The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-15
New State of Oklahoma Is Ripe
for the Politician.
Kansas Delegation Has a Lot of
'Fluence in Matter.
AFTER JUDGESHIPS.
Many Candidates for Fat Places
on Federal Bench.
All Depends on Ratification of
New Constitution.

Washington, Dec. 15.-The question of
coming federal patronage in the new
state of Oklahoma will be an interest
\ ing one, and will be of some signifi-
canoe to Kansas members OF congress
All this, of course, is dependent on
| the creation of a constitution by the
almost solid Democratic body now in
| session at Guthrie, anu as to whether
the structure prepared by that conven-
ton meets with the approval of the
president of the United States.
There is a reason for a belief that
the Oklahoma constitution will be fear
fully and wonderfully made. With an
| almost solid Democratic membership
out of 112 delegates there are but IA Re
! publicans-the contest comes readily
between the northern Democratic con-
tingent. headed by an. astute former
Ohio politician, Charles N. Haskell of
Muskogee, and the southern radical
Democratic element led by w. A. Led
better OF ArdmOre. Mr.. Haskell won
in the organization of the convention,
| his candidate, Alfalfa Bill'' Murray of
| T1ShOm1nSo being selected; but with all
! that, Murray is a southerner, a Texan.
| By way of depression, a word about
| Alfalfa Bill'' is not inaprOpos. Muir
ray is a man about 40 years of age,
big Strapping Texan fiery, impetu-
GUS fellow But the name. the sobriquet
given him because of his broad acres of
succulent alfalfa in the CnickasaW
nation bellies him. He is really a Gull
tured intelligent man. He studied law,
and practiced newspaper work for
years. He is a great student. Some
years since he went to the ChickasaW
nation, al Tishomingo, the capital, and
married soon after the niece of Cover
nor Johnston of that nation. Then he
settled down to alfalfa and politics
Governor Johnston, by the way. is only
one-Quarter Chickasaw. His father was
a white man, a Colonel Johnston OF
- Ed 70 a M q
the famous confederate general, Joseph
E. Johnston. The governors mother
was half white, half Chickasaw
Ledbetter leader of the southern ele-
ment of Democracy in the constitution
al convention, is the one who made the
famous fight a few weeks ago on that
part of the preliminary to the constitu-
ton which recognized the sovereignty
of the nation. and the supremacy OF
the federal. government and the consti-
tuition of the United States 1t has been
said of him by some paper recently that
he is about 40 odd years behind the time
in his strenuous defense OF the uoctHAie
of states rights
IF fine southern element prevails in
the constitution, there will be jim
crow cars, separate waiting rooms,
row over prohibition, and other things
which may or may not make the APP
r3roval of the constitution questionable. |
But in the event of the approval of
- constitution and ratincatlon Dy tne
new state, there will come some 1eoeraI
patronage matters in the spring tnde
will interest Kansas.
There will be two United States DIS
trict Judges for the new state OF Okla
homa One viii be in the territory now
known as Oklahoma, and one for that
norton not known as Indian TERRITORY
For the first-named, several OF the
present members of the Oklahoma ter
ritoriaI supreme court are candidates
Among these are Chief Justice Burford |
and Justice Burwen of Oklahoma City I
In the eastern district of the new
state of Oklahoma, practically all the
present United States judges are can
didates for district judge Among these
are two KanSans: Joseph A Gil OF
Colby, and Joseph I. Dlckerson o.
Judge of the northern district OF IN
dian Territory by President Mckinley
in 1898, and has been twice reappolnt-
ed Judge Dickerson was appointed
about two years ago, through the in
terest and influence of Senator Long
and Representatives Curtis and Miller:
Judge Dickerson Is protner-ln-laW Oh
G Governor Hoch.
L. F. Parker, Jr., son of the general
counsel for the Frisco railroad, who was
northern district a year ago, is also a
candidate. Judge Parker was formerly
assistant United States district attor
new in the northern district. under
Pliny L. Soper, Kansan, and nephew
Of Cyrus Leland. Parker's chief back
er for judge was Soper, who is Repub-
lean committeeman for Indian Terri
-ory, and who is now backing him for
Judge of the eastern district of the new
state of Oklahoma.
In addition to the above, Judges {
Hosea Townsend of the southern dis |
riot William H. H. Clayton of the !
central district. and William R. Law
.ence, also Of the central district, are l
candidates. I
1t is possible that members of the !
Kansas delegation may take some part !
n the contest for judges in Oklahoma. :
Pressure will be brought to bear, of =
.ourse by Judges Gill and Dickerson, q
because they are Kansas men, to get :
he support of Senator Long and Ben c
on and the Kansas representatives. :
For United States district attorney
nd marshal in both the eastern and !
Western districts of Oklahoma, there 7
oklahoma. George R. Walker. United T
states district attorney for the south
m district of Indian Territory, for c
nerly of Chicago, and a classmate OF
secretary Taft who beat former State {
senator Jim Allen of Kansas year q
go for attorney, will likely be cam
idate and others are talked of, in the
asst district. For marshal, DIR. Lee
Sennett of Muskogee, who has been
MARSHAL there for years. will undoubt- I
dly be a candidate, and also w H
)arragh, a former Kansan, who is now
marshal in the northern district of In
ian Territory.
But until the new constitution is S
made and ratified and approved, pat 8
onage matters for the new state Of Ok C