The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-02-19

into the republican charges against
Governor Haskell, the banking board,
school land department, ETC., Friday
when the governor through series of
hypothetical questions, demonstrated
that Maris really had nothing to do
with the filing or preparation of the
charges, but that Former Chief JUS
tice John H. Burford, 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
Maris, 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 VIII Chappell, had
had anything to do with the prepara-
ton of the charges.
did you know, Mr.. Maris," ques-
toned Governor Haskell, that when
Burford prepared those charges he
was and had been for two years en
attorney for the Standard Oil COM
pany?"
Maris replied that he did not
60 to the records Of the courts
here and you will find out said Gov
ernor Haskell.
Governor Haskell then proceeded in
series of further questions, first to
show that Maris really knew nothing
about the charges; that he had made
no attempt to Investigate the charges
before he had fined them! had not
been to any of the parties implicated
to ask them to explain anything about
the various items expended; ard did
not know whether Lawler was book
keeper, lawyer, or detectivr. Cover
nor Haskell further showed that the
republican charges were not properly
sworn to, and that those preparing
them had lodged the requirements of
the resolution appointing the investi-
eating committee.
81 knew this all along said Gov
ernor Haskell, but have no objections
to offer. The charges were never
sworn to by Mr.. Maris. but since the
matter was 1p desired an investiga-
tion SO that the public might have
the real facts, and for that reason en-
tered no objections to their INSULT
cheney"
Maris, in proof of the governors
stand testified that he had not sworn
to the charges, but had merely made
an afidavit, 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 them, he would
withdraw from any objection as to
the insuficiency of the Maris charges
Governor Haskell Immediately de
manded to be sworn. and took cath
to all the allegations of denial In his
answer. and Clark subsidized
Governor Haskell's questions 70
lMaris brought out, in addition to Bur
iford's alleged connection with the
Standard Oil company matter tend
ling to show that Lawler and o. 7
smith had assisted the governor in
lcheckmating a proposed gigantic mer
ger by the Stndard Oil company Of al
gas and oil production of the state
which was contemplated early in 1909
lGovernor Haskell asked Maris If he
knew that the Standard Oil was at
tempting to control or was CONTROL
ling. all the gas pipe lines taking ga:
out of the state and all the oil pipe
lines of any magnitude, and had IN
TENDED to use this control as basis
far creating an immense monopoly II
the oil and gas business of Oklahoma
and that Burford, as attorney for th'
Standard Oil company, had. through
the republican charges, sought reveng'
by attacking the very expenditures D.
which this proposed monster mergei
had, in part, for the time been de
feated.
Governor Haskell asked other cues
tions tending to show that Judge Bur
ford had kept his son. aged IA, on th'