The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-30
ROOSEVELT bEFR|EMOED TRUST
HITCHCOCK 10 GRANT
OKLAHOMA FRANCHISE.

Tdrt IN Granting Spec1al Privilege
In Oklahoma to Prairie Oil and
Gas Co., Against Which Haskell
Protested in Vain.
Washington, Sept. 25.-Investigation
at the interior department brought
forth the fact that the franchise to the
Prairie Oil and Gas company in Okla
homa was issued by Ethan Allen
Hitchcock, then secretary of the in
terror, as charged by Gov. Charles n.
Haskell.
1t further appears that Mr.. Hitch
cock granted the franchise unwilling
ly 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 inte-
rior department.
i After full discussion in the cabinet
meeting today it was decided not to
issue statement in reply to the hot
rejoinder which came from Gov. Has
kell, treasurer Of the Democratic ma
tional committee yesterday, in regard
to the Prairie Oil and Gas company
and other matters. The explanation
was given after the meeting that it
was deemed best to await any COM
munication that may come from MI.
Bryan by way of rejoinder to the pres
ident's letter Of last Wednesday,
The history of the Oklahoma fran
chise is as follows: The secretary. of
the interior was obstinate in his re-
fusal to issue the franchise, where
upon EX-SENATOR j. K. Jones OF Ar
kansas, former chairman Of the DEM
ocratic national committee, went 10
Oyster Bay. accompanied by his cli-
ent, T. M. Barnsdale Of Pittsburg and
saw the PRESIDENT Later Mr.. Jones
called on the president at Washing
ton.
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
Senator Depew, who expressed a de-
sire to see the State senator obliged in
the matter. Certain influential Re-
publicans In Indiana were also inter-
ested, among them Harry S. New,
chairman Of the Republican national
committee, who was in a company
that had sold its holdings to the Prai-
RE Oil and Gas company, and whose
contract wac in danger Of being i'm
paired 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 president for rea-
sons best known to himself, decided
that Secretary Hitchcock's objections
were not we'll founded and ordered
him to issue the franchise requested
by the Prairie Oil and Gas company.
There was no question at the time as
to whether the company was affiliated
with the Standard. Representations
were made by certain interested par
ties that Mr.. Barnesdale and his COL
leagues belonged to an independent
company. Subsequently the fact was
established that the Standard was the
real party in interest, as the president
now charges in his attack on Gov.
Haskell.
In the matter Of certain pipe line
privileges referred to in an interview
given out by GOV. Haskell today, the
records show that the permits were
granted by Secretary Garfield to the
Prairie Oil and Gas company last
April and that Gov Haskell entered a
protest at the time. He telegra phed
to Secretary Garfield, demanding by
what right he assumed to issue a per-
NIT to lay pipe lines within a sovcr-
eisn State. The secretary. according
to the records of the office, replied
that he exercised the right to grant
permits across Indian reservations
which are under his control, and that
he had issued no greater authority
than that.