The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1913-01-25
DICKS REMOVAL
VESTS REQUEST

UIO' y mQuIot
: oklahomma City, Jan. 25.--Evidence
tending to show that Warden R. w.
Dick of the McAlester penitentiary
used convict labor in constructing
streets in townsite near McAlester,
after the state prison board of con-
troll had specifically forbidden it, was
given Friday afternoon by Attorney
General Charles West to the senate
committee which is investigating the
official record of Warden Dick and
other appointees at the McAlester
lpenitentiary The attorney general
also told the committee that at the
time the governor was acquainted with
the charge against Warden Dick and
that the matter was put squarely up
to him as to what should be done next
with reference to Dick
More than year ago, the attorney
general said, complaint was filed
with the board of prison control, by
President G. T. Bryan of the board of
agriculture, who charged that Dick
was using convict labor in grading and
building streets in townsite near
McAlester. in which he-Dick--was
financially interested, and asked that
the charge be investigated
In pursuance of this Dick sent to
the governor a letter that was read
before the board of control, which At
ltorney General West said was virtu-
ally an admission by Dick that he was
using convict labor on private work
but explaining that the dirt removed
by the convicts in grading the streets
was used at the penitentiary. When
this statement was read before the
board Attorney General West said he
moved that an order be issued by the
board prohibiting the use of convict
labor on private work of any character.
This motion, the attorney general said,
did not call forth any favorable or
unfayorable comment from the gov
ernor and other members of the board
were present In fact, he did not re-
call whether vote was taken on it
or not but understood from the fact
that there was no objection to it that
such was the sense of the board
Referred to Governor.
The attorney general then said that
the question of whether or not Dick
had violated any order sufficient to
warrant his discharge was referred to
the governor for further investigation
and consideration. When asked by
Senator Thompson why the board did
not take some action along that line
West said he was of the opinion that
the board had the right to say where
and how convict labor should be used
but it did not come within its province
to consider the discharge of Dick for
the reason that he was an executive
appointee and for that reason the ques.
tion was referred to the governor
In reply to a question from Senator
Thompson as to why he did not cross.
examine Dick before the board in an
effort to go farther into the charge, |
Attorney General West said that Dick |
in his letter to the governor, which |
was read, admitted that he had EN-
ployed convict labor on the townsite |
and that all the board could do was is |
sue an order prohibiting that in the |
future. He also said that board had
no right to administer oats and take
testimony in Investigations.
DO you mean to say that the prison |
board Of control is mere nonentity?"
asked Senator Thompson
YES" replied the attorney general.
1T has great responsibilities and very
little authority"
Anonymous Letter.
During the school board controversy