The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-30
AN uNPRovokEp. ArTAck.

AN uNPRovokEpS ATTACK.
The attack Of Senator Agee on The
Daily Leader It's editorin-chief, Mr..
Niblack, and his staff editors and rep
rescntatite IN the senate yesterday,
was the most uncalled for effort to
piacken the name OF men yet known TO
the history Of Oklahoma politics.
When we consider that the man who
made use OF the terms SO libelous
stood behind his constitutional liber-
ties-that a senator may not be called
to account for his utterances on the
floor of the senate, one can begin to
see how great the advantage taken.
Very little of all the diatribe had
foundation in the remotest sense CT
tAe term There had been no war be
tween The Leader and a single NOM
bcr Of the legislature. At no time had
The Leader been guilty OF even the
slightest attempt 10 misrepresent any
person IN either branch OF the legisla-
tive body
The story alleged 10 have been ped
died about to the effect that The
Leader was preparing TO attack Mr.
Ages was not even founded in the
mind Of any man. But two of The
Leader force had ever handled news
from the senate-Mr Niblack and Mr.
Kinds. Neither Of these gentlemen
had even considered the idea OF turn
ing loose alleged dogs OF war upon
q either Mr.. Agee or any other mem
Der OF the senate. No occasion had
been given for The Leader to even
sufmise a war was to be had That
the special committee of which Mr.
Agee was chairman and the state
printing board had disagreed as to
the measurement of work done by The
Leader was known. and the matter so
far as The Leader was concerned was
10 await the action OF the committee
and the board and then. If the con
tr0Rersy was not adjudicated, The
Leader. as announced in these col
umns, was going to leave the mea5-
nrement to experts OF the typographi-
cal union, which makes the rules re-
garding measurement
Right now let Il be said that The
Leader had no idea that Il was to be
used for a scapegoat of anyone. and
y had no more idea of seeking fayors
at the hands of the committee than
Il did OF applying for the position as
ianitor at the court house. II Is a fact
kHown to All that the constitutional
convention bill held by The Leader
against the state has not yet been
paid When the bill passed the house
and was sent to the senate. Leader
representatives asked Mr.. Stafford,
chairman OF the senate committee on
appropriations, TO report out the bill
Mr.. Stafford nor any other member
Of the senate can truthfully state that
support Of the bill was asked--it being
the desire TO get the bill passed. that
interest on the account be stopped.
As the bill was made when not another
printing firm in the United states
would do the work, and chances of
statehood taken for the money: also
that the legislature had waited four
months before even considering
payment-surely, yes, truly the pub
Usher had a right 10 ask consideration
OF the matter. And II was only nat.
pral bis staff representative in the
saey should be requested to speak
I'd. ST 3laffefd about the bill and when
aq#on thghf be expected All the
m@Fe nsNlfis true when Mr.. stafford
Is also a newspaper man, and knows
newspaper wants and the cost Of ,cBei.
ating
Permitting no member of the staff to
b. so much as Informed Of the charges
20 be made against The Leader and
without even so much as stating that
the publisher was to be branded with
vile epithets, the report was then only
offered and read. Immediately with.
drawn by motion Of Senator Hatchett.
leaving nos one thing before the sen
ate for reply by The Leader
Charged with grave offenses. bad
faith to party, committee. senate, and
through those mediums the entire
state, speeches made and sent broad.
cast 90 whoever may be secured 10
publish. the situation now stands
aboul like this.
Charged With forgery aud changing
of prices, publisher Vinified and de-
fed 10 attack report that Is not in
evidence or vtere q hearing con be
had other than by mere snfferanoe
staff editor who does not own a dol
lars worth Of stock IN the paper. az
his post d aQty pn -tl,s inress desk.
pointed out as' a eraft9f and eplthdts
addressed 70 him. unable 10 reply bn'
The floor Of theIseate f1n
Competing papers were kept In full
knowledge oi the caucus proceedings
and containing sensational articles
abont the action TO be taken. and The
Leader not even permitted a draft on
digest oi the charges.
There may be some motive behind
the attack and its authors not known
% The Leader; there may be some
who aid the Job for mere malice or 10
right some fancied mistake Of The
Leader. but there can not be Sc
much a. one reason Tor the broadside
OF assaults founded upon 70 other
theory OF being correct tnan dho board
aud COMMITTEES differed from The
Leader IN measuring work done tor
ne slate