The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-11-17
MURRAY'S LETTER
TO
THE DEMOCRATS.
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Tishomingo, Okla, Nov. 15.-Hon.
VIM. II Murray, The Sage of Tish
omingo," and congressman-elect-a
large, gave out today the following
letter touching patronage in Okla
homa. Mr.. Murray's mail has grown
to such volume that he is unable to
answer it, hence this letter:
To the Democrats;
Profoundly grateful that lead the
ticket both in August primary and al
so in the general election over all
candidates in the state except Sen
ator owen, | shall enter congress with
a full sense of my obligations to my
friends and the people.
1T shall be my purpose to assist
earnestly in carrying out all party
pledges, exercising sound discretion,
having a constant regard for the
county's welfare.
"Touching the question Of patron
age | have to say that an official
courtesy has existed for a long time
which permits the members of the U.
S. senate to control in the appoint
ment of federal judges and U. s..
attorneys, and marshals and to the
foreign service, while congressman
control in the appointment of post
masters and the Indian service.
shall not attempt to break in upon
this arrangement of 'courtesies' over
Senator Gore and Senator owen by
exercising my influence with Presl-
dent Wilson, except ! shall exercise
the right to oppose to the last en-
tremity the appointment OF any man
Objectionable to me, who applies for
any position.
II earnestly request that all appli-
cations for position in the postal or
other service to write me letter
stating their intention to make ap-
plication but do not send me any let
ter of petitions or Endorsements and
do not expect me to answer untli
March 4, as my term does not begin
until then and must devote my time
to my private affairs until March 4
when | shall have a secretary to as
sist me and when it will be my duty
to devote my entire time to the peo-
pie of the state.
wish especially all to understand
that ! shall be grateful to my friends,
and that the only duty shall have
is to decide between friends where
more than one applies for the same
position but | will endorse no man
unless he be both honest, competent
and worthy of the petition; / there
fore request all applicants to secure
letters (rather than petitions) from
truthful and responsible persons with
in their acquaintance who are willing
to state on their honor that they per-
sonally know the applicant and know
him to possess sobriety, honesty or
competency and whether his family
before him were upright and of good
standing. A few such letters. signed
by truthful and responsible men, are
worth more to me and to the incom-
ing Wilson's administration than a
petition merely reciting their desire
to have the man appointed, though
it might be signed by an hundred or
more. Therefore / request all to get
their letters of endorsement ready
but to retain them until March, since
postmasters for the most part will be
permitted to continue until their
time expires. | shall especially re-
quest President Wilson to make a
change in the T. s. attorneys ana
II avsHe's in Oklahoma at once III Or
der to stop federal interference WITH
the states enforcement OF the
grandfather clause of our election
laws.
Remember no one senator or con-
gressman will control all the patron
age in Oklahoma, but | will do the
best | can for my worthy 1rlehus'
and when two or more of my friends
apply for the same office if they
would get together it would make 1t
easier for me to do something Tor
either of them-my support woulu
not therefore become divided strength
WIN. H. MURRAY