The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-08-24

OhLAttOMA I'll I, Okla., aug, ~.
Every bank in this state is an
arsenal. All the clerks are being
taught to and are expecting to use
the guns in their vaults" This was
stated to me by an eminent lawyer
sitting calmly in an office here in
the state capital.
"ThiS issue is between the tenant
farmers and the bankers and land
lords. This draft resistance is just
an excuse for the preliminary out
break of what may prove to be a
revolution" This time it was a
Judge who was speaking, judge
who as a delegate to the Baltimore
Convention of the democratic party
that nominated Woodrow Wilson.
"Since three months ago, l esti-
mate that sixty thousand modern
high powdered rifles have been pur-
chased by the farmers in this state.
A few drayloads have been captured,
but thery're on the trail too late. .
This was said by former minister
who has been touring the state with
a Chautauqua company.
Here you have the elements of a
situation that only waits for a show
of force by the United States Gov
eminent to break nito flame. The
''riots" in Seminole. Pontotoc and
Pottawatomie counties resulted in
the arrest of a few old men and
young boys, mainly non-resiters. One
or two old grudges were settled in
the process. These "riots" were
mere surface indications of what is
going to happen-if Uncle Sam does
not use all his tact. What is true
in Oklahoma is true of Texas, Col
GRADE, Arkansas and Kansas.
In the state penitentiary at Nc
Alester, in the death cell, which is
only thirty inches wide and less than
seven feet long, sits Good Eye
Huck," otherwise Hon. Albert Huckle-
berry one-eyed tenant farmer who
was for two years county commits
sioner Of Seminole County. During
this term of office he uncovered
CRAFTS, swindlings, and thievery on
the part of the democratic machine
politicians who held the county of
ficers hitherto. Hundreds of thou
sands of dollars had disappeared
"He sees more with his good eye
than anybody else with both" is the
common saying that gave him his
nickname. Huckleberry got evidence
sufficient to convict, after long
hard battle. The governor refused
at first to have the accounts Of the
county audited. After he was wor
over, the state auditor pleaded that
there were not sufficient funds. But
Huckleberry, armed with a petition
signed by 800 voters of the county
forced the investigation and audit
which resulted in penitentiary terms
being awarded a whole ring OF
grafters in Seminole County. They
appealed, and out not out on bond
The start of the trouble in these
counties began with the swearing in
of deputy sheriffs and sending them
out to arrest the boys who did not
show up for registration and eXamina-
ton. Where these boys were not
found, their parents an dneighbors
were arrested, and old graudges were
satisfied by hauling along Of many
a Socialist agitator who had exposed
the unparalleled rottenness and cor
ruption in Democratic Oklahoma
on the ground that they were "friend-
ly to the draft resisters." One OF
the Oklahoma daily papers makes
great CdplIdl OuJ u IHS uIoCOYCl
of one of the common Socialist pen
nants, "Workers Of the World Unite.
which it procIaims 81 the "only one
known to be in the state-in the
house of one of those arrested fol
suspected friendliness with the draft
resisters.
Thus the natural opposition to the
enforcement of the draft law in the
state which was overwhelmingly So
cialist in feeling, but which is being
taken advantage Of by bankers anC
landlords and chambers Of commerce
to suppress and dispose of thu
strong movement which was on the
verge Of Kidding the tenant farmer!
of Oklahoma of the worse and the,
are overplaying their hands.
"The Working Class Union" O.
which so much is being written ans
said, was organized in this state swt