The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-10-25
A GUM-sHoE CAMPAIGN.

A democrat recently asked Mr..
James Z. Humphrey IL he was max
ing a campaign for district judge
and he replied, Yes, | am making
a gum-shoe campaign and so far
the opposition conce ed to him $50
democratic votes in Ardmore alone
and that he would receive every
republican and socialist vote in the
district A short while previous to
this remarkably bald and bold asser-
ton, Mr. Humphrey had publicly
stated that he believed in a non
partisan judiciary. and by this he
evidently intended to convey the
sugges ion that although his candi-
Lacy was launched as a republican
nominee, yet he was in no sense the
candidate of political party, but
was making a "gum-shoe campaign -
with his hook loaded with non-parti-
san bait. In other words, while his
candidacy Is the creature OF the re-
publican organization, he disowns
it and is endeavoring by 'gum-shoe'
methods to slip into the good graces
of all the voters of all parties, and,
as a consequence, into the office OF
district judge.
Now, it may be asked. what is
gum-shoe campaign? The term is
somewhat abstruse, but the meaning
Is clear. Are 'gum-shoe" tactics
slippery tactics? If so, do they be-
come the candidacy OF a non-parti-
san, while they would not be just
the thing for party nominee to
adopt? If there is nothing OF a Gov
ert or ulterior purpose Inspiring
gum-shoe campaign, with the de-
sign to thereby catch the unsus-
pecting voter ''a-napping," how is 1t
with fairness for Mr.
Humphrey to assert that he will re-
ceive every republican and socialist
vote" and, ut the same time, per
sist sincerely in playing the role of
a non-partisan? If he be genuine In
his protestations or non-partisan-
ship, what claim can he possibly
have upon every republican and So
cialist voter?" Is it that they are
to follow him as nominee in oppo-
sition to the democratic nominee,
when they catch the non-partisan
wink of his eye or hear the soft
patter of his gum-soled slippers?
If by being a non-partisan he
means that he disowns the organ-
zation that vouched for his candida
cy, and that he is not making the
race for the position of district !
Judge as a republican or party nom .
NEE, but solely as lawyer, relying |
upon his individual merits and pc |
,uliar fitness for that position, then
in such case It might be difficult
indeed to align under his personal
lag every voter of two such antag-
,nistic political organizations as the
republican and socialist parties. Up
IN what meat hath this, our Caesar, |
ed that enables him to boast that
III the voters recognize his pecu-
lar fitness for judicial position |
md will vote for him in preference /
% a Judge who has served them
we'll and faithfully?
The "re-incarnation" of Mr., Hum
,hrov seems to be limited to his own
or, is he prepared to say
o Mr.. McNeal, the republican NOM
nee for governor, and to those otA
r gentlemen who are the republican
Iominees for justices OF the su-
rene court and the criminal court
t appeals. Get thee behinh me,
artisans. l am not for thee or thine,
mt for my non-partisal self, be
auso to be otherwise would de.
troy my ambition to be district
laCe in an overwhelmingly demo-
ratio district"
i anyone so insane as 10 believe
hat Mr., Humphrey, Il this district
ere republican would nov le pos.
~ "a lor partisan candidate. or,
n fact, that he even would, under
uch condit; )rs, be the nominee Of
hat marty, whose nomination, I've
ause Of his rarty's numerical weak
less he is now in eGc disown-
ng?
The democrats, at the first rrima-
Y election held after statehood,
ominatcd rs their choice for dis
rict Judge. Stillwell II. Russell. Al