The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-08-30

WHY HE WAS FORCED OUT
Negro Domination Causing
Row in Republican Camp.

Since I withdrew from the race for
the nomination or register of deeds on
! Aug So n. | nave been overwhelmed
with protests against my action from
all over the county. / deeply regret
that ! found this action necessary.
end believe It is due the people who
express sech disappointment that they
be given my reasons for retiring. TIE
I beginning of the cause dates back to
De ember 1904 and January 3, 1905.
wacn. as register of deeds, ! appoint.
ed my deputies. ] first offered the
dcputyship 60 S. A. Williams, of Mar.
shall Okls His answer follows;
December is. 1904.
Mr. H. A. Herwlg,
Guthrie. okla
Dear Sir and Brother After Civ.
/ ing the proposition Of my appoint.
ment as your deputy due considera-
ton. I have come to the conclusion
that IL VIII be impossible for me to
serve you owing to the interests /
have al stake here I have given this
subject much thought since | last saw
you, and ! do not believe 7 would be
doing myself justice TO accept the
position. taking into consideration the
position ! hold here. the interests I
have In this business and the salary
l receive.
Il can assure you that 1t is with
deep regret that surrender this posi-
ton, but it is impossible for me to
serve you for the consideration
named But this one thing remember:
That If in the future | can serve you
in any way. I am ever at your service.
Hoping that my being unable to
serve you win not discommode you
in any way, remain,
Very truly, yours,
IS. A. WILLIAMS"
A few days after the receipt Of the
above. ! was waited upon by Mr.
Mabon. and in several interviews with
I him he wished to dictate to me the
4 policy Of my Office. | told him that |
should do exactly as ! pleased, that
! should do what I thought would be
| for the best interests OF our county
and our party, regardless of the ma
chine ! was given to understand then
and there that my official life was for
two years ard no more.
A few months after this Mr.. Win.
Jams. the writer of the above letter
became a candidate for my place, and
in an interview with him at the Elks
hotel he candidly admitted that he
was being groomed by the machine
for that purpose that he would split
the white vote with me and that the
colored vote would be handed TO him
/ in a package, which could easily be
done, because : refused to appoint o
colored deputy and thus beat me by
/ a good majority ! tried to reason
with him, but 10 no purpose. How
ever. he moved out of the county and
| the mantle was transferred TO W. v
Mexican. OF the same place. ! could
not very well see Mr. Mexican when
] FIRST heard of Il, and so wrote him
letter, Of which the following is the
carbon copy:
Guthrie, Oct. u, 1906
Friend McKean;
81 have received information from
several sources that you are fun
nedged candidate for register OF deeds
mex spring. can hardly believe II
IS true, and hope not, for It would moi
/ be just TO you, 10 me, or TO our party
which has always conceded a second
term nomihation TO Us first term Of
hcera
~Of course if there were evidence
that as an officer / had proven dis
honest, negligent, or incompetent, Il
would be the duty Of our party 10 re
/ fuse me further recognition But
/ after having made a record as an OF
/ fcer that all pronounce excellent. ant
having helped bring victory to the
\ Republicans in every campaign In the
histaory of our country Il would be en-