The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-02-18
HASKELL
EXPLODE:s
SENSATION
SHOWS UP MARIS, WHO
FILED CHARG E S, AS
SIMPLY A CATSPAW
JUDGE J. \. BURFORD
THE REAL IASTIGATOR
Questions Tend TO Show For
mer Chief Justice Is STANDARD
OIL Attorney

A real sensation was interiected intc
the inquiry into the Republican cnarg
es against Governor Haskell, the bank
ing board, school land department
ETC, this morning when the governor
through a series of hypothetical ques
tons, demonstrated that Maris really
had nothing to do with the filing OF
preparation of the charges, but that
Former Chief Justice John II. Bur
ford, of Guthrie, had prepared them
and that he had done so from motives
entirely foreign to those generally
believed.
Did you know the governor asked
Marls, that the charges you swore
to were prepared by an attorney for
the STANDARD Oil company?'
Maris replied that only Judge Bur
ford, and possibly win Chappell, had
had anything to do with the prepara-
ton of the charges.
Burforo And Standard Oil
Did you know, Mr.. Maris," aues-
toned Governor Haskell, that when
Burford prepared those charges he
was and had been for two years an
attorney for the Standard Oh COM
pany?"
Maris replied that he did not.
GO to the records of the courts
here and You will find ont" said Gov.
e'nor Haskell.
Governor Haskell then proceeded in
series of further questions, first 10
show that MaTis really knew nothing
about the charges: that be had made
no attempt TO investigate the charges
before he had filed them: had not
been to any of the parties implicated
10 ask them to explain anything about
the various items expended. and did
rot know whether Lawer was book
keeper, lawyer or detective. Cover
ror Haskell further showed that the
Republican charges were not properly
sworn to. and that those preparing
them had lodged the requirements OF
TIE resolution appointing the inyesti-
eating committee
Haskell Confounds the Opposition
Il knew this all along" ssid Gov
ernor Haskell, "but have no objections
10 offer. The charges were never
sworn 10 by Mr., Maris, but since the
matter was up | desired an inyestiga-
ton SO that the public might have
The real facts, and for that reason en-
tered no objections to their insuffi-
clency.'
Maris, in proof of the governors
stand testified that he had not sworn
10 the charges. but had merely made
an affidavit, which was attached.
Clark, the Republican attorney, said
that Governor Haskell had never
sworn TO his answer in denial of the
charges, and that if the governor
would take oath to thon. ne would
withdraw f,om any objection MS 10
the insuillciency of the Maris charges
Governor Haskell Immediately de-
manded TO be sworn, and took oath
to all the allegations Of denial in his
answer, and Clark subsidized.
Checknated Giusntic Merger
Governor Haskell's question to Maris
Brought out, in addition TO Bu-ford s
alleged connection with the Standard
OIL company, matter tending to show
that Lawler and o. T. Smith had as
sisted the governor in checkmatlng a
proposed gigantic merger by the
Standard Oil company Of all gas and
oil production OF the state. which was
contemplated early in 1909. Governor
Haskell asked Maris If he knew that
the Standard oil was attempting to
control or was controlling, all the gas
pipe lines taking gas out OF the state
and all the oil pipe lines OF any mag
niiude. and had intended to use this
control as a basis for creating an inl-
mense monopoly in the oil and gas
business OF Oklahoma, and that Bur
ford, as atiorneyifoy the STANDARD Oil
company, had through the Republican
charges. sought revenge by attacking
The etery expenditures by which tfiin
proposed monster merger had, iIbpart,
for the time been defq2ted ai,od 9Hl "a
!. Governor Haskell asked other qnes.
tiors tending TO show that Jrdge Bur
ford had kept his son, aged "A. on the
Federal pay roll for services hard 10
determine: that there had been i'm
mense printing gratis in which the
Guthrie State Capital had been lmpli-
Gated: aud that the state had already
recovered many thousand dollars from
the defunet Capitol National bank OF
Guthrie through the very operations
OF Lswler which the Republican
charges woula epnaenln.
Lawler, the Oklahoma City detec'
tive. was not present this morning
ard Representatives. wortman and
Dixon were appointed q. subcommittee
10 70 down and take HIS testimony.