Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-07-28

editorial was to the truth, and how
uniinportant and unnecessary Hen
ry's position with the oklahoma Gas
& Electric Company was at that time,
{ will say that for the balance of the
year 1911 and 1912 Henry had no
regular assigned duties. but spent
most OF the time "hobnobbing" with
members and employees of the Cor
poration Commission and did not
fill a position with the Oklahoma Gas
& Electric Company until the spring
of 1913, because they had an audi
tor at $4,000 per annum and chief
bookkeeper at $500 per annum,
Doth of whom had been filling their
positions satisfactorily for number
of years. and the chief bookkeeper is
still performing his duties in that
capacity.
In January 1912, through the in
fluence OF Henry and Col Jack Love,
the company auditor was discharged
i'm order to make place for Henry
and give him some excuse to draw
his salary. The reason given at the
time was because Of a general re-
trenchment in overhead expenses be-
ing deemed necessary at the Home
office in Chicago.
In 1914 there was another re-
trenchment, and the writer. who had
served the Company in various ca
pacities, from collector of bills to
treasurer of the Company, covering
continuous period of nearly ten
years, was discharged through the
influence of Willmering and Col.
Jack Love because he knew of and
failed to appreciate and endorse the
secret relationship which existed
through WTllmering between the
Commission and the Gas Company,
! the reason given, however, was the
great necessity for retrenchment
To further show that Willmering's
position was of a political nature,
rather than because of his ability as
an EXPERT of any character, /
quote you my service letter that was
given me after my discharge:
"Oklahoma City Okla,
January IS, 1914.
ITO WHOM 1T MAY CONCERN:
The bearer of this letter, Mr..
Frank A. Whitten, at present Treas
urer of this company, is leaving ls
on account of a necessary order for
retrenchment in office expenses, pro-
mulgated by our head office, in which
the undersigned is directed to con
solidate our collection and account
ing departments under one head,
and to place the consolidated depart
ments under the direction of our
present Chief Accountant. This de-
cision has doubtless been arrived at
because of the latter's (Willmer-
ling's) UNUSUAL QUALIFICATIONS
FOR SERVING THE COMPANY'S
INTERESTS BEFORE GOVERNING
BODIES, and doubtless, therefore,
in the opinion of the had office, a
more valuable man to the company.
in the above respect. has been Sc
lected from two good men. This
obiges us to dispense with Mr.. Whit
tens services.
"He has served in his present ca
pacity since 1909 and has proven
himself to be most obliging, ever
ready TO cooperate with the local
management i'm conducting his de-
partment along the most efficient
lines, and is tireless conscientious
and capable worker. He has al
ways had the interests of this com
pany in mind He has been employ
ed in this office almost continuous
ly for ten years, having filled num-
bey of positions here previous to the
present one as treasurer, with sat
isfaction to the company and credit
/ to himself. The writer believes him
to be unusually well qualified, there