The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-31

of the governor until after he Should.
bc tried in some court and convileds
Of the conspiracy Trnpp was cleafIY1
charged with corrupt acts to his .gai0,
in conspiring with certain officers of'
Seminole county. touching irregulari
ties in such county offices. but as Hey
were not irregularities in Trapps of~'
flee. the senate thought Trapps con-
duct was not even an offense until he{
should be convicted therefor. IL
Federation" of Offcnse #
However, since the governor is chargt|
cd with the duty Of enforcing all laws,
his liberation Of violation by another1
officer would be wilful neglect Of duty
and sharing in the corrupt gain wouldl
be corruption in his office. But tho1
senate rule does not go that far. Trappt
was charged with such neglect OF duty8
in July, 1870 when he was acting Cow
ernor ana charged With the duty Of en-
forciug the law. Tie failed to directa
action to correct or punish the viola
tion by him and others in Semnole3
and Adair countless but the senate
struck the articles as not sufficient in
law.
Senate View Marrow"
in view of the narrow construction
of the constitution by the senate, as
the same senate will pass on any FUR
ther case. we feel that we should
frankly discuss with YOU the same.
phases Of. the foregoing
ileeapitulaies Items
The threat of the Governor to intimi-
date members OF the senate and house.
was a threatened intended official ac-
ton not yet accomplished and the
wrong consists in his threat, which,
while public could be construed as un-
official, and therefore not mpeachablc.
The corrupt deal with Bebold in
volving official acts of the bank com
missioner, and while no doubt Il was
accomplished through the influence Of
the Governor. he and Rebold being
close friends. }cbold was the man
the Governor appointed Fair Price
Commissioner yet the Governor had
no official duty to perform in oXamin-
ing the bank or passing upon It's cond-
ton and The deposit Of state money in
the bank was the Official act of the
treasurer.
Therefore The senate could cons.rue
the governor acts as private and not
grounds for impeachment notwith-
standing the untold danger Of such rule
to the public interest. But we are not
responsible for the rule. nor can we
change IL Guring this legislation.
However such consent of the gov.
ernor to the violation of the law by
Dennis. and the governors failure IN
that respect t1 enforce the law was
wilful neglect of duty in office. and his
participation in the money received
was corruption I'm office. both of which
are grounds for impcac ment Traap'
was charged with having embez2led
greater amount OF money, procured BY
him thr ugh conspiracy and perjury,
ana he was thereafter acting governor,
in July. 1920. having the d,itv TO on
force the law, but failed 20 enforce, or
direct the enforcement of tho law in re-
spcct To the irrcguarity in which he
and others had participated in in Semi.
mole ana Adair coJuues OF this he
was charged IN one of the articles Of
Impeachment. but The senate Court of
Impeachment held 10 was not cause
for mpeac mont, and we are not pre-
pared TO gay how they viii probably rule
upon this action OF Governor Robert.
son.
The governor income report was not
an Official act: it was such an act as
all persons having sufficient income
are required TO make as private citi-
zens; and yci. &c false. shows how H.
responsible hc IS. and in that respect
that makes him dangerous public Of
iccr.