The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-20
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impeachment ~ state Treasurer LcocrafL
Certainly no good citizen can Wow with pleasure
the official humiliation ~ public official
Partimniam. properly practlced. does not run
that FAR Hut the offcnsc of tho state treasurer
while there s room to believe that ne was not
altogether in sympathy with II. is Of that nature
that must Moods be rebukod and punished II
decent public service is TO bc realized; II public
Officials are 60 be restrained from using their
office for purely partisan efforts.
II appears from the record made In the house
investigation that the state treasurer permitted
his namo ana official tito 10 be used by the
democratic machine for the purpose of collect
ing from bankers OF the state a campaign fund.
10 is incidentally apparent that others, much
more and with far greater frequency than he
himself used his office for that purpose.
Tho oulptbility, tho cJmnality we were about
TO say of this practice To- discovered In the fact
that tho appeals for campaign contributions
wcro made in the name Of the treasurer. some
times by himself but more often by the mem
bcrs OF tho democratic campaign committee. 10
bnnkcrs who enjoyed substantial deposits OF
state funds
These bankors were urged in the name Of the
state treasurer, 40 have some of their friends
scnd TO the democratic campaign committee
spocifcd sums for campaign expenses. the sum
In most eases being $50 u is true that no
word OF threat was used. But .it Is also true
that the more request from tho state treasurer
was contrary to tho constitution and that the
acquiesccnoe on the part of any banker or any
ono connected with the bank. was violation Of
tho law
II is also true that without word OF threat
or even suggestion. banker who had "A de-
post Of $4,000 or $4,000 OF state money. sub
ject to the dlctum of the state treasurer. did
not hesitate fraction II a second ih comply
ing with the request excepting in certain
cases whore bankers appeared who refused to
submit to such hold-up tactics.
Neither does 1t appear that any banker re-
fusipg to comply was disciplined. Naturally,
the peasurcr would not carry the matter that
far No banker lost his state deposit by refus-
ing TO submit TO he shakodown. which is very
far from stating the number that did comply
through fear OF losing their state deposit should
they refuse,
on the stand before the investigating COM
mi,tee, Mr. Leecraft very frandly stated to
judgo Korncgy, democrat, who conducted the
investigation. that he was out Of sympathy with
suoh employmcnts; that ne did not like the pro-
codurc, but that II had been the practice all
the while and that he did permit the campaign
committee TO use his name. and did himself re-
ueive several contributions In compliance with
the request
or course Vt Is impossible 20 absolve the state
treasurer from blame. It was he not the demo-
cratic campaign committee. that the people en-
trusted the conduct OF the office to; II was he
not the members OF the campaign committee,
that took the oath which obligated his. to re-
spoct and defend the laws and the constitution
and II was he,tnot the campaign committee. that
roally violated the law when he turned his Of
flee and its prestige over to the politicians.
1t is the easiest thing in the world, after
reading tho evidence ip the case to believe that
Treasurer Lcecraft YaA and is out of sympathy
with such practice; that he would like to see
II abolished and a public official left free to re-
spect and enforce the law, But the fact re-
mains that It was no that tho people put on
guard TO see that the law was enforced, that ne
had II in his power TO enforce II and was not
obligated in any way 10 suly his office by turn
ing It over to- the political henehman OF his
party.
II is difficult indeed to see how the senate
avoid convlcting the state treasurer OF a
very serious m!sfeasanoe. in office. This prac-
tce, which the state treasurer admits has been
the custom since statehood must he broken up
II acceptable popular government Is to be cstab-
llshed. II the individual set on guard to prevent
such things is not dependable then he must
suffcr--as warning to others. II Is regret
table, but It Is necessary