The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-29
TEDDY DID IT
Roosevelt Forced Standard o!1
Franchise on Oklahoma.
THE RECORD SAYS So.

1t Shows That Roosevelt Did Ezaeav
What He Charged Gov. Haskell
With Doing in the Prairie OIL and
Gas Company Matter Against the
Protest of Haskell and Hitchcock
A dispatch from Washington says
investigation at the interior depart
ment brought forth the fact thas
the franchise to the Prairie Oil and
Gas Company, in Oklahoma, was is
sued by Ethan Allen Hitchcock, then
Secretary Of the Interior, as charged
by Governor. Charles N. Haskell. IT.
further appears that Mr.. Hitchcock
granted the franchise unwilllngly,
and only after he had once refused
to do SO. When the Secretary did
grant it he yielded to an explicit In
struction from President Roosevelt.
The facts are matter Of record, in
letter files and elsewhere in the
interior department.
After full discussion in the Cab
met meeting today it was decided
not to issue statement in reply
to the hot rejoinder which came from
Governor Haskell, treasurer Of ths
Democratic national committee.
yesterday in regard to the Prairie
Oil and Gas Company and other
matters. The explanation was given
after the meeting that was deemeA
best to await any communication.
that may come from Mr.. Bryan bys
way of rejoinders to the Presidents
letter of last Wednesday. There
| is feeling also in some quarters:
that the President should have held
aloof from such a discussion as the
Prairie Oil and Gas Company affair."
The history of the OklahomH.
franchise is as follows:
The secretary of the Interior waa
obstinate in his refusal to issue thess
franchise, whereupon ex-senator j.
X. Jones, of Arkansas, former chaiY-
man of the Democratic national COM
mittee, went to Oyster Bay, accompa--
aied by his client, T. NJ. Barnesdale.
of Pittsburg. Later Mr.. Jones calleG
on the President. in Washington
Still later he was reinforced in his
demand for the franchise by State
ISerator Franchot, Of New York, who
who had an interest in the company
and Senator Depew, who expressed
desire to see the. State Senator
Obliged in the matter.
Certain influential Republicans in
Indiana were also interested, among
them Harry S. New, chairman of the
Republican national committee, who
was in company that had sold its
holdings 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 Pres
ident sent for Secretary Hitchcock
and asked him why he had not
granted the franchise. The Presi-.
dent, for reasons best known to him
self, decided that Secretary Hitch
cocks objections were not well found
ed and ordered him to issue tho
franchise requested by the Prairie
OH and Gas Company.
There was q question at the time
as to whether the company was az
fliated with the Standard. Repre-.
sentations were made by certain
interested parties that Mr.. Barnes
dale and his colleagues belonged to-
an independent company. Subse-
ouently the fact was established that
the Standard was the real party In
interest, as the President now.
charges in his attack on Governor
Haskell.
In the matter Of certain pipe line1
privileges referred to N an inter-
view given out by Governor HaskelE
the records show that the per-
mits were granted by Secretary Car
field to the rairie on and Gas Com
pany last April, and that Governor
Haskell entered a protest at the
time. He telegraphed to Secretary
Garfield demanding by what right
he assumed to issue permit to lay
pipe lines within q sovereign
State. The Secretary, according TO
the records of the office, rcplled
that he exercised the right to grant
permits across Indiana reservations.
which are under his control, ana
that he had assumed no greater au-