The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-08-03
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any legitimate business concern.
'The Governors statement OF facts,
therefore. in the letter to the Secre-
tary OF State, is inc rrect and was
known to him to be incorrect at the
time he wrote the letter
His conclusion of law, that Mrs
Chambers Is disqualified to serve as
member of said commission is as
well known by him to be incorrect as
is the statement of facts.
The law provides that the mem
bers of the board shall have no 10
terest directly or Indirectly in any
contract that may be made and that
they shall receive no personal bene
fits therefrom and not be related to
any agents representing bidders.
Anyone having no interest in the
matter except that dictated by public
welfare win of course see that the
Is frivolous and that there is no dis
qualification.
THE law itself provides what shall
work a disqualification of any mem
ber of the commission. namely, that
40 member Of the commission is in
my manner interested directly or in
lirectly in such firm or corporation
snnhmittirs such bid. and according
20 the Governors own misstatement
i facts, his action, II il is correctly
reported, IS in violation of the law
md usurpation of power which he
loes not possess.
1T seems. therefore, perfectly clear
hat as the reasons assigned by the
ioyerncr are untrue. and as he
mows them TO be untrue, that he
must have some other reasons for his
iction.
For several days the well known
)ribe-giving representative Of the
american Book company has been
ionfidentialiy telling his friends what
he commission would dc.
1T is said that the Governor, who
vas present only portion of the time
When the commission was examining
ext books, has taken the most active
leadership when It came to voting and
has urged the sdoption of the Ameri
an Book coEpany's program. II is
eported that as the board was con
tituted there were four votes against
he American Book company. This
eing majority the program could
rot carry.
IF by this high handed manner he
an create a vacancy and fill it by an
ther appc intment, the effect OF the
transaction Is apparent to the public
nd every one can draw his own con
lusion."
Having noticed the above state
nent / Immediately sent the follow
ne telegram to Mr. Ames, which he
eceived but did not answer:
Guthrie, Okla, Aug. 1, 1908.
Hon c. B. Ames, Oklahoma City:
u have read yolit statement In this
lorning's Oklahoman. II y5u know
nything Of which any member of the
ext book commission has In any way
.olated the law, ] demand that you
nmediatey come before the board
nd present the facts AS to your
articular case, viii refresh your
lemory in few days by publishing
our own testimony.
&C. n. HASKELL,
Governor"
Pursuant to statement In said tele-
ram will refresh Mr.. Ames' memory
y publishing what was said and
tone before the text book commits
ion on the afternoon Of July 30;
he pending question being THAT
trs, Chambers, member of the
tate text book commission is the
life OF r. G. Chambers, a member OF
be law firm of Flynn & Ames, and
rat that law firm being the attorneys
or one OF the school book companies
,sfering books before the text book
ommission, that 1t was improper for
hrs Chambers to act as a member
+ the stale text book commission,
nd upon this proposition and the
question of fact pertaining thereto,
1r. Ames was called as witness,
when the following statements were
made. and contract of Flynn & Ames
Governor Haskell being
he chairman mentioned In the con-
fersation quoted:
Mr. Ames, of the firm af Flynn 4
Ames, was given a hearing, Mr. and
Mrs. Chambers being also present.
.MR. AMES: You asked me to
1ring my contract with the Maynard
Merrill people. | have il here, If you
would cate 10 see IL.
II do wish TO say that in my
Judgment, II does not in any way con-
sern this board, and in no way affects
my matter before the board, and yet,
since II has been requested, am
perfectly willing that It shall be
known. The contract between me
ana the Maynard-Merrill people Is
evidenced by this letter;
June 80, 1906.
Mr. NJ w. Robertson.
CulbersOn Building, City.
Dear Sir We acknowledge receipt
of $500, in payment. and We agree 70
render such legal services as the
Maynard-Merrill company desire be-
fore the constitutional convention and
committees thereof and before the
first legislature Of the state of Okla.
homa. which convenes therein, for the
additional compensation of $50 per
day and expenses. We accept this
retainer, with the understanding that
no member OF our firm shall be q
member OF the constitutional conven'
lion, or Of the first legislature.
Yours truly,
FLYNN & AMES.
want 10 say to you that in the
agreement we were not called upon
To render any services whatever be
fore the constitutional convention, ana
never came 10 Guthrie on business