The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-22
OKLAHOMA SENATE
FORCES GOVERNOR
JOHNSTON TO QUIT
1t. Gov. Holloway Elevated to
Power as Johnston's Plea
Hearing Date Is Set
FUNDS DIVERSION CHARGED
rs Prominent Attorneys volun.
teer to Defend Governor
Before Senate Court
FUNDS DIVERSION CHARGED

Oklahoma City, Okla, Jan. 22-
(AP)-With Henry S. Johnston sus-
pended as governor of Oklahoma
pending outcome of impeachment
proceedings now before the state
senate as court Of impeachment,
the twelfth legislature today pre-
pared to resume it's program Of in
quiry-this time on double track
schedule.
Members of the house of represent
tatives' investigating committee, who
resumed their inquiry into state de-
partments following the establish
ment of w. J. Holloway, Lieutenant
governor, as the acting governor late
yesterday, had outlined a sweeping
plan of inquiry, which eventually is
~ected to lead " practically every
state department.
Senators, aroused by rumors and
newspaper reports Of corruption in
connection with the vote of some
members for adjournment of an at
tempted impeachment session of the
legislature last winter, were deter
mined, through special committee, to
seek the foundation for these rumors
in an open inquiry scheduled to start
today.
Senate Opposes Governor
Trampling underfoot what little
opposition arose, the senate, in less
than half an hour after it received
the five articles of impeachment,
voted by the house last week, de-
posed Governor Johnston yesterday,
elevated Lieut.. Governor Holloway
to power, set the date for the gov
ernor's appearance for the filing of
a plea for January %, and adjourned
as an impeachment court.
The governors suspension became
automatic with the senate's accept
ance of the charges, and Holloway
notified him Immediately that he was
assuming the duties of the guberna-.
torial office.
The suspended chief executive, the
third executive of the state in the
last eight years to face impeachment
proceedings, declared he did not be-
lieve the suspension was legal, but
said he would not resist it.
Declares Court Illegal
Johnston's claims to illegality in
the suspension order were based on
his contention that the senate had
not constituted itself as a court Of
impeachment when it voted on the
five charges.
Two of the charges allege illegal
diversion of funds to the issues
board, two allege illegal diversion of
funds to the banking department,
and the fifth charges the governor
with unlawful employment Of J. w. |
Eldridge as an under cover" man
in the bureau of criminal investiga-
zion and Identification. !
Five other articles of impeach- |
ment voted by the house investigat.
ing committee await action of the |
main body, while the committee it.
self manifestly is not through with |
It's probe Of the governors office.
Integrity Not Attacked
Senator w. T. Clark, q Republican.
made an unsuccessful attempt to
spare the governor suspension when
,e contended that the personal in
egrity of the governor had not been
attacked, and that no harm would re-
'ult from leaving him in office. A
ubstitute motion calling for accept
Ince Of the charges was accepted,
however, by a vote of 50 to 5. BY
similar vote the body notified the
governor Of his suspension.
H. E. Sullivan, the governors exc
utive secretary, said last night that
It least Is prominent Oklahoma at
orneys have volunteered to defend
he governor before the senate court
t impeachment without compensa-
ion. He said considerabl sums Of
money are being donated for the de-
ense. /,