The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-07-29
MURRAY BEGINS
FINAL HEAT CUB
ERNAT0R|AL RACE
GENERALLY CONCEDED TO
BE THE LEADING CANDI-
DATE IN CONTEST
SURPRISES CAPITAL CITY
Mr.. Murray Held Large Audience in
Open Air for Two Hours, Some
thing Heretofore Never Accom-
plished by Any Candidate.
(By Charles H. Adams, Staff Cor
respondent.)

(By Charles H. Adams, Staff Cor
respondent.)
ldabel, Okla, July D.-William
H. Murray, now conceded by all but
the staunchest supporters of his op-
ponents as the leading candidate for
the Democratic nomination for gov
ernor of Oklahoma, today began the
final heat of the gubernatorial race
here. Murray has swung to the rail-
and is now heading out strong for
lead into the homestretch which is
expected to carry him into the gov
ernor's chair.
An informal reception by Murray
leaders from all over the state was
held in Oklahoma City Friday night
and Saturday forenoon, and each
county worker had good news to
offer. In many instances the re-
ports are surprising. Mr.. Murray
and his ieutenants are far from
overconfident, but an abundance OF
confidence would be justifiable in
view of the reports to headquarters.
Surprise at Capital.
1t is likely that four weeks ago
no candidate for governor would
have been able to talk 80 minutes
to an Oklahoma City crowd of more
than a few hundred. Mr.. Murray's
Oklahoma City audience Friday
night was estimated at from 2,OOO up
and in spite of the uncomfortable
standing room on a brick street,
only negligible number failed to
remain until his two-hour speech
had been concluded.
And so it was at FL Reno Sat-
urday night and so it has been tor
the past week. Wasihta, kiowa,
Comanchc, Caddo, Oklahoma and
Canadian counties have given the
sage of Tishomingo warm recep-
ton, an attentive hearing and en-
dorsed his declaration that Okla
homa should have and will have
war governor familiar with the
needs of the times.
Judge Robertson's Campaign.
Judge Robertson has two head
quarters suites at Oklahoma City
and a statewide newspaper as his
organ. The headfuarters is filled
with clerks and workers, and the
newspaper is giving up valuable
position to its reports from Rob
ertsons' trips, even to the extent OF
calling a special writer from its
Washington bureau to conduct the
campaign. Thus far it has only
dealt with the typical rhoorbacks
when it has said anything about
Murray. In every instance it has
been shown that these tales are
without foundation in fact and are
refuted by the evidence of well
known and trustworthy men OF at
fairs in various portions of the
state.
Mr.. Murray has not given much
attention to the circulation OF these
groundless rumors, simply offering
his reply to each in the br.efest
terms possible, and this policy has
won him thousands of votes. The
writer's candid opinion is that all
over the state there are thousands
of persons who might have been i'm
pressed with fair, clean campaign
on the part of Mr.. Murrays oppo.
nents. but since Robertson and
Alexander have for weeks been en-
gagged in a campaign of vindictive-
ness and vituperation, hurling mud
at each other with an occasional
dab in Alfalfa BilPs" direction, the
public has become impatient with
their tactics; and then Mr.. Murray
has come along and in quiet, gen
,lemanly manner, has spoken for
perhaps five or ten minutes III re-
ply to their attacks and then devot-
ed the remainder of his typical two
hour meeting to an address on pre-
paredness. both in the present crisis
and for the future, a tribute to the
bows who are carrying on" SO glor-
iously "over there" and admonition
to do everything. not "our bit" but
to the full 100 per cent of our ef-
ficiency lover here" in order 10 give
them a real chance in this crisis
and let them know that we are be-
hind them to the last nickel and
the last ounce of energy. under the
direction Of the worlds greatest
tsatesman. Woodrow Wilson.
Contrast Is Great.
The contrast between the tactics
of Mr.. Murray on the one side and
Robertson and Alexander on the
other, has been too great to be lost
by a minded public. And il
has been the common experience in
each town to hear such expressions
as this: ~'BiIr certainly made
great speech tonight and made a
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