The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-03-22
B|XBY TELLS WHO
OWNS PHOENIX

LSutlOn udS D66H Cdllcu W d lSll6I VIII
ten by Ex-Governor Haskell addressed
to the Hon Robt. i. Owen and print
ed in recent issue of the New State
Tribune, a 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 few months trial the demo
Gratis became tired of the game and
were willing to sell out. Learning OF
this c. B. Douglas, w. o. Beall and
myself formed coalition and pur-
chased 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. 1t is
undoubtedly the fact that there has
been no time since the change when
Owen would not sell at a reasonable
price to any good republican or any
other person for that matter. The
Phoenix Company is stocked for $46,-
$4,000, and of this amount the sub
scribed holds three-fifths, good work
ing majority, and has the certificates
in tin box in the office safe. Other
members of the Bixby family own
S., 800 additional stock The balance
is scattered among thirty-two persons.
residents of this and other states.
There are fourteen "holdoyer" 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 Phoenix
reflects solely the sentiments and opin-
ions of the management and so it will
continue to be while the undersigned
remains in control-and as for being
Owens own republican newspaper at
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 Coy
ernor Haskell in the pending contest.
TAMS BIXBY.