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TREASURER MENEFEE REPLIES TO CRITICS state in the commercial and financial Gutarie, Oct. 31. Editor Leader: The Oklahoma City center of the state, and it was enTimes has been making various state tirely proper that the state should nents concerning me, both of a pub keep deposits there as well as other C and private nature, I take it that banks in Oklahoma City. At this hey have been misinformed, and in time I have deposits with five banks rder to set them right. I will give in Okiahoma City, and it is strange hem what help I can. as there is that a newspaper would contit. ally nothing to keep from the public. criticize me for helping the commerI did buy from an individual some cial interests of their town, tock in the Columbia Bank & Trust The above covers my acts as an or company, for which I gave him three ficial and the public has a light to notes, One of these notes for $10,- know, but the public probably cares 00, which is amply secured, is now nothing about my private affairs, it the Columbia Bank & Trust com- though there is nothing in this conany, and will be paid before it ma- troversy that need be kept secret. ures, the note having been sold to The Times charges that I owe $74. he bank by the payee. The state 000. This is not true: with the ex" nent that the state treasurer had ception of the indebtedness above something like a half million dollars mentioned, I have no outstanding 11 the bank is untrue. The state treas notes to anyone. The Times says I trer's balance in the bank was $189. have $22,000 worth of other bank 100, secured by state warrants, muni- stock. This is untrue, I have not a cipal bonds and farm loans, amount- dollar's worth-but li would be no vio ng to $196,000, said securities being lation of the law if I had. The Times says I was known to be a borrower authorized by law. Today the state treasurer has not a of small amounts for campaign purdollar in the Columbia Bank & Trust poses when elected to office. This is Bank Commissioner absolutely untrue. I did not owe as company, Young took un our securities and gave anyone a dollar and the peoplejof.the state know I was connected with one 18 a check for our balance, As treasurer of the state banking of the prosperous country banks in board, I had seventy-six thousand dol- this state in an official capacity. lars in the Columbia, secured by a The last criticism of the Times is surety bond of fifty thousand dollars, that I should use whatever ability I and twenty seven thousand dollars in had as a business man to look after municipal bonds. The surety com- the interests of the people. In reply pany paid the bond the day following to that I want to say that we took the suspension of the bank, and the over the office during the panie of municipal bonds were sold and I have 1907: that we have handled several not one dollar of funds of the state million dollars without the loss of a banking board on deposit in the Col- dollar to the state. We have no apolthe of conduct the make umbia. The Columbia Bank & Trust com- office. Very respectfully, J. A. MENEFEE. pany was the largest bank in the