The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-01-04
RACE FOR SPEAKER
GROWING LIVELY

Oklahoma City, Jan. 4.-The fight
for the speakership Of the lower house
Of the legislature, which viii convene
here next Tuesday, has grown unusu.
ally interesting and threatens to in
volve, before It ends, most Of the
Democratic leaders Of Oklahoma, in
Guiding congressman as well as state
officials.
The interest the congressman are
taking arises from the fact that the
state y to be reapportioned congress
sionally at the coming session. Each
Of the present lncumbents Of seats in
the national house naturally wants a
district suitable to his continuance in
office, and some Of them have decld-
ed to take direct hand in organizing
the legislature.
This congressional interference in
behalf Of various candidates naturally
has incensed the other sDeakership
seekers, and backfires have been start.
ed with the result that national influ-
ences at Washington are now being
appealed to, with every promise that
the appeal will not be in vain.
For an example, the fact that Con-
gressman James l. Davenport Of the
third district is said to be supporting
John P. Crawford Of Ada for the speak.
ership, presumably on the grounds that
these gentlemen were fellow towns
men in Arkansas Muskogee, within
the third district, and the home Of ].
II. Maxey, another leading candidate
for the speakership, has gone after
Congressman Davenport strongly be-
cause he has cut home man for an
opposition candidate in another con.
gressional district.
Then, too. Representative H. H.
Smith OF Shawnee naturally desires to
colnteract Congressman Davenport's
Influence, or at least stop his work
for Crawford. is said to be working
through powerful friends in Washing.
ton who are from Kentucky, and form.
er political associates. And. Of course,
at this work Mr.. Smith would have
the hearty support Of Mr.. Williams,
the fourth candidate for speaker.
Friends Of Mr. Smith were display.
ing kilograms Friday from numerous
notable Kenuckians, urging support
for him in his race and especially So
Letting the votes and Influence Of
former Kentuckians in the legislature.
These messages were from Gov. James
r. McCreary, II. NJ. Bosworth. state
auditor; r s. Rhea, state treasurer;
G. +. Crecillus, secretary Of state; ].
p Hobson, chief executive; Justice I.
}. Mum Of the state court OF appeals,
as well as prominent citizens and of.
ficials in Elizabethtown. Ky, Mr..
Smiths former kome
There are other influences than con.
gressional at work, however. There
is no denying the fact that several Of
flcials in close touch with Gov Cruces
administration, some coming from out
Of town, are taking great interest in
legislators about the hotels here, and
all looking with more or less kindly
eye upon John P. Crawford Of Ada.
with still a little Of that kindliness
left when their gaze dwells upon J.
Roy Williams OF Lawton. who is there
fore presumed 10 be their second
choice as Mr.. Crawford is presumed
to be their first
Al the same time, there is no deny.
ing the fact that Representative Smith
was one Of the strongest Owen men
In Oklahoma, and the recent election
showed sen@tor owen to be mighty
factor in Oklahoma politics. and there
is no use in pretending that Owen
sentiment does not have a kindly feel
ing for the Shawnee man.
And baekino II Noxav ~ Afu.f,.