The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-12-20

what he cannot get out of books he
supplies from his own abundant source
of knowledge. He was speaker pro
tenn OF the last legislature, has been
a conspicuous figure in southern Okla
homa politics for years and has a fol
lowing which is attached to himde.
votedly For time it was thought
chat he was tied up tihthe cmfwcm
Lie was tied TIP with the farmers eau
Gus last session q non-parusan organ
ization, composed Of an the farmers
in both houses Of the Legislature but
on two or three occasions he demon
strated his independence and voted
against the farmers caucus measures
lie is yet a young man. but a force
ful character and as combative as
Robin Hood
Crawford was considered the floor
leader of the administration during
the last session, although he frequent
ly broke away form the Cruce recon-
mendations, notably in the capitol
commission fight and the abolition of
it is said that he is the candidate of
the administration for speaker, he de
nies this and says that he is for Cruce
when he thinks the governor is right
and against him when he thinks the
governor is wrong At the last session
he was chairman Of the committee OF
the committee on appropriations
which is by far the most important
committee of the house organization
and he was reconized as being amin
partial distributor OF the states mon
ey and close student of the revenue
Each of the candidates claim the
election. Crawford's manager as
sert that he has already thirty-six
votes pledged TO him, which leaves
only five short of the nomination.
Williams friends are not giving out
any estimate of his strength, but
give Crawford credit for only sixteen
votes at the most. They declair that
Williams has the lead and that he
will come under the wire an easy
winner when the caucus vote is taken.
Maxey's campaign has been vigorous
ly carried on all over the state But
no statements are forthcoming as to
his pledged votes, although 1t is conf
lently stated that he is going to be
here with the grapes at the finish.
There are more than thirty mem.
)ers of the last house reelected and
his holdover bunch is going to cut
| lot of ice before the last role is call
I'd. W. A. Durant, present speaker,
s managing the Crawford campaign.
)urant is associated with Charles n.
Haskell in the street railroad project
md other things and his connection
With the Crawford candidacy leads to
he belief that Haskell is behind
although Haskell himself is
lot saying a word Maxey and Will
ans appear to be managing their own
Here where John y, Dool.
II, Lon Frame, John r. Williams and
he rest OF the administration people
re congregated, 1t Is absolutely ini-
ossible to get any kind of line on
he speakership, further than the re-
eated declaration that the admins
ration is taking no hand in the fight
nd will be satisfied with whatever
election the caucus makes. This
ounds alright to an outsider, but the
lsider know that it is just as imposs-
lie for scrap of this kind to go on
'ithout Doolin and Frame and Will
inns dipping in it as it is for ship
, sail without rudder At that,
ley may be of the opinion that 1t is
% early to get In deep and want to
,st the tempature of the water be-
IRE taking the final plunge,