The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-08-20
MeNeAL's "sTEAL" LETTER

McNEAL's STEAL LETTER
TO cRucE
The letter OF Joseph McNeal TO Lee
Cruce, relative to the appointment OF
numerous personal partisans TO watch
the count on election day is construed
rs the act OF an anxious novice in pol
itics trying to solve problem that
has yexed all parties and men regard
ing a Question that has not been sue
cessinHy worked throughout fifty
years Of studied effort. II is much
easier for Mr.. McNeal TO suggest that
each state candidate be allowed wat.
chers at the polling place and beseech
Afr. Cruce TO join him In requesting
The state election board TO permit such
innovation at the November election
than to put the proposed act into exc
cntion. It.is not to be supposed that
the chairman of county committees
would come nearer choosing men for
the various precincts satisfactory to
all candidates than any other appoin-
tive genius who has gone before in
the making of politics. Should each
office aspired to demand the same
privilege that Mr. McNeal asks that
only he and Mr. Cruce shall enjoy,
there would be great difficulty in sell
setting large enough places where the
batalhons OF detectives and watch
men appointed by various officials
might observe the regularly constitute.
ed election officers.
II will not be denied that the dom
inant party in all states has always
taken the odd election official at the
places OF voting; yea, eyea when no
less a parsonage than Joseph McNeal
Was boosting the political fortunes OF
one Dennis Flynn, right here In Ok
lahoma, there is no record where the
present Republican gubernatorial can
dldate whisfled loud or long trying to
prevent the Republicans having the
regulation majority of election Off
ciais. No doubt the present case
seems different TO McNeal; but the
difference now. Is that the Democrats
have the odd official. previously, il
was the power OF the Republicans,
then 10 control
No candidate or good citizen wish
es other than a fair election-in fact
the history OF most of the common
wealths for the past thirty years has
been laced tight with efforts OF leg
islators and lay citizens striving TO
insure sancity of the ballot and fair
expression OF public sentiment. In
the history of the present state OF Ok
iaboma no citizen now or ever within
It's confines enjoyed more splendid
standing for probity and upright CON
duct than, the present Democratic
candidate for governor, Lee Cruce OF
ArdnsoreE With all due respect TO
Mr.. McAeal. long resident OF Guth-
RE, II Is doubtful Ii his record In pol
: fffcy stands even as clear OF political
intrigue as does that of his Ardmore
opponent. And that is saving naught
against McNeal. The Leader pre-.
snmes that the Guthrie apostle of Re-
pubiicanism as in good faith and sub.
mltted his letter to stand as his opin.
ion he conceiying it to be the easy
soIuiion OF what he terms grave
case
But. after all. how can Mr.. McNeal
gst other than fair deal? The cleo
tlon laws OF the state are considered
as good as those OF any surrounding
state. There can be no election held
where representative of Mr. Me
Meals party Is not an election officer
and mnst sign the records before they
can ever be counted for any candidate
on the ticket. Does Mr.. McNeal and
his advisory staff believe that In all
the more than 1000 voting precincts
OF this state will be found Republic.
ans so ignorant, or worse, who Will
allow the cause he represents to be
counted out?
Moreover, II the primary returns are
correct Mr.. MeNeal received his big
vote on the End In the Democratic
counties south OF the choctaw railway
IN fact he carried the majority o.
those counties. To presume TIN
those Democrats and Republicans
down there allowed him a fair deal in
the primary that he might be defeated
IN November would III is feared. be
admission thai McNeal was. nominated
because the schemers believed him
q, he a... weak y RepIlllleaQ- easily -defeh tai
Helther Mr. McNeal or his, st6sIl 1f
advisors viii Intentionally admit that
this is true
Nr Cruce. of course, may have ideas
OF how 10 safeguard the ballot some
what different from McNeal So
might others disagree. and the elec-
tion board. honestly striving to allow
All candidates a fair deal and give
them what they wish would not he
nn1e 20 gel ready for an election In
Ten years. In fact. and IN candor. the
present nominees OF the two partIes
colIId NOT pel together and unanImosly
ox1ee on an election Law In d decade.
He111ujq<fn6' Il can not be stated that
Tie Kqp'iplieaus, while in power IN