Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-09-14
every Voter DEMANDS IT
IL HARRIS WONT CALI CONyEN.
TION THE VOTERS WILL
HOLD ONE.
Is ALL FOR PATRONAGE
Brounlcc Declares Chairman only
Deserves 10 Dish out Federal
Jobs 10 Friends.

The republican party In oklahoma
VIII die OF dry rot under the fed
eral patronage" management Of state
Chairman and would be Committee
man James Harris unless a state con-
venton is held at which the real vot-
ers Of the party can bo given voice
In the party management in Okalho-
ma, declares State Senator Emory ID.
Brownlec OF kingflsher, in a letter to
Tho World commending this paper
for its stand on the matter Of re-
publican state convention.
Mr.. Brownleo suggests three ways
in which such a convention may bo
called; by securing from a majority
OF the state committee a written de-
mand for "A convention. force state
Vice Chairman Gelsser to Issue the
call or have number OF republicans
to Join In call for mass conven-
tlon.
TO tho Editor Tulsa World:
received u copy OF your issue OF
lith, giving report OF meeting
here in Kingfisl15r. In which was
considered the calling Of a republican
convention.
/ had not known the attitude OF
your paper on the Harris matter
and the proposition OF a convention.
or | most certainly would have COM
municated with you sooner.
Now. here are the facts about the
recent state committee meeting at
Guthri. Mr.. j. l.. Admire, Of Fair
view, Okla, who was here Monday,
advised me that Jim Harrk had Al
proxies from members Of the com
mittee, and that only 26 members OF
the committee were present. / was
further advised from another source
that of the 26 members present, IA
We're either the appointees Of Harris,
or persons holding federal positions
This would leave IL members present
whom we may fairly assume were
free moral agencies TO vote as they
believed their republicans at home
would have them vote. SO 1t Is little
wonder that published reports of tho
committee meeting stated that "Har-
ris was the unanimous choice Of the
committee for national committee
man"
| contend that the state committee
was acting wholly without their juris-
dictlon in electing CD any one as
member of the national committee. or
even in attempting to make an en-
dorsement. TO say that a. proxies
and II federal officers and appointees
Of Harris represent the voice of the
republicans Of Oklahoma IS too alb
surd and ridiculous to receive any
consideration.
Harris will never be selected as a
member of the national committee.
He should not be. Since he has been
chairman. he has done nothing but
attempt to secure from Washington
the appointment Of political friends
TO federal positions. The state chair
man and the state committee does
not have never has had and should
not have any business with federal
patronage The business of the chair
man and the committee is solely and
exclusively for the advancement OF
the party interests in the state.
In territorial days. when the only
official to be elected at large was
delegate to congress (without vote)
1t was the business OF the committee
to conduct the campaign for his cleo
the committee at
that time was more or less a congress
sional committee, and quite natural
enough, the delegate elected to. CON
grcss made his appontmnts on The
Of the chairman Of the
Committee-and hance the committee
was composed largely Of men seeking
political appointments.
Since statehood It has been lmpos-
slble to break away from the old or
der Of things because the republicans
have never had a fair chance OF Sc
Letting a chairman. Harris was first
made the treasurer Of the committee,
and then was named by j. II. Norris
rs chairman of the committee, when
ne Norris. resigned to accept a fed
,ral job. A great demand was made
% have tho committee called to elect
4 successor to Norris. Harris re-
used until he had hadample time
o secure pledges from the majority
)f the comnNttee favorlng himself