The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-31
James D. Mcguire CriticiSeS
His Plan of Campaign.
MIXED SCHOOL BUNCOMB
1t Is Not an Issue in Any
Sense Whatever.

met many Of MS ola Hel5nbOFS dL4C
friends. who were truly glad TO meet him.
When the Transcript man asked him
pbout conditions in the new country when
he left Lawton. ne said that materially
the country was in a prosperous condi-
tion; the crops are good for sod crops,
but unfortunately the settlers did not
pillow enough land contenting themselves
with blowing about enough to mark their
settlement, rather than with the idea Of
making a crop. Hence the average in
cultivation is very small. Yet there are
such constant changes going on in the
matter Of ownership that there win doubt
less be no such restitution as marked
the early settlement of Oklahoma, when
as you remember, the government was
compelled to issue supplies, an incident
IN our early settlement that many OF Us
have almost forgotten.
THE towns are all progressing, and
Lawton bids fair TO be a city. The Rock
Island railroad has two branches from
there, one to the southwest and one go
Ing southeast. connecting with the main
line at Warika The Frisco is there now,
y
tracks they have provided they must ex-
peet 70 make Lawton the end CT a divi-
zion. Property has steadily increased in
value. Today the prices are three times
greater than the price paid tnhe govern
ment at the opening sale
In reply to a question as TO the politi-
sal conditions Mr.. Mcguire replied:
The new country viii scurprise the po-
Mtical prophets Of both parties It is my
opinion that the parties are very evenly
divided, and that neither party viii have
much TO beast Of and I should not be
surprised if the election showed mixed
set Of county officers selected from both
tickets.
Mr. Cross, the Democratic candidate
for delegate to Congress. visited Lawton
the day the Democrats had their county
convention. and made an address on that
occasion. He failed TO create any en-
thusfasm whatever, and have heard
many Democrats express themselves as
disappointed in him. His whole plan Of
campaign is on the very lowest level Of
political warfare being an appeal to sec
tional animosities, the mixed school
chestnut being a fertile source for has
oratory Everybody knows. or ought to
know. that the Republicans have con-
trolled the territorial legislation for nine
out Of the twelve years we have had such
a luxury. and if the Republicans had
wanted mixed schools they could have
had them during those nine years. But,
go far as / know. nobody wants mixed
schools. not even the negroes themselves;
80 that his ranting in that lire is as use
less as it is vulgar. His treatment of
that platform curio. the anti-statehood
plank. vas weak, foolish and garbled.
He failed To present IT with even the
false attractions that men of ability like
Tom Doyle are wont to throw around the
subject
While on the other side. Mr.. Mcclure
addressed the Republican convention a
few days later. he created "a great en-
thusiasm among the workers. He dis
cussed the issues in a calm and temper
ate manner. clearly Stating the position
of his party on the subjects touched in
a logical and eloquent manner, and with
a dignity that beftted the occasion. lie
impressed All who heard him as logical
and forceful speaker. and the right man
TO take Mr.. Flynn's place
What do you think OF the territorial
outlook? You were on the committee for
many years. and doubtless have exact
knowledge of the situation"
II have not been over much OF the ter
Fitory Of late" answered Mr.. Mcguire.
''and cannot say that I understand the
question fully; yet I DO not see any rea-
son why the Republicans should not carry
the legislature as well as elect Mr.. Nc
CURE In fact. the legislative side of
The fight 7 regard as extremely being in
good condition. There is. however. n
matter that Mr. McGuire's committee
should look after. and that is the five
southwest commissioners Dewey. Mills.
Washita and Custer Those five coun-
ties cast less than 5000 votes four years
ago, the exact vote being 4.i67 of which
Flynn received 2.449 and Keaton 2,elS.
When We entered on the campaign of
1919. as chairman OF the executive com
mittee. I learned from the United states
census report. taken in june of that year
that there were l5.0oa voters i'm the five
counties above mentioned and that this
enormous increase in the population came
mostly from Democratic states ard could
be eiasscd as against as. For awhile We
viewed the matter with dismay. as the
increase was sufficient to wine cut our
FORMER majority We set 10 work TO de-
terniine tho exact status of the settlers.
and found from n careful examination of
the land office records that many II them
would not be qualified voters. but sim
they cast s.o2S votes in that year leaving
nearly 5oo who had not resided on the
land the requisite tire to qualify as vot-
ers under the statutes u oklahoma
These people axe now voters and q would
b well while on this subject To can AZ
&ention To the statement made by ex-
Governor Barnes. IT the Oklahoma Re
publican banquet about the detection or
5.ooo votes from Flynn THAT rea- T9-un
majority IN eS was about laeo. and two
years later about 6on. 1gr Barnes
Rugged the deluslon that hss enmity to
the Republican candidate cost She ticket
601a votes and boosted Of Il at the han
ouot referred To. BY looking az the above
figures 81 VIII be seen where the votes
came from. and there s. yet some 10 a.,
accounted for. Mr Barnes hostility cost
she ticket about 100 votes
The field above referred 20 win Pc the
one that VIII reward tho Efforts 81 the
committee mere substantially than any
Other section. as the old counties may DO
relied on 20 give the usual ma5oriJies. But
] am out OF politics ard don't know
snuch % what's going on. am now an
Office holder and must keep ont. bnt it's
hard to break an old dog II HIS bad hab-
i.s. and 7 cant help referring 70 these
things once in awhile"