The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
"AIfaIfa Bill" Murray, Of Oklahoma Ran Away from Home
with Two Brothers and Capital Of Fifty Cents
Made Their Home Under Elm Tree

I swamp lands. Those two matters were
my specialties"
Sitting on the porch of his three room
cabin, built Of walnut logs, he read
| every constitution that was ever writ
| ten" Thus prepared he went to the con-
| vention. There were 100 delegates. Nine
| tY-seven OF them gave him their votes
for president He thinks he was elected
the first Governor of the new State, but
tnat he was jockeyed out of the Office
by politicians. Still there is no acid in
his speech. II go about things delib-
| erately," he said. IF 1 fail IN a bat
tie or purpose I change my plans IL
| they are wrong and wait for another op-
portunity.
When He Carries n Six-Shooter.
Il have lived in Texas and Oklahoma
all my life" he continued, butt never
carry a siX-shooter except when going
on a trip. 1 am not an impulsive man.
When 1 fight, l keep my temper and
think things out as l go along. A 200
pound man once attacked me on the
street. While 1 side-stepped his blows, l
was figuring around to see how I could
lick him so that he'd remember the event
to his dying day. I'd run in under his
arms finally said to myself, grab him
by the legs and throw him backward ovsr
my shoulders. But when I hit him In
the paunch with my head he went down
on the ground with a grunt. and so l
modified my project and hoped into his
face with both feet"
Thus quietly talking, his gray eyes smIl-
ing, Alfalfa Bill" and that is the name
he likes above all others, runs his long
fingers through his tangled hair and en-
Enthusiastically smokes a fiVe-cent cigar
The original retail price of his clothing
shirt and shoes included, could not have
been over S25. Nor has he shaved since
day before yesterday. Good humor ana
honesty give attractiveness to his lean
and alert face
How about the initiative and referen-
dum?' 1 asked, going back to the latest
American Constitution.
Il was for it, in a modified FORM" ne
answered, because l thought it would
prevent the bribery of legislators. The
principle is sound, but it shouldn't be
worked to death. II the people are called
out to vote on every proposition they will
get weary of the performance and re-
fuse to vote at all. 1 can see, too, that
professional petitioners have a chance for
doing business under the initiative and
referendum scheme of legislation. They
can make a contract, you understand,
with certain interest to get names for
proposed law or against a law that
already has been passed by the Legisla-
ture.
Where the Recall Is Dangerous.
Il always opposed the recall, but was
outvoted in the convention. 1t is filled
with possible fraud and injustice. Two
political parties, let US say, nominate
candidates for Governor The Republi-
can candidate is chosen unanimously.
There is no fight inside his party. The
Democratic candidate, however, is only
nominated after a bitter contest. He
goes before the people and is elected by
a narrow margin. Then he does something
to offend a small faction of the Demo-
Gratis. What he had done may be Of SER
vice to his State, but his enemies in his
own party subject him to the operations
OF the recall, the Republicans vote with !
them. and he is turned out of office in 1