The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-17
Following Party Caucus
There Was a Remarkable
Unity of Opinion That
Official Be Censured
CLINT GRSHAM ASKS
FOR A SQUARE DEAL
MEMBER OF LOVE COUNTY AP-
PEAIS FOR LESS POLITICS AND
MORE WHOLESOME LEGISIA-
TION FOR PEOPLE
By Special Staff Correspondent

Oklahoma City. March l7.-There
was no insurging among house Re-
publicans yesterday when the vote
was taken to adopt the report of the
investigating committee recommending
impeachment charges against A. n.
Leecraft, state treasurer. All Repuh-
leans present voted for adoption.
Whether this unity was caused by
conscientious belief On the part of all
the Republicans that Leecraft should
be impeached or by the caucus held
at noon is a question ON which opin-
ions may differ.
The report was adopted by vote
OF 10 10 "a. Twelve were absent, and
Porter Newman of Bryan county, Dem
ocrauc member OF the investigating
committee, was excused from voting.
The Leecraft matter came UP yes
terday morning at IL o'clock as a
special order. The report OF the in
vestgaung committee, charging the
state treasurer with having used his
official position 10 gain contributions
10 the Democratic campaign fund from
bankers of tho state, was read. with
the testimony. Copies OF this matter
were in the hands OF the members
When the reading was finished Perry
Miller Of Muekogee moved rhat visitors
be excluded from the floor OF the
house while the Impeachment report
was considered; the motion would ap-
ply 10 senator's. Miller calling atten-
ton 10 the fact the senate had voted
10 exclude house members dpiing the
Trapp trial. Millers motion was
amended 10 allow senator's In the house
but on motion of Ben Harrison OF
Hughes county the entire motion was
tabled.
X. ii. Matthews. chairman OF the
investigating committee. moved the
report OF the committee on LecrafI
be adopted. IL then developed that the
course OF events would be some.
what different from taat which oh.
tained when the charges against Ed
Trapp were taken up In the house;
sHN ANFNAA va AAtIH was NNOHAtN
without argument. the fight coming
when the articles OF impeachment were
submitted for approval, but democrats
showed desire 10 dispose OF IN,
adoption Of the beecraft report. They
Thought there was possibility oi
halting the proceedings at that carly
stage: no such hope was entertained
in connection with the Trnpp charges
Argument began after the noon ne.
cess. /. l. Harris OF Oklaaoma coan'
~ moved the debate be limited to Al
inmates ON each side. but tho hous,
failed TO agree to this.
Matthews opened the case for IN,
prosecution. calling attention to vari
GUS details OF the testimony. lie sale
I,eccrsft admitted kilograms solicit
ing funds from bankers had been sent
over his name and with his knowledge
The Obvious purpose. accorting {,
Matthews, was 10 get banks TO con
tribute with the idca OF recelyinl
favors from the state treasurer: 1
was inmatcrial whether any favo
was shown. The corruption In office
said Matthews. consisted in the us'
of the state treasurcr's name 10 co
cree banks with which the state wal
doing business TO contribute to th,
political campaign fund.
W. r. Disney OF Muskogec askc,
Matthews what there was In the az
fair that constituted moral turpitude
Matthews replied that nc didn't know
unless the law prohibiting corpora
tion from contributing TO a politica
campaign fund was violated. Thel
Disney asked where the neglect o
duty came in. and Matthews answere,
that Il might be neglect Of duty &
violate the law.
Disney devoted most Of his spcecl
60 arguing the legal aspects OF tn
case. He said Ieecraft had been ac
cused Of neral turpitude. wilfll ne
Ylect of duty and corruption in office
and he attempted to show there wa
Continued on Page Three)