The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-11-12
HASKELL TOORDER
PROSECUTIONS
Statement intImates Action May Be
Taken Against Men Who Tried
to Intimate inspectors.

Oklahoma City, Nov 12.-Governor
Haskell has issued a statement in
which he intimates that prosecutions
are likely to follow of federal deputy
marshals and higher officials who are
alleged to have sought to intimidate
election inspectors in last Tuesdays
election and advised ignorant negroes
to 60 to the polls, armed If necessary.
The governors statement is as follows:
THE people Of Oklahoma have en-
acted election laws and established
qualifications for voters such as the
majority of the people of the state
have a right to do and as best suited
the will of the people The so-called
grandfather clause can not be called
a partisan measure as its adoption last
August represents not only demo
cratic votes, but thousands and thou
sands OF republican votes. AT any
rate II was the win Of the people
There was ample time given before
election day for any one desiring SO
to do to legally question every fea-
ture of that law and the method of its
application, and the courts deter
mine the same, and when the repubIi-
can political machine waited until cleo
tion morning and then sought to terrify
election officers by the aid Of the Unit
ed States marshals and attorneys this
Twas an outrage upon the sovereign
Estate Of Oklahoma that must not pass
lby without proper attention.
Amy officer of the federal govern
Iment acting within the limits Of his
AUTHORITY should be respected, aided
land assisted by every loyal citizen Of
the state, but when such officers abuse
and exceed their official authority and
seek to use the name Of our great gov
eminent of the United States for dirty
political purposes they become the
most heinous offenders possible. I
Ihave sworn proof before me that such
tIofiicers, and 7 regret to say even higher
lofticials in a multitude of cases adj
lvised ignorant negroes to go to the
polls armed and vote by force If nee,
essary and 20, ignore and resist state
Authority. n the evidence before our
district court on grand Jury shows
Isuch state of facts that officer should
|be indicted and the high character OF
the Office that he has abused has no
Iprotection for him.
again. If it is true that district at
ltorneys or assistant district attorneys
lgave out letters of advice to the effect
that mere affidavit was conclusive
levidence Of the right Of negro to
vote who might be in the disqualified
Eclass, that statement is not the law,
and such district attorney or assistant
district attorney was without authority
Iof his Office to make any such state
Iment, much less to give it out for gen
leral public effect, and If he did SO, con
lspiring with others to have this effect.
lintimidate state election officers he is
likewise d proper subject for imme
ldiate investigation Of our state courts
and grand juries
an short the men OF intelligence
who advised the ignorant class to riot
lous conduct, false swearing and voting
in violation of our state laws. are the
livery men who should be prosecuted
Iunsparingly. If lenieaey Is shown, let
lit be to the ignorant class who were
Imisled BY the unwarranted and unlaw-
lful advice Of fnen of greater intelli-
lgence
1T will not do to pass by unnoticed
these efforts to destroy the will of
the people by nullifying and abusing
the election laws that they have adopt
ed, nor must the intelligent class be
Excused and ignorant class punished;
and In the class that must be dealt
with to preserve the dignity Of the
state and the win of the people are
few reckless neWspapers that were
$50 reckless as to openly publish ad-
vice to the ignorant to go by armed
force and violate, the Law, incite mur-
der, riot and bloOdshed. This high
handed practice by those who should
advise peace and l&ulul conduct must
lbe vigorously punished and condema
fa1