Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-09-10
BLAMES State CHAIRMAN
DECLARES HARRIS RESPONSIBLE
FOR PRESENT CONDITION
OF THE PARTY.
RUN BY A COMMITTEE
Declares Oklahoma q. o. \. l. n
lIead,ess, 1Tunklcss and
Fcctless" Party"

That the republican party Of Okla
homa appears 10 be party OF the
committee, by the committee and for
the committee" headed by Jim Harris
would-be national committeeman and
state chairman. Is the declaration OF
B. NJ. parmenter, OF lawton, recent
candidate for the u. S, Senate made
In a letter TO the World, strongly sec
onding the demand OF this paper bor
state republican convention.
, Mr.. Parmenter feels strongly the
present ignominious position OF the
republican party In this state and de-
c.ares It is "trunkless, headless and
feetless." The whole fault, he de-
cares, lies with State Chairman Har-
rig and the methods he employs.
lie strongly declares In favor OF
mass convention to be held at some
central point in the state. where the
roal people of the republican party
may take charge OF the party's affairs
and run II no that II may be real
party OF the people. His letter fol-
lows:
Lawton, Okla. Sept. 4.
Editor Tulsa Daily World:
received copy Of the World OF
August o. and note therein your
comments upon the condition OF the
republican party at this time, In this
state.
In every campaign In oklahoma for
eleven years. | have taken the stump
and preached the doctrines OF repub-
licanism. and the hour has never been
dark enough for our party In this
state that have not believed 1t 10 be
Infinitely better than the democratic
party. ] feel deep and abiding
interest in It's welfare.
As view II. the republican party
in oklahoma today Is trunkless, head
less and feetless We have no state
. platform and - man on eatrh can
guess what the republican party
itself stands for within the state. Here
We are stumbling along, trying to keep
the party alive and no convention OF
the rank and fi.e Of Its members Is
called. We seem to have degenerated
into party OF the committee, by the
committee and for the committee.
have accepted invitations to make
campaign speeches, beginning Friday,
the 18th OF September. II an inquir-
ing voter should ask me what the re-
publican party OF the state stands for,
in humiliation and shame, | would be
compelled to answer: "No man know
eth"
Does the party stand for econ
omy?" ~ don't know" would be the
answer. rs It running on the socialist
platform?" II don't know" would
be the answer. We'll, what does Il
stand for?" "Well, / don't know"
would be the answer. What is there
in this to attract the Independent vot-
er? The fact is. that the republicans
have troubles enough without being
put in the hole that we are now put
in, by the failure Of our state com
m!ttee to call state convention.
national campaign with no state con
vention, or state platform Is an ap-
surdity There are republicans whose
heart sick for a strong, aggressive
and progressive declaration OF prin-
cipe. They would like to be some
thing for something and have chance
10 do something. The progressives
have a broad platform. The democrats
held a big enthusiastic and exciting
state convention. The socialists have
a declaration of principles, stand FOR
certain ideas and work toward that
end
Insofar as matters of this kind are
concerned, the republicans of the
state are dead, lifeless and without
an idea. The whole fault, in my Judg
ment, is with the state chairman. Be
fore our last state convention, the
state committee, loaded and plugged
with proxies. was 81 to in favor of
Taft. A convention was called on
such short notice it was thought the
people could not organize themselves
and express themselves in the state
convention Different conventions were
called, at approximately the same
time. in order to confuse the situation
and make fair expression of the
people impossible. Within thirty days
the people returned to Guthrie and
overwhe helmingly defeated the Ideas Of
the state committee and Jim Harris.
Now the state committee. under tho
leadership of Pird Mcclure and Jim
Harris, Is evidently afraid to let the