The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1913-01-20

anu MI. dIilS III duQlllOn 10 Lne CTeulJ
of $3.50 on the note received from the
Wilkin-Hale bank $40 in cash and a
cashiers check for $500.
The attorney general practically inn
plies that the testimony of State Audi
tor Leo Meyer in the justice court,
which had a great deal to do with the
dismissal of the charges against Mr..
Farris, was that of an accomplice, and
is not worthy of credence. In regard
to Mr.. Meyers testimony that the al.
legged forged signature much resembIed
the handwriting of Seth X. Gordon,
the deceased compiler of a portion of
the Red Book, the attorney general
says:
Even if the handwriting is vordon's
Farris is accessory to forgery.
Meyers Connection.
In view of the participation by Leo
Meyer in the Red Book practice of
which this action is part, his opinion,
of course, becomes negligible"
State Auditor Leo Meyer has been
in the service of the state since state
hood; being the assistant secretary of
state during the first administration
under Secretary of State Bill Cross,
and during major portion of that
period was the practical head of the
department of state, due to the almost
continuous illness of his veteran SUI
period. He was candidate for Secre-
tary of state in the democratic pri.
maries of 1910, was defeated on close
vote by Benjamin +. Harrison, present
secretary of state, and, as Bill Cross,
successful candidate for the nomina.
tion for state auditor, died the day he
was nominated, was chosen by the
democratic state central committee to
the vacancy on the ticket for state
auditor.
State Printer Giles w. Farris was
elected state printer in 1910, after hav.
ing beaten a number of opponents in
the democratic state primaries,
Proceedings Expected.
The impeachment proceedings
against the two high state officials
created no surprise, and have been ex-
pected in the house Of representatives
ever since the first day of the session.
For months the tension between var
ious state departments has been
strained, owing to the particulars sur.
rounding the Red Book contract and
the state examiner and inspectors in
vestigation, and in as great degree,
to the efforts of Attorney General
Charles West to learn who got the rest
of the money fro mthe Bill McBrine
warrants, of which the attorney gem
eral says McBrine himself got only
about half, leaving approximately, ac-
cording to the attorney general, some
thing like $4,000 to be accounted for.
rs result of the attorney generals
efforts to connect the state auditor
with the McBrine warrants, there has
developed natural and bitter feud be-
tween Mr.. West and State Auditor
Meyer, and Mr. Meyer himself began
the open fighting several days ago
when he furnished members Of the
legislature with copies of expense ac.
counts of the attorney generals office
since statehood, which led to resolu-
tions being introduced into the house
accusing the latter of 'unspeakable
prodigality.'
Knowing what was coming, Speaker
Maxey of the house of representatives,
which always acts as prosecutor in i'm
peachment proceedings. placed some
of the ablest men of the house on the
committees on impeachment and re-
moyal and investigation of judiciary
and executive departments. The chair
man of the democratic house caucus,
John P. Crawford, being made chair
man on impeachment and removal.
The other members of the impeach-
ment committee are Smith of Pottawa-
tonne, Hill of Pittsburg, Bolen of Okla
homa, Pinkham of Kay. Wyand of
Muskogee, Chase of Nowata, Mcclure
of Logan and Vosburgh of Woodward,
Mr.. vosburgh being the leader of the
republican minority.
Duty Of Committee.
Ii will be the duty of the committee
on impeachment and removal to pass
upon the accusations submitted to it.
and If they are found substantial and
serious, to prepare articles of impeach-
ment to present to the house, the house
then passes upon the articles, and if
continued on last page)