The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-04-28

usurious rates of interest and thus
yourself been a constant violator oI
the usury law?'
My answer is-No.
am not the principal owner OF the
ArdmOre National Bank, but own less
than one fourteenth II the stock of that
bank. Since the organization of that
bank IN September LIST. 1901, we
have made 1853 loans, the great ma.
jority Of which have been made to
farmers and laborlng men. During
that time not one complaint Of usury
has ever been made against the Ard
more National Bank. Today ninety.
nine per cent Of the men who have
borrowed money from the Ardmore
National Bank. and whom you charge
me with mistreating and robbing, are
supporting me in the race for gov
ernorship. As further proof upon this
question. | submit the following state.
ment:
I'VE the undersigned farmers resd.
ing in Chickasaw Nation, Indian Ter
ritory, state that we have had busi.
ness transactions with Lee Cruce, the
president of the Ardmore National
Bank, located at Ardmore. Indian Ter
ritory; that We have borrowed money
from s1id bank and have negotiated
the loans through him as president;
that in all our business transactions
with him. We have found him to be
upright. honorable and fair. That the
rates of interest charged have been
reasonable and legitimate and have
been as low as the interest rates
charged by any institution in this sec
tion of the country and lower than is
charged by the great mass = private
money lenders. In all our transactions
with Mr. Cruce we have found him to
be imbued with a spirit of absolute
fairness and his efforts in the bank
ing line in our community have been
along lines looking t. cementing the
friendly relations existing between
the farming classes and business IN
terests of this community. We make
this statement voluntarily and as a
simple act of justice to Mr. Cruce.
Very respectfully.
J. w Martin, Woodford, |. r., J. J
Taylor, Ardmore, /. T.; f. T. Melon
aid. Deese. l. T.; w. B. Weaver
Glenn, I. T.; Chas. II. Davenport,
Glenn. |. T.; w. ]. Pollock. Sneedi l.
r; w. McElroy, Lone Grove, |. 7; j.
J. Eaves. Elk, I. T.; l.. o. Majors
Elk, |. T.; Il. II. Pool, Elk, n; II. l..
| .awrence, Elk, |. T.; f. Gaunat Elk
|. T.: Sam Mccartney, Elk, |. T.; r
ID. Freeman, Elk, 7. T.; w. w. VIII
liams, Fox, |. r.: G. L. Doughty, Elk,
I. T.; V. S. Doughty, Elk, |. T.; NJ
A. Cook. Elk, 7. T.; w. ]. Elivens. Elk,
|. T.: II. +. Blivins. Elk, |. T.; S. T.
Blivens, Elk, |. r.; ]. L. Harmon, Elk,
|. T.; J. ID. Payne, Ardmore. !. I.
Second: "Is 1t true that when the
liberal spirited people of Ardmore
first began the effort to establish free
public schools there so that the chill
drcn whose parents were unable to
send them away to private schools
could have the benefit ~ commo"
schools, that you vigorously opposed
them until your neighbors defeated
your opposition? Did you nSt vote
against and oppose the establishment
Of city public schools in Ardmore|
To these questions I answer-No.
| am, and always have been, an ar
dent supporter II public schools ana
as an alderman in the town OF Ard
more | supported and voted for every
measure looking TO the Improvement
of the public schools OF Arfmore'
During the less than two years in
which | was alderman, the term OF
the public schools in Ardmore was
heightened. When ! was
elected as alderman In April, 1899, no
provision had been made for public
schools. The ordinance establishing
public schools was passed within six
weeks after my election. As alder
man, | prepared, introduced, and help
ed to pass an ordinance establishing
public schools in Ardmore. There has
never been an effort toward the ad
vanc mert of our public school sys-
TEN that | have not advocated; as
will be attested to by every man In
Ardmrre who knows me.
As further proof upon this question
| submit the following documentary
evidence:
"Ord lance No. 67. An ordinance to
provide for the establishment OF free
schools in the City of Ardmore.
Be it ordained by the City council
OF the City II Ardmore.
Section No. l. That there shall
hereafter be maintained in the city
a ~ 90 fro