The Caddo Herald
August 3, 1928
My Final Statement to the Voters
As the campaign for office draws to a close, I take this method of reaching citizens who have not known me and those who are not advised as to my qualifications.
I was born near old Fort Washita in the Indian Territory and have lived practically all of my live in what is now Bryan County. Since statehood in 1907 I have served four years as a Deputy Sheriff, two of those years were under the administration of A. S. Hamilton and two under the administration of L. B. Hart. Thereafter I was elected for three consecutive terms as chief of Police of Durant. While chief of Police of Durant I was appointed Special State Officer by Governor Williams and at his request I accepted this appointment and served as Special State Officer until the close of his administration, when I returned to Durant and again took up the duties of Chief of Police. While serving as Special State Officer I was assigned to various bank robbery cases and worked practically all of that time in an effort to apprehend guilty parties of the crime of bank robbery. During my service for the Sate I was either the arresting officer or present and aiding in the arrest of thirty-two bank robbers.
After my service as Chief of Police of Durant expired for that term I was elected and served as Sheriff of Bryan County for two years. At the expiration of my term I accepted a place as Special Officer with the M. K. T. Railway and after several months’ service I resigned at the request of Colonel Keys who was Warden of the State Penitentiary, and accepted the foremanship of the brickyard at the penitentiary. I served in this capacity some eighteen months and resigned and came home and then made the race at the next election and was elected Chief of Police of Durant which office I am now holding.
I refer any interested parties to Governor Williams, to Colonel Key or to any official of the M. K. T. Railway who is familiar with my service as to my honesty, integrity, and efficiency as a peace officer.
During all these years of service I have arrested hundreds of men charged with violation of the law and I have never yet found it necessary to shoot a man or to strike a man in order to affect an arrest. I believe that my service has been such that I am fully qualified to be your sheriff. I further believe that my service in these various capacities as a peace officer is such as to prove my honesty, integrity and efficiency.
I have promised no one an appointment and my appointees will be men who can convince me that they will be diligent, honest, capable and efficient.
If any voter has an idea that by voting for me he will be granted some special privilege I want right now to disabuse his mind of any such idea.
My friends and acquaintances in various parts of the County tell me that I have this race won and if I have and am elected your sheriff, I pledge you an administration of honesty, economy, and efficiency.
Respectfully,
Ruel Taylor
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