The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-08-03


never rendered any service beforg
this board and so far as it az
fected any action of any member o.
this beard. the idea is perfectly
ridiculous
II there is any further information
that I can give the bcHrd, or any
member, am here for Dat purpose
CHAIRMAN: This came up in this
way. Mr. Ames. Last night / was
told that Mr.. Chambers was one OF
your firm, and that your firm were
attorneys for one OF the bidders for
this supply OF school books for the
state.
l repeated the statement to Mrs
Chambers this morning. She said
that her husband was connected with
the firm, but that she knew nothing
as to the firm being attorneys for
any school book people. This is
about the substance Of it, and ! said
if | could see Mr.. AmeE / am satisfied
/ could find out as 10 the balance of
the statement. ThereupoH called
you over the phone and the conver-
sation between you and l, believe
was substantially as follows
asked If you were attorneys for
any school book people. You replied
that you were, and asked you what
firm, and you replied, Maynard
Merrill & Co" That was about the
substance of our first conversation
SIS | remember it.
MIR. AMES; That is correct.
CHAIRMAN: Perhaps half an
hour afterwards when Mr. Robertson
agent fer Maynard-Merrill & Co, was
talking TO you over the secretary OF
states phone, and ! happened in the
room, Mr.. Robertson said to me that
your services for the company as AT
torneys had terminated, and sug
gested that take the phone and
talk further with you, which / pro
ceeded to dc. You said to me tha'
your services did not include any
work before this state text book com
mission. then asked you. II the,
had a case. for example next week
requiring the services of an attorney
il you would expect to attend to tina
for them, aud as | understand 1t, yeu
said you would. That was about the
substance of our second and last talk
over the phone
MR.. AMES: With the exception
of the reference to this board. J
made no reference to this board
said For a period os several years
have represented this company, moi
on any annual retainer or regular
basis, but as matters arose in w1ici
they. desired the services Of a lawyer
they had given the busineFs 10 me
and that / presumed they would
continue to do so, and II they had any
business now they would call on me
That was true. ! would have thought
so until my further conversation viii
Mr.. Robertson this morning, and ,
want to say now that am a little
offended al what Mr. Robertson has
said TO me over the phone, and
said to him: Now, Robertson, let Us
understand each other. All services
that was to render under any Prev
ous contract have been rendered, ana
they are terminated Well, now;
step further: / will not take any iur-
ther business for the Maynard-M Mer.
rill company" | said that because
was somewhat offended at some OF
The things he said, and | would not
have said IT if | had not been offend
ed. and ss to that / want to say that
am perfectly free TO represent the
Maynard-Merrill people at any time
they desire my services in a proper
honorable, professional way, or any
other book company.
CHAIRMAN: You understand Mr
Ames. and every member of this
board understands, that l TOOK lhe
position this morning that the state
merit of fact made TO me Dy you
would be taken as true Now, we are
operating here under a law OF whlcn
section after section makes posi-
tive assertion against any interest,"
direct or indirect, any connectlon
with the book business, or any rela.
ton to people vino are connected
with the book business, and so tuii OF
assertions of that kind, and char
acter of official duty that IS SO often
subjected to criticism when there If
no ground for II that ! did not feel
warranted i'm proceeding here with
out a hearing, after It came to our
knowledge that an attorney for enc
Of the bidders bore the close relation
III husband 10 one of the members OF
the hoard. | do not believe thal
there is anybody on this board but
who believes that Mrs. Chambers
duties have been so far faithfully ana
conscientiousIy performed by her, bu'
for nv six members 10 believe that Is
not sufficient. There are hundreds ol
thousands of people IN this state whe
VIII be treated to al sorts OF adverse
newspaper statements, people who &c
not know. Mrs. Chambers, and there
fore are ready to believe newspaper
statement pointing to the relation
between herself and her husband
at least aore willing to believe
criticism than that they are TO De
ueve an honest declaration, and II
view of this position ! did not believe
we could afford 20 proceed.
OF course Mr. Chambers came into
this firm after that contract wa'
made, aad is not direct participant
hut here Is the way that The average
citizen will look at il. They VIII sa.
I"Of course, II Mayiiard and Merril
get no business in the state OF Okla
homa, they will have no use for
! LAWYER. as they viii have no ofilc'
here but II they do get a eonuae
there 10 this state they win continue
their business here. and pressure .
continue their need OF lawyer
a.. Ia ~ MOL