The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-03-07

STATEMENT
RANKLES
Oklahoma Senate Not Fully
Satisfied With The
Explanation
speeIaI b the paIIg Leader.

4
Oklahoma city. Okla. Mar G-De-
spite the apparent willingness Of
he senate investigating COMMITTEES
b accept tie statement of DR.. Leo
Bennett. that be intended no reflec-
ion On any member Of the senate In
he graft statement recently pub
ished over bis signature, II seems
highly probable that the incident is
not yet closed. II seems to be the
general concensus Of opinion that the
will be thoroughly threshed
out, and every detail OF the state
ment raked over.
The matter was tie chief topic OF
among the senator's, and
II now seems certain that the matterl
VIII be brought up In open senate
at which time efforts will be made 10
secure action by the senate, demand
ing that Dr. Bennett either make a
public apology, or that he be cited
before the bar OF the senate for con
tempt and sent to jail for the re
mainder OF the session.
It is not possible for the senate,
ID case there Is one passed, to extend
beyond the limits of the present aes
sioi, but Judging from the talk Of the
senators ste. will be taken TO bring
the matter before the open senate.
The investigation before special
committee Of the senate into intima
tions Of graft made In a signed
statement by Dr. Leo II. Bennett,
member Of the state capitol COM
mission. came to speedy end Sat
uiday night when Dr. Bennett, as q
witness before the committee, denied
any intention to cast any reflection
on the senate OF any OF its members,
He said that " his statement he re-
terred 10 only one member Of the
senate, Senator Franklin, and that he
did not intend to make any charges
OF corruption against Franklin.
His explanation seemed to salts
fy the members of the committee, but
did not seem 10 satisfy Franklin him
self or several other members OF the
senate who were at the hearing, be
cause OF the fact that Bennett ex
PRESSED no regret whatever In ,on-
nection with the publication of m It
ter rejecting on members OF the
senate
Bennett seemed to treat the mat-
ter rather as a joke. He expressed
the belief that great deal OF tuss
Rad been made over a trivial lnoi-
dent, and characterized his reference
to Franklin merely as an unforiu-
nate statement" He admitted bnnt
the statement over his signature
might easily be taken as implying a
charge OF corruption but disclamed
any intention OF making such q
charge, either now or at the time OF
making the statement.
The feature IN his published state
ment around which all Of the discus
sion reyoved was the one which
stated that members Of re senate
who, while receiving So per day for
a fifteen day session and spending
81 per day for living expenses were
able to save enough to make invest
ments OF over $500 in china and laces
might be able to explain why 1t was
now, proposed to appropriate nil
lion dollars for the erection OF cap
ltal building.
Franklin Referred To
He stated thpt he referred solely
to Franklin, and his only explanation
was that he had thought OF Franklin
both in connection with the making
OF these purchases and Of his inter
est In capital matters, and that he
thought Franklin might be able to OK
plain about the capital situation %
cause OF his ability as tinancier he
was questioned In regard to the use
OF the word senators in his state
ment, and admitted that 1t was writ
ten that way, but that the reference
was singular.
In answer to questions from Sen
ators Franklin and Smith, whether
or not the Fact that Franklin was bne
author OF the bin to abolish the cap
ita commission was not responsive
for the reference to him, no replied
that It was not,
Bennett made no attempt to deny
the statement published over his SIG
nature but did deny The reference 70
a "ngger In the woodpile' In the ~
terylew which accompanied 1t.
Committee Satisfied
The members of tine committee eA'
pressed the belief that Franklin lad
been fully exonerated by Bennett 8
testimony from any question as to his
hoAesty or integrity, but Franklin
wanted the exoneratlon to be more
so that the matter might
not be brought up against him at any
future time Most OF the auditors