The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-30
GRIMES HAS SAY
ABOUT THINGS
Thinks as Member of Board
He Has Rights.
TALKS OF FACTI0NALlSM
FIynn and Mcclure Took No
Part in the Deal

Guthrie. O. T., Aug. 29--While no names
were mentioned n the editorial which re-
Gently appeared in the watonga Repuo-
rca, Governor Fergusons paper, on the
alleged effort Of a few persons around
"a certain territorial Office TO show tAat
the appointment of Fred J. Wenner as
secretary OF the territorial board Tor
leasing school land was not satisfactory 10
politicians. il has been generally believed
b. the politicians and others who take
an active interest IN territorial a1eirs that
sbe Republican referred 10 Wlilam
Crimes. aecretary Of the territory, ana
member of the board for leasing schoof
land. Governor Ferguson has neither de-
,ied nor confirmed this. BELIEF, nor IS Il
known that he wrote the editorial in his
paper. bat the supposition has been that
he cid 50. The very fact that It appeared
sn his paper gives credence 20 the idea
that it was printed with MS SANCTION
In fact. Governor Ferguson has not dis
cussed the editorial 10 any extent with
newspaper correspondent. preferfing TO
allow the public 10 draw It's OWN conciu-
eions from the statements made IN the
Republican The editorial has caused
much discussion pro and con, and 1t ap-
pears that the end is not yet Gov
ernor Ferguson, personally, is satisfied
with his action in selecting Secretary
Wenner. and believes that any alleged
criticism Of the appointment should cease.
However there are other members Of the
board. Of which Secretary Grimes is one
and If there has been criticism from any
source. the argument is used that it is
in accord with the American IDEA Of
free speech"
When asked today what his ideas are
concerning the numerous newspaper re
, ports relative TO the recent actions Of the
board. Secretary Grimes said:
IF one-half had been given to the
press that has been generally discussed
by various newspapers, enough has al
ready been said. There seems, however,
one thing the public in general is not
clear on, and that is that the present
school land board is a creature of the
law and consists Of the governor, aud
itor and secretary Of the territory and
any act or selection Of an employe be-
longs to the board and not to any indi-
viduaI Any opinion that I may have
had regarding the selection Of a secretary
Of the board was one Of my 7reroga lives,
and / cannot see wherein l could be ac-
cused OF trying to usurp the power of the
governor, or anyone else, or be charged
with political interference or of being
dictatorial.
Another thing, by the way continued
secretary Crimes, seems to have been
t1,f h. &c
not apparent to ne why any person or
newspaper should place Mr.. Flynn on one
side ana Mr.. Mcguire on the other as fac
tionaiists in desiring to control the gov
ernor's appointments. To my knowledge.
Mr.. Flynn has not suggested any mem
ber Of the present administration, nor on
the other hand have [ heard that Mr..
Mcclure made such suggestions. nor do
] know that either desired to do so. In
fact, great deal or all Of this reported
factionalism is imaginary any way
While l. or any other beneficiary Of the
Republican party 10y appointment may
not be under any obligations TO any par
ticular Individual or member of the Re
publican party for his selection. Yet I
feel that we are all under many obliga-
tions. just the same, 20 the party gener-
ally. It is cur duty TO see that every
thing IS done conducive to party har-
mony and interest and that any homes.
dinereree of opinion should not be given
out in manner to create any impression
that there is factionalism and strife
within the party. among its officials,
when such is not the case.
In the newspaper discussions entered
into concerning the school land board and
its action in appointing a secretary, 1
have had no part The allegation going
the rounds that I have attempted 10 die
tate TO. or have inspired newspapers. rel
Rtive 10 matters political, is entirely I'M
FOUNDED. and is perhaps the result OF a
vivid Imagination. It is not supposed
that the opinions of people are always
the same. and / see no reason why that
fact should be paraded before the hubble
in any newspaper