Weekly journal-miner., 1909-02-17

other members of the party in this | legislature. No member of the party
 will so far stultify himself as to vote
 with the few Republican members to
 sustain the governors veto should one
 be made.'
 It would seem almost futile, in view
 of these things, for me to return this
 bill without my approval; and that 1t
 might have been the better course for
 me to have remained silent, and to have permitted 1t, passed as 1t appears | from the journals of the respective houses by the votes of more than two thirds of the members of each house. | to have become a law without my sig
 nature. But I deem the public wei | fare to be of incOmparably more con cern than any delieacy of hesitation
 might feel in writing this message of approval, and l cannot permit myself
 to appear of record to even negatively i approve of this legislation or the mo-
 tives that prompted it.
 As to the imputation that the Rang CT Force has been used or that any at tempt has been made to use it by the appointing power as a political instru- ment, I have this to say in defense of that force.
 When I became Governor, Captain Rynning was Captain of the Rangers I did not then know what his political affiliations were, and I did not in quire. Later when vacancy occurred in the office of Superintendent of the Territorial Prison, I appointed Cap tain Rynning to that office. Captain Wheeler was then the Lieutenant of the Rangers. I did not then know to what political party Lieutenant Wheel CT belonged. Upon investigation I con- cluded that Lieutenant Wheeler was well qualified to be Captain of the Rangers and I appointed him to that office. For more than two years after that I did not know what his politics were, and then only casually learned them. I have every reason to believe that he was and is Democrat; have never discussed the matter with him, directly or indirectly. Never at any time has there been made a direct or the most remote suggestion by or com ing from me or by him to me or by anyone with my knowledge, consent or approval, to Captain Wheeler as to his opinions, his attitude. his action or his speech, past, present or future, in rela- ton to his politics or those of any other person.
 Lieutenant Old was at the time of his appointment a Sergeant of the Rangers. Upon the recommendation of Captain Wheeler I promoted Sergeant Old to be Lieutenant. I knew nothing then of Lieutenant Old's political sf filiations and l know only by reputa- bo .s, T never have said or written to Lieuten- ant Old word on the subject of poll ties, directly or indirectly, nor through any agency whatsoever.
 I do not think I know personally half a dozen of the Ranger Force, and I never had any communication with any of them in any way upon political matters.
 The Ranger Force consists of about twenty officers and men and I do not know the political affiliation of half dozen of them Upon inquiring since this matter has been discussed have been advised that out of the twenty at least seventeen are Democrats. I personally do not know of a single Republican among them
 The appointments to that force and the discharges from it, while the com missions and discharges had to have the signature of the Governor have all l ways since my inconsistency been made i by Captain Wheeler without sugges- tiOn. recommendation or interference by me ia any way whatever 1 do not even consider applications for ap- pointments to that force-such as may come to me are transmitted by me to !. the Captain without suggestion of my wishes If I had any in the matter. | And no Ranger or force of Rangers , has ever been stationed at any place. or removed from one place to another l for any purpose connected with any election except, l believe, upon one Oc-I casiOn when l directed the sending of | a Ranger to preserve order, the dis turbanee of which was threatened dur ing the local Optioh election and where it was represented that the local of, ficers were either incompetent or dis inclined to preserve 1t. I have always i refused to comply with requests of ! which many have been made, to sta tiOn Rangers at given points during general election
 l have had every confidence in Cap
 
 have retained him, and I have left to nim absolutely the selection of the men of his service with no condition whatever imposed upon that selection. I have deemed the Ranger Force as one that should be above all others absolutely free from political infu- ence, and so long as I have been Gov ernor it has been. In that to a large extent lies it's grestest efficiency. It is free from political influence in the manner of its selection; it is absolute ly independent of any local patronage or influence.
 I hear that substitute for the Ranger Force by providing for tae se- lection of such force in the several counties by the Sheriffs and Supervis- DTS, is proposed.
 I can conceive of no worse manner of the selection of such a force. The contest for the Sheriff's office in ev cry county is the storm center of local politics. More bargaining, trade and
 I