Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-09-28
HASKELL FOuGHT FRANCHISE
FOR PRAIRIE COMPANY, But
3 ROOSEVELT INSISTED ON THE
GRANTING OF IT-INvEsTIGA.
TIoN AT INTERIOR DEPART
MENT INDICATES OKLAHO-
MAS GOVERNORS ACTION.

partment yesterday brought forth
the fact that the franchise to tn
: Prairie Oil and Gas company. in
Oklahoma. was issued by Ethan AL.
len Hitchcock. then secretary of the
interior, as charged by Governor
Haskell.
1t further appeared that Mr.
Hitchcock granted the franchise un-
willingly. and only after he had
once refused 10 do so.
When the secretary did grant 4,
he yielded to an explicit instruction
rom President Roosevelt. The
facts are matter of record, in let
ter files and elsewhere in the inte-
rlor department.
After a full discussion in the cab
met meeting, Il was decided to IS
sue statement IN reply to the hot
rejoinder which came from Govern.
or Haskell. treasurer of the Demo
cratic national committee, Thurs.
day, jim regard to The Prairie Oil
and Gas company and other mat
tiers.
AWAITS BRYAN'S REJOINDER
The explanation was given after
the meeting that it was decided at
the meeting that it was deemed best
to await any communications that
may come from Mr.. Bryan by way
OF a rejoinder to the Presidents let
ter OF last Wednesday There is a
feeling even within the cabinet cir
Gle that the president cannot af-
ford TO carry on daily a heated col
loquy with politicians in the cam
paign, and It was deemed wiser for
to make "one bite of the cherry"
and say what he had to say in a
single statement. 1t is assumed in
the White House council chamber
that Mr. Bryan will surely come
back to the controversy.
A There is a feeling also In some
! quarters that the president should
have held aloof from a discussion
of the Prairie Oil and Gas company
affair. The history of the Oklahoma
1ranchlSe Is as Follows:
The secretary OF the interior was
obstinate in the refusal to issue the
franchise, whereupon ex-senator j.
K. Jones, of Arkansas, former chair
man OF the Democratic National
committee, went to Oyster Bay. ac-
companied by his client, T. NJ
Barnsialc. .: PittsbuIg. am saw
the president Later Mr.. Jones
called on the President In Wash
ington.
Still later he was reinforced in
his demand for the franchise by
State Senator Franchot, OF New
York, who had an interest in the
company. and by Senator Depew,
who expressed a desire to see the
state senator obligated in the mat
ter.
HARRY 8. NEW INTERESTED
Certain influential Republicans
in Indiana wers also Interested
among them Harry 8. New, chair
man OF the Republican national
committee who was in company
that had sold it's holding to the
Prairie oil and Gas company, and
whose contract was in danger Of
being impaired by the refusal Of
Secretary Hitchcock to ratify.
After several conferences the
president sent for Secretary Hitch
cock and asked him why he had not
granted the franchise. The pres
ident. for reasons, best known to
himself, decided that Secretary
Hltchcock's objections wero not we'll
founded. and ordered him to Issue
the franchise requested by the Prai-
rie Oil and Gas company.
There was a question at the time
whether the company was affiliated
with the Standard. Representa-
lions were made to certain interest
ed parties that Mr.. Barnsdale and
his colleagues belonged 20 an in
dependent company. subsequently
the fact was established that the
Standard was the real party in in
terest as the president now charges
in his attack on Governor Haskell.
HASKELL MAKES PROTEST
In the matter Of certain pipe lines
privileges. referred to in an inter
view given out by Governor Has
kell, the records show that the per-
mits were granted by Secretary Gar
field to the Prairie oil and Gas
company last April, and that Gov
ernor Haskell entered n protest al
the time. He telegraphed TO Sec
rotary GARFIELD demanding by what
right he had assumed 30 issue a
permit to lay pipe lines within a
sovereign state. The secretary. &C
cording to the records of the office
replied that he exercised the right
to grant permits across Indian res
ervations, which were under his
control, and had assumed no great
er authority than that.
USE MONITOR PULVERIZED.
m -...fft., al "a