The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-03
To The Ardmoreite:

To The Ardmoreite:
His strength was as the strength
of ten, because his heart was pure,
was said of one of the Knights of Ar
thurs Round Table. So it may be said
that the strength of man who is to
be chosen TO represent the people and
to administer the affairs of state in
its highest executive office is to be
measured by the purity of his char
acter, first and foremost. All other
elements of availability being grant
ed equal-intellectua ability, eXper-
ience. administrative statesmanship-
| would hold, in my selection OF
public officer, to the aspirant whose
lie had demonstrated the purity and
wholesomeness of his personal char
acter, because his power and his eff
cheney would be "as the strength OF
ten" by reason of the possession of
that fundamental qualification.
have known Lee Cruce for many
years know him as well as broth
er. Neighbors for years, we came daily
into most intimate touch with each
other, and the noble qualities of the
man were impressed upon me with a
quiet but vivid insistence, through the
little things of daily social intercourse,
in manner far more convincing and
certain than if had had only the op-
portunity TO view him upon the pedes-
tai of public life. enveloped In the
adventitious haze and glamour that
grows up around the man that assumes
leadership among his people.
By reason of this close personal re-
lationship which it has been my privil-
ege TO bear towards Lee Cruce, | have
come TO know the man, and as a con-
sequence OF that knowledge, to respect
him, TO admire him, and to have
confidence in his potentiality for pub
lie service that is as firm and abid-
ing as absolute and unqualified faith
can be. Intellectually the peer of any
man in the state, he possesses the
heart, the conscience, the clearness of
vision that comes from sobriety and
uprightness OF life that will guide in
the right direction and bring to safe
conclusion and determination his aims
and purposes as an administrative OF.
ficer.
| am therefore for Lee Cruce for
governor, first above all other consid-
erations for the reasons that his per.
sonal character assures me that in the
conduct of the affairs OF the state of
Oklahoma, he will be guided by prin-
ciple by honor and honesty, by con-
scentious regard for the rights of ali
men
Aside from my personal relations
with him. | have had ample oppor-
tunities to study him as a citizen and
as a participant in the public affairs
of his town, county and state. In the
performance of his civic duties he has
always SUOOu Oul llhc DAiShI
ticular star" Conforming chicanery,
despising demagoguery in all its man
fold aspects. aloof from every motive
that might bear even suspicion of
self-service, he has always borne his
part manfully in every phase of his
public duties no matter how minute
or apparently trivial their purpose.
In fact, to him, nothing was consider
ed trifling or beneath his concern that
had to do with his neighbors, his fell
low citizens, or the welfare of his
home city, his county, or his state.
He has, to my mind. always, under all
circumstances, in his character as a
citizen. conducted himself as one who