The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-03
TELLS A STORY
OF The LOBBY
Col. Geo. D. 0rner, of Enid
Visited Guthrie.
RECALLED AN INCIDENT
Harry C. ST. Johns Case Gives
Him His Text
RECALLED AN INCIDENT

Guthrie, o. T., Nov Col eco. D,
Orner, of Enid, special agent for the
interior department for Oklahoma terri
tory, was in this city the other day. and
in conversation with friends he related a
curious story concerning the Third legis-
lative assembly, of which he was a mem
Der, as follows:
When the council and a house were
organized the Republicans had control
OF both bodies by small maJorities, and
John H Pitzer, of FL Reno, representing
the Fourth council district, was chosen
president of the council and c. NJ. Barnes
of Guthrie, afterwards governor of the
territory, and at present mayor Of the
Capital city. who represented the Four
teenth district, was elected as speaker
OF the house.
Matters ran smoothly until Speaker
BARNES was ready to announce the stand
ing committees of the house when a
snag was struck. There was great strife
for the Craftsmanship or cimmittees that
were to be allowed a clerk, and Harry C.
St John, Of Oklahoma City, represent
ing the Fifth district in the house, was
eagerly seeking the Craftsmanship OF the
judiciary committee. st. John was son
of q former governor of the state or
kansas. and prided himself on his know
ledge Of the law, had strong backing for
the place he coveted, and was sure or
winning But Speaker Barnes found II
necessary in the formation OF the COM
mittees TO give the judiciary chairman
ship to Robert Lowry, Of Saltwater,
representing the Twelfth district st.
John was greatly incensed at this action,
claiming it to be an affront that he could
not overlook, and began a movement to
overturn all of the speakers committees
and nave the body Of the house select
the committees.
Things wore a serious aspect for some
time and the outcome was uncertain,
when Councillor OIner, who was recog-
nized as the leader of the Republicans in
the council. held a consultation with
Speaker Barnes and asked the latter gen
tleman if there wa san arbitrary rule
governing the number Of committees that
he could appoint The speaker said there
was not, and that he had been governed
in making the committees by the action
of the last house, but II more commit
tees were needed he had the power to
name them
Col. Orner next saw the disgrunteed
St John and told him that it had been
decided to have a committee on Grim
.inal Jurisprudence" in the house, and
asked St John 10 accept the chairman
ship of the new committee. He told st.
John that the criminal Jaws of the ter
ritory badly needed revising, that this
work was the most important of the
session. and tickled st. Johns vanity by
remarking that as the greatest criminal
lawyer in Oklahoma, it was his duty to
accept and give the territory a criminal
procedure that would be model.
The bait took. Speaker Barnes ap
pointed u committee on criminal juris-.
prudence, ST. John accepted the chair
manship and ceased hos tilities and in
all the following legislative assemblies
there has been one more standing COM
nittee in the house than in the council
committee on criminal jurisprudenee-the
rules and committees of each body being
copied after the rules and committees
of the preceding assemblies.
'"rhe terrible domestic tragedy that
ended the career of st John is a part
of Oklahomas criminal history. An at
tempt was made during the session TO
repeal the law providing for capital nun
ishment. and the measure was sent to
the committee on criminal Jurisprudence.
St John was its most strenuous opponent
had an unfavorable report made. and
when the house took the matter up for
final consideration, made a long speech in
favor of retaining the death penalty. and
succeeded in having the bill defeated.
1t is a curious coincidence that shortly
after the Third assembly adjourned, st.
John, in a Mt Of jealous anger, murdered
his beautiful wife. at their country home
near Oklahoma City. and would have
probably have been tn first victim Of the
law he so successfully championed, had
it not been for the fact that he died
before his case came up for trial"