The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-28
DIsTRUsTED AT HOME.
HaskelI's Popularity in Oklahoma Is
Suffering


nor Haskell returns home he will find
the state talking only Of his resigna-
ton as treasurer of the national COM
mittee and public sentiment running
against him. His statement that ne re
signed to prevent embarrassment to
the Democratic party does not appeal
strongly to Oklahomans who are in
cllned TO be pugnacious and have look
ed upon Governor Haskell as 4 fighter.
They feel that. if he were innocent OF
the charges against him, ne you'll have
shown the genuine Oklahoma spirit by
retaining his position and fighting mis-
enemies to the last ditch. Unless
speedily exonerated, Governor Haskell
Will be hard pressed by his opponents
should he continue in the state cam
The Guthrie Leader Democratic). re-
garded as spokesman for Governor
Haskell, says editoriaIly:
Governor Haskell is neither lost nor
beaten. Long before the scattered local
opponents can gather their forces for
the ghost dance they were longing for.
the militant governor will have his
traducers in full retreat and the power
of his leadership will shine as brilliant
and as forcibfe for Democracy as ever
before. His Democracy is unquestion-
ed, his ability admitted and his intrepid
manner of aSsailing the trusts power
all along the front are necessary if We
are to gain the desideratum of all true
Democrats"
The Guthrie State Capital CRepubli-
CAM, suggests editorially that Gov
ernor Haskell should resign as COVER
nor. saying that if the charges against
him were such as to embarrass the
Democratic national committee to the
extent of making his resignation desir-
able the embarrassment Is just as great
to the people Of Oklahoma to retain him
as governor The Capital will ask
whether or not Mr.. Bryan. after let
nil >
him to direct his campaign for the
electoral vote of Oklahoma.
Partisan admirers and appointees of
Governor Haskell have telegraphed to
him expressions of their confidence in
his integrity.
News was received from Alfalfa
county that a. petition was being cir
culated there, signed by Democrats as
well as Republicans, asking Governor
Haskell to resign the governorship.
Governor Haskelrs alleged friendli-
ness to the Prairie Oil and Gas COM
pany. which he declared publicly is
the Standard Oil company, has been
campaign issue here for weeks.
The Prairie Oil and Gas company
purchases and transports through its
pipe lines crude oil for the Standard
from the Oklahoma field. To a limited
degree the company is a producing
company. operating number of oil
leases. The production in the Okla
the facilities of the Standard for trans
porting the oil. and private producers
soon found themselves in financial
straits, having borrowed money to drill
wells and getting no income to pay of
their loans.
These producers came to Guthrie and
appealed to Governor Haskell for help.
Vice President O'Neal of the Prairie
company was invited to attend the con-
ference. He came and proposed the
- v1fr Iiv,az
tain conditions, which were accomplish
ed by Governor Haskell. O'Nears pro-
posal was that his company should be
permitted to settle with owners of pri-
vate property for right of way and to
get permission from boards of county
commissioners for the use of the pub
lie highways. This was to obviate en-
tering the courts to condemn property
and raising the question of eminent
domain.
The constitution Of Oklahoma says
that the benefit of the right of emil
nent domain" shall be enjoyed only by
public service corporations that have
domestic charters, and elsewhere that
an oil pipe line is a common carrier.
The Prairie company operates as pri-
vate carrier in Oklahoma and is a for
eign corporation To domesticate would
force the admission that the company
is a common carrier and make IL Who'll
" amenable to all the rules and reg
ulationS OF the state corporation COM
mission, which are drastic
The Prairie company had steadfast-
ly refrained from becoming domestic
corporation. As a private carrier and
purchasing company it is in position,
by buying at its pleasure. to control the
price of crude oil. and eventually the
price of refined oil and its by-prod-
ucts.
When Governor Haskell agreed to
the Prairie company's proposal, the lat
ter began building its new lines. Chas.
West the state attorney general. Bit
terIy opposed to the Standard and its
methods, promptly brought suit to re-
strain the building of the lines, declar-
ing that the company was enjoying the
benefit of the right of eminent domain
in the use of the public highways,
which it could not do as a foreign
corporation. Governor Haskell at once