The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-10-16
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4. F:AKE:

The story from j. A. Biddison.
speaking at Tulsa which created a
sensation was:
"A man came into my Office
this afternoon for the purpose OF
discussing the formation OF cor
poration TO pipe gas from Okla
homa TO st. Louis. He said. With
out the slightest hesitation; We
have seen the governor and It's
all right as far as he is concern
ed
Governor Haskell was appriscd OF
the Blddison statement while he was
in Kansas City by Editor Strykcr OF
the Tulsa Democrat. aud the appended
telegram came that same day;
Kansas City, Mo-, Oct. 10, 1905
Mr. Stryker, Editor Democrat
Tulsa, Oklahoma
No sir: gas cannot be piped
out of Oklahoma. The only
man who interviewed me on this
subject said he was reporter
for the ST. Louis Post Dispatch.
and I told him emphatically I
would not allow It to be done
under any circumstances.
c. y. HASKELL"
James Kirkwood Of Guthrie was
present when the man presumably a
capper for the Republican committee)
was in conversation with Governor
Haskell In fact Mr.. Kirkwood did
the talking about the gas and oil
fields having so recently investigated
them for the governor. His letter fol-
lows:
Editor Leader:
In the Capital of October 18th ap-
pears an article eaptioned, IT'S All
Right With Haskell"
The article was under Tulsa date
line OF the previous DAY containing a
purported statement from Judge Biddi
son in which he quotes n ST. Louis
Business Man who wac said to have
been talking to the judge with the
purpose of organizing a company TO
pipe gas from our Oklahoma fields 70
the great manufacturing district in
and around ST. Louis. IN the conver-
sation the ST Louis man was said TO
have made the bald statement as cap
TONED abOve--by inucndo seeking TO
convey the meaning Governor Haskell
was ready 10 repudiate former posi-
tions and bctray the efforts OF our peo-
pie to secure factories that we may
build MP q great manufacturing dis.
trict IN oklahoma
over my signature wish TO state
that Judge Biddison or the alleged
5t Louis Business Man made a
statement so false it does not seem
possible any sort of human would at
tempt to convince sensible people Of
It's truthfulness
"A man representing himself as q
gas expert from ST. louis talked with
various citizens. representing 10 me
that II was his purpose TO make a
thorough investigation and report hia
findings TO the men whom he repre-
scented he said TO me he wanted 10
know how The chief executive stood
on thc matter. being much Interested
TO know whether he could talk with
Governor Haskell; if the latter would
see him. Later he aud ! were present
in the governors Office and the sub
ject Of gas supply and strength was
discussed. IN a sort OF a random man
AiEls AtAA AAh AlAA ANAf CT otHAAhiA = AhAhN
statement tc effect that Oklahoma
had all the, gas required 10 run the
country west OF the Mississippi river
(not certain as TO stating Mississippi
or Missouri. The stranger asked me
about the Hogshooter gas pool, and
enthusiastically said ] believed il could
supply ST. Louis for seventeen years
from one days loW Governor Has.
kell had been OUT OF the room and re-
turned at this time, and the stranger
asked many questions. always in q
manner TO show he was really de-
sirous OF information for his employ
ers. Finally he said;
Governor ST. Louis needs some
Of your gas. and am here TO see
Il any arrangement for Bas
pipe line through to our city can
be made
Governor Haskell looked the visito!
: full IN the face and his rcply Is almost
verbatim appended:
you can not have blank foot
! OF Oklahoma gas outside of Okla
homa; save the tank ear might be
used bul that Is Impractical
The law Is very plain on that
topic-if Il were not ] would call
+ a special session and our people
would soon have law that
would be effective"
The visitor left and this, although
hard to believe. was The man WHOM
Jrdge Blddison declared had gone 4
Tulsa and pledged the good will Of ih'
governor OF this state for "A venture
requiring extraordinary capital an,
In direct violation OF law!
There was not a scmblance Of hav
Ing obtained Osher than the quoted
statement from Governor Haskell b.
( the parsonage quCsed by Biddison, IN,
n'ddis0n, IN Inv opinion knew II wei
&teu he made such wild statement II
that speech making fest
80 ue n appeais as If the sOun'
man claiming n ben resident of 81
Louis was hrt d SioohrigcOn from
Republican head lunrlFrs How gls'
! am that on thar dly ! was permitted
through fate 10 De present that J ma.
nov threw into the teeth Of biddisoi
bis infamous mcsadge- bis attempt 4
siandcr a citizen bat be might tor
little time abide in the playhouse o
famc