission
wrote to Holmes, asking for further in
formation and evidence upon which to de-
termine whether there had been a viola
tion of the law, but this letter was re-
turned unclaimed.
=
while on the regular spring tour of ex-
aminations was instructed TO visit Guthrie
and make further investigation of the
matter. He was unable to find any such
person as ]. II. Holmes in Guthrie, but
on inquiry he found that the circulars had
seen actually sent out substantially as al
legged by Holmes.
Treasurer Shoulders Responsibility.
J. M McNeaI, who was treasurer OF the
finance committee" stated that he and
another member of that committee had
prepared the circulars in question on their
own responsibility and without the knowl-
edge OF either Renshaw or Ferguson.
He further stated that very soon after
these circulars had been sent out Fergu-
son and Renshaw came to him and re-
quired that all the circulars that remain
ed upon which their names appeared
should be destroyed as being in violation
of the civil service law, and that for this
reason the names of Renshaw and Fergu-
son were omitted from the second circu-
lar which signed by the finance COM
mittee. He stated that Ferguson was
chairman and Renshaw secretary of the
Republican territorial committee. but
that they had had no ronnection with the
solicitation Of funds by the finance com
mittee.'
Mr. McNeal. treasurer OF the finance
committee. is president OF bank in
Guthrie. and is not in the Federal se.-
vice.
Confirmed by Governor Ferguson.
Governor Ferguson afterward confirmed
the above statements, and said that his
action in regard to the destruction Of the
circulars was taken as soon he learned
OF their existence He further stated that
he had made no personal solicitation Cor
campaign funds. and that in one case
where a contribution was rendered him
by another official he returned the money
and called attention to the prohibitions
of The civil service act in that connection.
Several others were interviewed by the
examiner, but no testimony was obtain
ed which was inconsistent with the truth
Of the above statements. 1t appeare-.
therefore that the evidence obtained did
not make a prima facie case OF intent on
the part of either Mr.. Ferguson or Mr..
Renshaw TO solicit or receive political
contributions from other Federal officials.
and the matter was accordingly dropped
yri,hout further action