The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-12-12
SECRETARY GRIMES
SEEKS TO EvADE RE-
APPOINTMENT
WRITES CORDIAL LETTER
To Secretary Of Interior,
That is All.

The publication in The Leader yes
terday of the detailed and suppressed
testimony in the sanitarium scandal OF
years ago, and which accounts for
changes in federal offices In Okla
homa, created widespread interest. not
only in Guthrie, but IN all parts of Ok
lahoma. Great speculation is mani
fest as to how The Leader got posses.
sion of testimony, which those inter-
ested thought was totally suppressed
and destroyed
Secretary Grimes denies that he has
resigned. He also denies that he ever
held stock in the asylum. Mr. Grimes
says he merely wrote the following let
ter not asking for reappoinsment:
Guthrie, okla, Nov 15. 1905.
Honorable Secretary of the Interior.
Washington. d. c.
Sir. It being but a short time until
my commission expires as secretary
for the Territory Of oklahoma. and not
being a candidate for re-appointment,
] desire at this time to thank the Presi-
dent and yourself for the commission,
and the confidence imposed at the time
it was given. Also to thank you for
the universal courtesies and fairness
shown in all business relations coming
before your worthy department
Wishing you both every successful
and public life. am.
Yours respectfully,
William Crimes.
The Leader wired its Washington cor
respondent. Otto Praeger, this morning
asking for confirmation of yesterdays
special saying that Grimes has resign
ed The following answer was re-
ceived:
Secretary Hitchcock says he has I,
the resignation of Grimes with letter
Of explanation
The Leader mas no further interest
in this matter than to give the news.
The Guthrie Capital" seeks to soften
the news" by saying the sanitarium
testimony was printed in The Leader
and al the other papers three years
ago. or course, this is untrue. Tie
Leader has 500 to pay any charitable
institution in Oklahoma II the testi-
money printed yesterday and today in
The Leader ever appeared before Ia
any newspaper The legislative inves-
tigation was secret The witnesses
We're sworn to secrecy ]. R. Cotting-
ham caused big rumpus in the com
mittee because, while be was willing to
testify, he refused to take the oath Of
secrecy. All the testimony was de-
stroyed 1t can not be found in the
Council Journal of 1908
Correction BY Mr.. MeNeal.
Mr.. ]. W. McNeal called at The
Leader onice today to make inquiry
regarding his testimony This is the
first time my testimony or that Of any
sanitarium witness has ever appeared
in print The testimony Is printed in
The Leader exactly as gave it to the
committee except in one instance, and
in that think the stenographer made
an error in transcribing. In answer to
the question Of jenkins If | thought it
would be wrong for him to own sani-
tarium stock / did not say that Il
thought there would be nothing wrong
in it," said this; Without answer,
ing your question / think you would
be severely criticised"
Mr. Grimes in a statement in the
Capital says all the asylum testimony
had been sent to Washington and
cleared up prior TO his appointment,
in May, 1901 The fact Of the mat
ter is. by referring 70 Leader files,
Grimes name was seat TO the Senate
January 9, 1902. by Mr Roosevelt The
asylum testimony was not taken until
February ls, 1908, although jenkins
had previously been removed for his
share ia the asylum muddle
In 1901 President Roosevelt said.
Everyone connected with asylum
scandal must 50" ana ii looks as
though the President is carrying out
his edict.