The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-09
LEE CRUCE REPLIES
TO M'NEAL LETTER
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR Gov
..ERNOR UNWILLING TO GO BACK
TO ANTI-STATEHO DAYS.

Declaring that the suggestions made
by j. w. McNeal, republican candidate
for governor, for the purpose of secur
ing fair count in the general election
this fall, met his hearty approval in
SO far as they are permitted under
existing law, Lee Cruce of Ardmore
democratic candidate for governor
addressed letter to Mr.. McNeal yes
terday in reply to the one directed 10
all the gubernatorial candidates by
the republican candidate several
weeks ago. Cruce apologies for his
delay in replying on the ground that
le has just returned from vacation
of three weeks in Colorado. After
asserting that the democratic party
has always opposed unfair elections
and corruptio", Cruce takes some hot
shots at the republican parry, declar-
ing that republican board in 1876
ruthlessly set aside the will of free
people, and placed a man in the high
whelmingly defeated. He also declares
that the election of 1896 was corrupted
by the use of millions and that in Ok
lahoma territory the late Cross bill
was counted out. Cruce then refers
to the pledge of fair election law in
the democratic platform adopted re-
Gently and to the pledge of the repub-
lcan state platform of return to
the election machinery in force be-
fore statehood AN election machin-
cry under which," says the Cruce let
ter, the most flagrant outrageous dis
honesty was not only possible but was
actually perpetrated." Cruce states
that McNeal intimated in his letter
that the nomination of both the dem
ocratic and republican candidate was
tainted with fraud and declares that
IL he thought for a moment that his
nomination was secured by fraud or
unfair means he would return the
nomination to his party and that Nc
Neal would do the same. Cruce
states that Chairman Fred Branson of
the democratic state committee re-
signed as chairman of the state cleo
ton board upon his election as chair
~, ott 70
paper reports that the national repub-
lican committee has contributed $15,-
600 to the republican campaign in Ok
lahoma Cruce says he will agree to
any plan that does not violate the
election law of Oklahoma, but that
the candidates by agreement have no
more right to repeal election laws of
the state than a mob has 10 try to set
aside the laws providing for jury trial.
Cruce states he is willing to allow
each party two watchers or more at
the polls to insure a fair count and
states that the present law allows one
watcher for each party. He also
agrees to the plan of having carbon
copies of the tally sheets given to the
election clerk and inspector and
charges the republican party with de-
feating a proposed amendment to ths
election law permitting three carbon
sheets to be made, one for each men,
Der of the election board. Cruce con
cludes his letter as follows:
When elected governor. shall try
20 honestly carry out the platform
pledges of my party by continuing to
stand for fair primary and general
election law that will insure a fair
count and will provide a sufficient
penalty for the dishonest man who
violates it, but l will never agree to
return TO the election machinery in
force prior 70 statehood as you are
pledged to do by your platform"