The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-03

At that time he was practlclnS at
torney. He then bore the repu-
tation, among his brother lawyers
ard the judiciary OF his district, of
never trying to win case by chican-
cry or deceit, he never attempted
to impose upon the court. and no one
ever requested him to reduce to writ
ing an agreement with reference to
any case-his word was as good as
his bond
He soon became one of the lions"
! Il the Ardmore bar, a bar which has
produced some OF rne ablest lawyers OF
this state.
| At all times Mr.. Cruce YVES cour-
teous and obliging to the younger law
yer; however busy he might be, he
would gladly stop and apparently, took
genuine pleasure in helping, encourag-
ing ana aiding the struggling young
lawyer across the numerous. hidden
pitfalls over which his inexperienced
feet had to pass.
There is no man in the state OF Ok
lahOma who has been better friend
to the young lawyer than Lee Cruce,
ard no one is appreciated more by
the young lawyer than he.
About ten years ago, Mr.. Cruce re.
tired from the active practice of the
/ law and, by unanimous vote, was elect
ed president of the Ardmore National
bank,-.which in itself is a badge Of
confidence TO his personal integrity.
But few honest men, with any sort
of respectable collateral, was ever re-
fused loan by him and that, too, at
a legal rate of interest.
During his entire ten years presi-
dency of the Ardmore Bank, the court
records show there would not average
one law suit year,-an enduring mon
ument to the fair-dealing of Mr., Cruce.
The bank, of which he was presi-
dent, has increased in wealth and
power until it is now one of the strong
financial institutions of the state,
which is a lasting compliment to the
business sagacity of Mr.. Cruce and the
confidence his neighbors reposed in
him.
When the farmers of Carter county
desired to hold their cotton for bet
ter price, Mr. Cruce loaned them
money and that, too, at a very low
rate of interest, altho the nation was
having "a republican holiday" even to
the extent of drawing upon his own
private funds, which was an evidence
Of his friendship to the farmer.
Mr.. Lee Cruce has always been a
Christian gentleman and as clean
honest and sincere in his daily life as
the true minister.
Many people, bankers, farmers, la
borers. and from different professions
of life have gone, with confidence. to
Lee Cruce for advice, encouragement
and assistance in their various ven
lures and personal matters and none
however humble, or poor, but what
have been treated by him with kind
ness and courtesy and received from
him the very best advice and assist
ance.
Lee Cruce has, at all times been a
public spirited citizen, and Ardmore
owes much of her present eminence
to his matured judgment He served
us as alderman of our city, at finan
cial loss to himself, because our city
at that time was an infant, of but
few years age. And because our peo
pie desired a man of his ability and
patriotism to glide Ardmore around
the rocks of her first perilous voyage
Today Ardmore has the best system
cities are selfish enough TO have 4
o-oOo-oo-o~~~~o~-~~~o-~-o
that Lee Cruce is fearless and that
even as a boy this characteristic was
predominant in his makeup.
Lee Cruce has one aspiration polit'
ically. He desires to be governor OF
Oklahoma. 1t is a laudable ambition
It is one that combines no other with
it. He seeks no other office, asks
for no other preferment and will be
satisfied if his countrymen feel they
can accord him this honor. He makes
no claim to superlative superiority, he
simply says that he will do his duty to
the state and to the people.
His friends all feel that he will make
an ideal executive, that his admins
tration will be clean, honest and bust
ness like, that he will carry into the
executive office the same careful
painstaking methods that have made
h'1i the successful business man, the
conservative public servant and the
loyal promoter Of everything that is