The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-11
ALLEGES SWORN PROOF THAT
INTIMIDATION WAS USED
Declares Negroes Were Advised
TO Go to The Polls Armed,
II Necessary

Governor Haskell has issued a
statement in which he intlmates that
prosecutions are likely TO follow OF
federal deputy marshals and higher
officials who are alleged to have
sought to intimidate election inspec-
tors in last Tuesdays election and
advised ignorant negroes to go to the
polls, armed II necessary. Tie gov
ernor's statement Is as follows:
The Governors Statement.
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 right to do and as best suited
the will OF the people. The so-called
grandfather clause can not be called
partisan measure as It's adoption
last August represents not only Demo
cratic votes. but thousands and thous-
ands of Republican votes. Al any
rate i. was the will 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 have the courts
determine the same, and when the
Republican political machine waited
until election morning anG then
sought to terlify election officers by
the aid Of the United States marshals
and attorneys this was an outrage up
on The sovereign state OF Oklahoma
that must not pass by without proper
attention.
ANY officer of the federal govern
ment acting within the limits OF his
authority should be respected. aided
and assisted by every loyal citizen OF
the stae. but when such officers abuse
and exceed their official authority
and seek to use the name of our great
government Of the United States for
dirty political purposes they become
the most helnous offenders possible.
] have sworn proof before me that
such fficers, and | regret to say even
higher officials in multitude OF cas-
es advised ignorant negroes to go to
the polls armed and vote by force II
necessary and to ignore and resist
state authority II the evidence be-
fore our district court or grand jury
shows such state of facts that Off
Ger should be indicted and the high
character Of the office that ne has
abused has no protection from him.
Questions Acts Of District attorneys.
Again. If it is true that district at
torneYs or assistant district attof-
neys gave out letters OF advice TO
the effect that a mere affidavit was
conclusive evidence of the right of a
negro to vote who might be in the
disqualified class. that statement is
not the law, and such district attor-
ney or assistant district attorney was
without authority of his office 70
make any such statement, much less
to give it out for general public eff
feet, and If he did so. consplrlng with
others to have this effect, intimidate
state election officers he Is likewise
a proper subject for immediate inyes-
tigatior OF our state courts and grand
juries.
In short the men OF intelligence
WHO advised the ignorant class to
riotors conduct. false swearing and
voting In violation OF our state avs,
arr the very men who should be pros
ecuted unsparingly. If iiency Is
shown let 1t be to the ignJrant class
who were misled By the unwarrant-
cd and unlawful advise Of men OF
greater intelligence.
1T will not do to pass by unnotic-
ed these efforts to destroy the will OF
the people by nulifying and abusing
the election laws that they have adopt
ed, nor must the intelligent class be
excused and the ignorant class pun
fshed, and In the class that must be
dealt with to preserve the dignity OF
the state and the will OF ,ne people
are few reckless newspapers that
were 80 reckless as to openly publish
advice to the ignorant to go b. armed
force and violate the law, incite mur
der. riot and bloodshed This high
handed practice by those who should
advise peace and lawful conduct must
be vigorously punished and condemn
ell.
&c. n. HASKELL, Governor.