The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-22

Tuesday TO give the attorneys time to
prepare argument.
1t was apparent yesterday that the
Trapp forces were eager to get house
republicans on the witness stand at
once and to question them concern
ing caucuses, before any plan could
be formed to dheckmate this move.
1t was equally apparent the prosecu-
ton wished to avoid this. No wit
nesses were placed on the stand yest-
erday If the court fails to sustain
its presiding officers ruling, and
house republicans are examined to-
day, they will have had the inter-
vening time to plan their course. In
this particular then, the prosecution
was victorious yesterday
Abandonment Of impeachment pro
ceedings against Leecraft SENS to
have been due to an element among
the house republicans that refused to
"stay put. There Is reason to be-
lieve this element told the republi-
can powers that be in the house that
they didn't believe Leecraft was gull
ty of impeachable offense and would
not vote to approve articles Of inn
peachment. They were in sufficient
strength to combine with the demo-
Gratis and prevent approval of the ar
ticles. Yesterday morning a resolu-
ton was introduced which would
amend the committee report on the
state treasurer to give the board Of
managers in the case authority to
either bring out articles Of impeach-
ment or make such other report as |,
deemed advisable. This resolution was
signed by Herod, Keim, Dawson, Stef-
republicans, 1t was adopted by the
house.
When the board Of managers
brought in ITS report on Leecraft, this
afternoon. that report merely contained
reprimand for the treasurer and the
suggestion that a law be enacted TO
make the solicitation OF campaign
contributions from corporations a
criminal and impeachable offehse.
Herod told the republicans fatty
that he would not vote for impeach-
ment. Trevathan asserted the charges
against Leecraft did not constitute an
impeachable offense, and urged the re-
port be adopted. Drake said the in
vestigating committee had gone into
the matter carefully, and had decid-
ed the law does not make it a crime
for a person, even state officer, to
solicit campaign funds from corpora
tions. He said the treasurer had vio-
lated the spirit but not the letter OF
the law.
Edwin Dabney. Democratic floor
leader, said he was opposed to i'm
peachment proceedings, but admitted
the treasurer had acted indiscretely
81 believe he realizes that himself,
said Dabney. "If the house wants 10
20 on record as condemning the pro-
cedure attributed to him, I am with
you" Applause from both sides oi
the house greeted Dabney's statement
Dave Stovall of Hugo moved that
the matter to go over for day and the
report be printed. but his motion fail.
ed. The house then adopted the re-
port by a vote OF Sc TO "a; there wero
q absent. The rollcall was inter.
esting. Dabney. w. L. Disney. Ber
Harrison, Sam Neeley and a number
OF other Democrats voted for the re-
port. Dave Stovall, d. s. Hoover ant
n few other Democrats voted against
it. Herod and Or. Sharp were III,
only Republicans who voted no; SharI
says he was In favor OF impeachment
The convention of post command
ers OF the American Legion OF Okla
homa went on record yesterday for Q
non-partisan solution OF the soldie
hospital plan. 1t commended II. p
Fell OF Ardmore. state commander
and the executive committee for thcii
work on the disqualification program
1t refused TO play any favoritcs in tn,
matter OF site for a hospital. anC
resolved TO hold accountable tina
branch OF the legislature to whicl
could be attributed Justly defeat o
soldier relief legislation. II also vot
cd appreciation OF the confidenc
shown IN the legion by the boxin.
bill which would place boxing notchci
under the auspices OF legion posts
Commander Fell made a short talk 4
the senate. in which he dwelt on IN,
need for tuberculosis hospital fo
cx-servicc men. Hc said either Gin
ton or sulphur would be acceptable
TO the legion as location-or both
N.s.N