The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-03-15
.B|XBY TELLS WHO
OWNS PHOENIX

Muskogee, Okla, March 15.-My at
tention has been called to a letter writ
ten by Ex-Governor Haskell addressed
to the Hon. Robt. l.. Owen and print
ed in a recent issue of the New State
Tribune, democratic paper of state
wide circulation, in which in speaking
of the republican papers of this state
alleged to be supporting Owen for re-
election the expression was used Your
Own Republican Newspaper at Mus
kogee." Inasmuch as it is quite gen
orally known in thi scity that Sena-
tor Owen is the holder of a modest
amount of stock in the Phoenix Print
ing company, the governor presumably
refers to the Daily Phoenix. Governor
Haskell has possibly been misinform-
ed regarding the Senator's holdings for
it is quite unthinkable to suppose that
he would endeavor purposely to mis-
lead the democrats of the state and
arouse prejudice in their minds against
Owen by causing them to believe when
such is not the truth that he owned
or controlled a republican newspaper.
To be sure interesting pleasantries
which may be tossed back and forth
between rival democratic aspirants for
senatorial honors is no affair of ours
but in justice to all concerned it seems
desirable that the facts be known with
regard to Senator Owens interest in
the Phoenix company. A time ago GER
tain patriotic democrats, Owen among
Others, being dissatisfied with the then
democratic organ, the Times-Demo
crat, supposed to be owned and con
trolled by Judge Raymond. republi
can, banded together, raised a large
sum of money and purchased from
| Clarence B. Douglas the Daily Phoenix
After a few months trial the demo
Gratis became tired of the game and
were willing to sell ont Learning OF
this c. B. Douglas, w. o. Beall and
myself formed a coalition and pur
chased a majority of the holdings OF
the democrats and took over the bust
ness. Owen not being in the city fail.
ed to dispose of his stock at the time
and having secured for myself abso.
lutte control and not wishing for more
stock and there being no other pur.
chaser in the market the senator re
mains a stockholder to this day. II is
undoubtedly the fact that there has
been no time since the change when
Owen would not sell at reasonable
price to any good republican or any
other person for that matter. The
Phoenix Company is stocked for s46,
65000, and of this amount the sub
scribed holds three-fifths, a good work
ing majority, and has the certificates
| in tin box in the Office safe. Other
members of the Bixby family OWL
ST, 500 additional stock. The balance
| is scattered among thfrty-two persons
residents of this and other : states
There are fourteen "holdover" demo
cratic stockholders and none, includ
ing Senator Owen, has ever attempted
in the slightest degre to influence the
policy Of the paper.
The editorial conduct o. the Phoeni,
reflects solely the sentiments and opin
ions of the management and SO it vii
continue to be while the undersigned
remains in control--and as for beinl
Owens own republican newspaper a
Muskogee" the Phoenix is no more
so than it is the own republican news
paper at Muskogee" or any other stock
holder, several Of whom are under
stood to be ardent supporters Of Gov
ernor Haskell IN the pending contest
TAMS BIxBY.