The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-06-05

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ed. Turner and Renfrow knS they
had cinch, they had absolute con-
troll of the Territorial boagd OF equall-
zation; by its simple acticH they could
bring every warrant TO par, and by
that action they could compel at their
pleasure. They were both bankers
and they held scores of thousands of
the public funds.
They went to work quietly and
bought M every warrant that could
be purchased and when they were
loaded TO the guards with everything
In the shape OF Territorial or munich
pal Indebtedness that they could buy
What did they do?
The Territorial board of equaliza-
tion met, equalized the valuation of
real and personal property OF the
Territory by taking Kingfisher coun.
~ as a basis, and raised the valuation
of the real estate in the Territory As
per cent and In many instances, more
than doubled the valuation of person.
al property, and by this simple ac
tion. eyerv warrant of every kind
which had been issued by the Terri
tory or any of Its subordinate munich
palties, was instantly brought to par.
IL was currently talked. and generally
be lieyed az the time. that the parties
in the scheme cleaned M between
two and three hundred thousand dol.
lars. II viii be remembered that the
| year 1895 for the reasons above given,
was a year OF peculiar hardship and
| distress throughout the Territory, and
| especially in the more newly settled
portions of It, and that this year these
public servants doubled Ehe burdens
OF thousands and tdis of thousands
of humble home-buiIders, not for any
public purpose. nor TO promote the
common veal but TO enrich them
selves AMI others who were let IN on
the ground floor of the scheme.
What about Turner's party loyalty?'
| believe he has generally been 10y
al to his party. | do not think he be.
lieved in the free silver doctrine OF
the party In 1896 or IN l900-but !
believe he was loyal 10 the party
IT is currently reported that Mr.
Turner supported Captain Stiles, the
Republican nominee for county treas
nrer In 1892, what if anything do you
know about the matter?'
Wen, | was here at the time and
took quite an active interest In the
campaign both in the Territory ant
county and was informed on party
matters and all affairs political.
Captain stiles, a very estimable
gentleman, was the nominee OF the
Republicans for county treasurer N
1892. There were two Republican
bankers In the city at the time Cap
tain Stiles was elected and Turner
captured and held the county deposit,
for his bank TO the chagrin, anger an,
modification Of Mr. Joe McNeal ane
the other Republican banker of IN,
city. They were hot and mad cleal
through understood and believed m
the time that Mr.. Turner siipbotte,
Captain Stiles for county treasurer Sd
his first race, In 1892, against IN,
Democratic nominee for the same OF
fee.
Captain Stiles was reelected and
have no doubt but that Turner sup
ported him In mis- second race as il
his first race.
Mr., Metcalf was a partner of Tur
lner in tho banking business. and
believe. claimed TO be a Republican
bur he was OF a modest, retiring dis
position and very reticent as 20 al
: fairs political and never meddled Will
such matters. Mr.. Turner ran mat
ters inside as Well as outside th