The El Reno Democrat. (El Reno, Okla. Terr.), Vol. 7, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 9, 1902 Page: 1 of 8
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HE
CO
4
NO
T. F. IIENS LEY, Proprietor.
VOL XII.
'U B LI SHED EVERY THURSDAY.
El £
Oklahoma Territory, Jan. 9, 1902.
$1.2J PER YEAR
NO. 50.
The Commissioners in Session.
A FEW FIGURES
The board of county commissioners
convened yesterday morning in regu-
lar session. All members of the
board were present.
This being the tirst session of the
new year, a.reorganization was deem-
ed proper, and it was done by re-elect-
ing Commissioner Schwarberg chair-
man.
The first matter to receive the at-
tention of the board was the resigna-
tion of Judge Grigsby as probate judge.
Mr. Grigsby's resignation was accept-
ed and J. I. Phelps, the only applicant
for the place was appointed to fill the
vacancy for the unexpired term.
The rasignation of J. W. Salyer as
trustee of Valley township and Wil-
liam Gerry appointed to fill the vacan-
cy-
J. D Shepard, justice of the peace
of Yukon resigned and W. W. Boling
was appointed to serve out bis unex-
pired term.
The resignation of Joe Strunk of
Union township, was accepted and
William Sendelbach was appointed in
his stead.
At two o'clock the bids on file for
the purchase of court house bonds
were opened. There were six bids in
all, but only one complied with the re-
quirements laid down in the advertise-
ment by the commissioners, namely:
That a certified check of $5,000 on
some Canadian county bank should
accompany each bid as a guaranty of
good faith and that the bid should be
for $50,000 worth of 4 per cent semi-
annual interest bearing bonds. The
bid of Mason Lewis & Co., of Chicago,
was the only bid that met with the
requirement. They were ostensibly
represented by their sole agent, a Mr.
John Steward Watson, but more than
a suspicion arise9 that Mr. John Stew-
ard Watson represented the whole
syndicate of bidders as well as Mason
Lewis & Co. This suspicion is more
than verified by the fact that several
of the most anxious bidders at the out-
set, who were present, failed at the
proper moment to put in a bid, and it
is a well known fact that at least one
of these bidders is the Oklahoma
agent of Mason Lewis & Co. That he
bought the bonds of this city a little
over a year ago for them and that he
is still representing them. As Btated
before, there is more than a suspicion
that there was a combination of bid-
ders to buy the bonds cheaply, and so
stroner was that suspicion that Com-
missioner Leeper voted loud and
strong against the proposi tion of
awarding the contract without re-ad-
vertising for better bids, believing
that there was a combination and de-
siring to break it.
Another very grave suspicion of a
combination was the fact that certain
local pluggers were using every influ-
ence in the interest of -the deal.
Pluggers who do not pay five dollars
worth of tax in the county, and who
could have no interest in the matter
except as the paid lobbyists of the bond
syndicate.
We have some additional informa-
tion and correspondence which will
throw more light upon this subject
later on.
The bid accepted takes a four per
cent bond m the amount of $50,000 and
paid a premium of $65 only for them.
While Mr. Leeper informs us from con-
versation and correspondence had
with bond buyers, that he fully ex
pected a premium of from $2,000 to
$2,500 on these bonds.
That this bid is a good bid for the
county securities, as compared with
any past transactions, is very true,
but like Mr. Leeper, we are not pre-
pared to say whether it is the best bid
that could have been obtained at this
time or not, and we will not be able
to known until we make further inves-
tigation into the matter, which we
promise our readers to do.
The Yukon Sun says that since
Mr. Leeper has decided not to run
again for commissioner that R. II.
Bernard, N Whitlock, George Dixon
and W. II. Ilutohinson have been
mentioned as good timber for a
commissioner.
The Apache Review in its last is-
sue, under the above caption, goes
after one of Jenkiu's probate judges
in the new country, not altogether
unknown to fame iu El Reno in the
following red hot manner:
"A gentleman who had lots 1 to
12 in one of the fractional blocks of
the citj' was given twelve separate
deeds and the assessment against
them was $42.00. These were resi-
dence lots and all of them fractional.
The piece should have been covered
by one deed. The probate judge
issued twelve. Why ?
Let us do a little figuring: The
probate judge's fee is 82.25 for the
first lot and fifty-cents for each ad-
ditional lot included in the same
deed. Had these lots been covered
with one deed the probate'judge's
fee would have been $2.25 plus 11 x
50c. or $2.25 plus $5.50, which
would have been 87.75. Rut twelve
deeds were issued and the probate
judge's fees 12 x82.25 or $27.00.
$27 00 less $7.75 leaves $19.25.
And yet Judge Crum resents being
called a grafter and would like to be
considered an honest man.
Let us do a little more figuring:
The cost assessed against these lots
was $42.00. 819.25 of this has been
shown to be purely a graft by the
probate judge. Admitting, for the
sake of argument, that all other ex-
penses were perfectly legal, the as-
sessment against these lots should
have been $12 00 less $19.25 or
$22.75. Then remember that this
$19.25 of questionable fees is to be
derived from only twelve lots and
the surveyor says that there are 2200
in the townsite. But we will let you
do your own figuring.
This is a sample of the kind of
evidence that has accumulated
against Judge Crum aud which his
honor will have to explain away be-
fore anyone in this part of the coun-
ty would trust him alone with a
corpse until after the coppers had
been removed.
RESIGNS.
O. C. French, secretary of the
livestock board has resigned. We
would suggest Bull-tick Bill Bolton
as his successor. Bill eats like a
hog and is said to be a republican
now.
PHELPS APPOINTED.
J. I. Phelps was appointed by the
board of county commissisoners to-
day as probate judge, to fill the va-
cancy occasioned by the resignation
of Judge Grisby.
DROPPED DEAD.
Col. E. W. Ayres dropped dead
in the Citizen's National Bank at
Washington City. Ayres was a con-
federate aud belonged to the Rich-
mond Blues. lie was present at the
hanging of John Brown.
It is all right to wait for dead
meu's shoes,but it is mighty bad taste
to commence to untie them while the
owner lives.
When old King Solomon admon-
ished us to "be not among wine
bibbers," the punch bowl with a
spike in it had not been invented.
The punch bowl belongs to modern
society.
James E. Ainent, president of the
normal school at Alva, will be con-
tinued in olliee until July, the end of
the present school year. Suca was
the decision of the school board of
education at a recent meeting.
According to the last decision of
the supreme court of the United
States, the constitution not only
follows the flag, but gives to the
Filipino all the trade rights of the
ordinary citizens of the United
States.
The Yukon Sun says that Commis-
sioner H. H. Leeper will not consent
to stand for re-election as coun-
ty commissioner. That two years of
that thankless otllcc is enough for
him but that his many friends will
urge him to become a candidate for
sheriff.
The Tecumseh Standard, in speak-
ing of the recent tragedies at Shaw-
nee, heads a two column article,
"Bloody Shawnee, a place where
the privileged citizens kill at pleas-
ure aud are heroized by the populace,
then placed under surveilance for a
period and freed."
Tom Hensley of the El Reno
Democrat says that he and Bob Neff
pulled one campaign together.
They are a pretty pair to draw to
anyway.—Herald-Sentinel.
Not pretty, brother Cook,but use-
ful. The editor of the Herald-Sen-
tinel is the only real pretty thing
remaining in the Oklahoma Press
Association, and what little hair he
has left is red, just like the Gov-
ernor's ; but what adds most to his
beauty is that whenever he goes on
an excursion he bangs it, just like
Bill Bolton's Boiler avenue sister.
The names of the people of Okla-
homa notwithstanding the numerous
killings which blacken the pages of
our exchanges every week, are
peceable and law abiding, not be-
cause the law compels them to be
but because they want to be.
The question of a primary election
is being discussed as the election
approaches. As usual the politicians
and olfice seekers want a delegate
convention. The people want a pri-
mary election. Why? The question
answers itself.
According to the El Reno Demo
crat there was not a man in the
police station Thursday morning.
We doubt if another town in Okla-
homa the size of El Reno can show
such a record for Christmas. It
certainly speaks well for El Reno
,,booze fighters."—Mullhall Tribune
El Reno, Guthrie, Chaudler, Law-
ton and several other towns are in
the field at this early date with can-
didates for the democratic congres-
sional nomination. Let it be known
that Oklahoma City Ames to take a
hand in this matter even if she has
to Cross somebody's path in the un-
dertaking.—Oklahoman.
We want to War(re)n you now,
that we have four candidates that
will go through the race "looking
backward" at you from the first
jump.
Senator Bellamy, who by the way
is a recpective candidate for congress
in 1904 has just received from New
York a pair of stripped silk stock-
ings, to give him a Jeffersonian ap-
pearance. George says that he was
compelled to do it iu order to keep [
up with the procession. He says
that some of the candidates are
carrying the matter so far that they .
have not only donned the Colonial
style of pants but are sewing ruffles ;
on the narrative of their puffed shirts.'
THEY SAY
That it was spiked.
That it was free—hence results.
That the old year went out with a
sizzle.
That the initiation fee has been re-
duced.
That the surroundings wore en-
chanting.
That the W. C. T. U. received an
eye-opeuer.
That a double punch bowl is hard on
the eyes.
That the master of ceremonies was
on to his joo.
That the electric lights behaved
beautifully.
That it should be re-christened the
Bachanalian club.
That the weaker vessel was the
stronger of the two.
That two swallows made a spring
and three a gusher.
That it wae a hot time in the old
town that night.
That some of the girls went away
back and sat down.
That Major Simpson remained at
home and gave it absent treatmont.
That the constitution will be road at
the next meeting.
That one man actually thinks he
made a mistake by going.
That the dance was deeidedly orien-
tial about 2 G. M. in the morning.
That the files of newspapers contain-
ing a list of the committees command
a premium.
That the fond mammas of the danc-
ing club girls cut the pigeon wing
when they heard of it.
That a majority of the guests instead
of swearing off are swearing that they
wern't there.
That the upper crust and the lo wer
crust met on the "(spirit) level and
parted on the square."
That a prominent candidate for con-
gress doffed his plug hat to every
tamp post on his way homo.
SHE MAY BE REGISTER.
May Genoweiu, the able and cour-
teous assistant in the register of
deeds office is prominently spoken of
as a probable candidate for Register
of Deeds on the republican ticket,
j There is no more competent person
for the place than Miss Genowein and
if the republicans nominate her Jeff
Potter will have to buy an automo-
bile to keep in sight of her iu the
race.
Waved Examination.
W. J. Edwards referred to in yester-
day's Democrat waived examination
and gave bond for his appearance at
the district court. This caso shows a
good deal of spite work and not much
injured innocence, or morit either so
far as that matter is concerned.
THE MOTE IN THINE OWN EYE.
Ever since Charley Barrett, the
editor of that well edited paper, the
Shawnee Herald, was made secre-
tary of the Ten Silver Dollars club
at a salary of one thousand silver
dollars per annum, lie has shown all
Missourians, Kentuckiam, Texans
and Arkansans that he is addicted
to a swelling of the head which un-
fits him for promotion iu the demo-
cratic party. Ho is now engaged in
punching holes in the democratic
harmony that has always prevailed
in Pottawatomie county. Dear
Brother Barrett, quit trying to pick
the unharmonious mote out of the
eyes of Hensley, Isenberg and others
until you succeed in eradicating the
mote from thine own eye.—Enid
Wave.
Pay your taxes.
The fellows are beginning to cast
sheeps eyes in the direction of the
county ofllees.
Dennis Flynnn has introduced a
free homes bill for the new counties.
Straws show which way the wind
blows and we will bet a hundred old
exchanges that Dennis is a candidate
for re-election.
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Hensley, T. F. The El Reno Democrat. (El Reno, Okla. Terr.), Vol. 7, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 9, 1902, newspaper, January 9, 1902; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc112264/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.