Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-07-30
Why the NeW Session Laz0S
: Have Not Been Delivered

commissioners shaw that i did not
vote for this proposition, but on the
contrary voted against It, stating my
reasons for so doing, namely: First,
that the state az that time did not
know the value Of such deposits; Sec
ond that before any contract could
be entered into that bids should be
advertised for The Secretary OF state
Harrison voted with me. The other
three members Of the board voted
for the contract,
"A hearing as 20 this matter has
been set FOR April 20, and anyone who
feels aggrieved on account Of this
contract Will be given an opportunity
at that time 10 be heard.
Il appreciate your friendly attitude
in this matter and assure YOU that
all the rights OF the state Will be
fully protected In the premises.
Yours truly.
LEE CRUCE Governor"
Copy of Records.
The following l. reproduced Yer
hatim from the minutes of the meet
ing approving the sand and gravel
contract
Special meeting OF the commits
sioners Of the land office OF the state
governor at Oklahoma city. OKLA.
Wednesday March 20, 1912, at ?
o'clock p. m.
Presentation. Lee Cruce, govern
or and chairman; Hon. Benjamin T.
Harrison, secretary OF state; Hon. Leo
Meyer, state auditor; Hon. II. II. Will
son. state superintendent of public
instruction.
"A Absent-Hon. G. T. Bryan presi-
dent state board of agriculture.
The following proceedings were
had:
The minutes of the meetings of tn
The minutes of the meetings Of
the board held on February %, March
4, March s. March II and March IS,
1912 were read and approved
The proposal of the Builders Sand
and Gravel company and the lease
contract and the supplemental agree
rnent in conformity herewith, having
read at length, and the board having
been sufficiently advised. it was moved
by Mr. Meyer, seconded by Mr. VIII
son, that the same be approved, and
the governor and secretary be author
iZed to sign and execute the sa lease
contract and supplemental agreement
for and on behalf Of the commission
ers of the land office Of the state OF
Oklahoma, and that the governor be
authorized to approve the bond for
the faithful performance OF the terms
and conditions Of said lease contract
and supplemental agreement
'All voted aye. Motion prevailed"
BY the letter written to Mr. q. F.
Butler. the governor shows himself
TO be afraid to face the public IN the
sand and gravel graft. he not only
permitted but actually dictated.
But, dear reader, what does this
mean? Governor Cruce In a speech
at the state Democratic convention
held Feb. %, 1911, said:
During the first year Of my ad-
ministration / have served wholly the
people Of oklahoma. but during the
next three years 7 intend also to take
care Of Lee Cruce."
He is certainly going the limit TO
take care Of Lee Cruce" on March
20 1911, less than thirty days after
that famous utterance, Lee Cruce
makes that infamous sand and gravel
deal-giv.ng a monopoly on the sand
and gravel in our rivers between high
water marks and then in another
thirty days deprives the lawyers.
courts and the people Of oklahoma Of
the use and benefits OF the new code
of laws why? Because the statutes
as they are published and ready for
distribution. give 70 adjoining land
owners the ownership of lands On the
banks of our streams TO low water
mark.
But one monopoly was not enough
to create~for tie graft Of private in
terests. Lik F.. The sand and gravel
company. the officials OF the big oil
and gas grab are b. s. Utterback.
president, and c. b. Kidd, secretary.
under the foreign styled title OF the
Pollard Hagen oil company Now
these men paid one hundred dollars
(S100) for a blanket lease on the oil
and gas underneath the beds and be-
TWEEN high water marks of certain por-
tons Of the Arkansas river located in
the richest oil district of Oklahoma.
This contract was made March 6.
Aside from the consideration OF
500. this Pollard Hagen Oil COM
pany agrees to employ distin-
guished refine Of attorneys TO assist
the attorney general and the attor-
neys for the school land commission I