The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-03-25

nor Haskell fairly blisters that elemen
of partisan republicans, which through
= caucus pressure is endeavoring t,
cast a stigma upon the fair name o
Oklahoma, and recommends the pas
sage of a law making such an offens,
punishable by fine and Imprisonment
IThe message in full is as follows:
To the Honorable Legislature, State
Of Oklahoma, in Extraordinary
Session.
You have pending before you for
your consideration a bin to prevent
the spreading and contracting OF
loathsome diseases, by vaccination OF
otherwise, and / recommend that you
attach to said bin as a further means
OF promoting health, purity of life,
and the promotion OF the welfare of
the state, a section OF the following
general import:
When any person is serving upon a
jury in court or upon an investigat.
ing committee in any Legislature or
other public body of the state, where
questions of fact or law are being
considered, and a truthful report ac-
cording to the law, the facts and con.
science of the jurymen or members
of such committee Is required, that
pending such hearing, preparation of
the report or finding, and the consider
alton thereof, and until the final dis
charge of such jury or committee, il
shall be an offense against the the
peace and dignity Of the state of Ok.
lahoma for any person, or aggrega-
tion Of persons, whether as a party
caucus or a committee organization,
or as individuals, by threats, resolu-
tions suggestions or intlmations of
any kind, to influence such jurymen
or committee in any way relating to
the findings he may make upon such
questions of fact or law, and that the
punishment by fine and imprisonment
for such offense shall be the same
as in other cases of promoting Grim.
inal libel upon a citizen
| have deferred sending this mes
sage to your honorable body until
thus near the close of the session. as
/ desired not to have 1t interfere with
the pending investigation, but / can
not feel that | would do my duty in
for the future to sustain the
good name OF our state, unless | urge
upon you the importance of enactlng
such a criminal statute.
It cannot be said that | seek any
personal protection In this matter.
because my term will have expired
without future Legislative session, and
| can assert that 1t is solely
for the welfare OF the state that
urge this legislation.
The credit and conduct OF public
officers is the standard by which the
reputation of cur state is measured /
abroad. and therefore the reckless
of public officers is a +
stab In the baok-of
The state or community over which
hey preside and the time has come .
IN Oklahoma when this infamous
practice Of reckless villifying of pub
ic officers should cease, and when
We should imbibe more of patriotism
ind less of malicious recklessuess. TO
he end that when either political
,arty has prevailed at the election
md placed its candidates in office for
he ensuing term every honorable citi- +
ZEN will give honest and patriotic
upport to such officer, and the eiti-
en who would withhold such sup
,ort and reeldessly villlfy him can
lot too soon be stamped as a Grim
nal, and be punished for his unpatri.
tie conduct
There has been an investigation
sending now throughout almost this
nure session, and which has by rea
ON OF dlstracting the attention OF the
ntire body, and requiring the person.
J attention OF many Of your mem
ers has In itself been responsible
Or at least one-third OF the cost Of
be entire session Of your honorable
ody.
The hearings were had. the eyidencet
Introduced, the arguments made. and
sft 10 themselves the honorable com
littee would long since have rendered
Is report. but to the discredit of some
I those who claim to represent one
I the great political parties Of the
alton. they have presumed 10 make
he conscience. the honesty, the IN.
agrity of some of the members of
hat committee a matter OF caucus par.
Isanship. where the conscience OF
hose members could be banded about
nd voted upon as a partisan matter
y men who had heard no evidence.
tudled no facts, and were not re.