The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-12-05
Oklahoma Politics and Politicians

OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. THE
death Of Jake l.. Hamon, republican
national committee man. rcopens
he field of discussion among those
republicans who are still Of the opin-
ion that the chief duty OF the party
heads IL to dispense patronage ana
50 cure places for those who have APP
pointed themselves cuetodians of the
faith. The fact that meeting was
held at Ardmore to rcsolute as to
who should bc elected successor to
MIR. Ramon IL In itself significant.
the meeting being held the same day
| that the remains of hamon were
deposited in the grave.
Moreover those who had retired
20 the rear to nurse old wounds re-
| appeared In numbers, and mt once.
Is II by magic. leaders conn mcnced
to confer about possible tangles.
While the selection OF the next
republican national committeeman
is wholly in the hands Of the state
committee. "A visitor at the capital
might be led 10 assume the election
IL To be by primary, judged by the
conferences held on every hand.
only two names have been mem
toned. At the Ardmorc meeting
presided over by j. l.. DyChe, resolu-
lions indorsing Mrs. liamon To sue
coed her husband were passed
For % years Dychc has been
promXcnt IN territorial and
oklahoma politics and IN now the
treasurer Of the republican state
committee. The other name is that
OF state Chairman James 4. Harris
OF Wagonor, and who holds an ad-
vantageous position for the reason
OF his conducting the victorious
campaign which cnedcd November
z. Unless a majority of the mem bors
OF the republican state committee
are members OF the Annanias club.
Harris will be elected national com
mitteeman, and some Of these mem
bers affirm that this will be so
nearly by acclamation that the
probability of any other name being
presented to the committee is re-
mote.
The differences over the selection
or the new national committeeman
revolve around the question OF pa
tronage. IL is an open secret
that National Committeeman Hamon
ana Senator-elect liarreld were not
agreed on the subject Of patronage.
The two had never been political
friends, and Iiarreld won hts nomir-
1
sition OF Mr., Hamon, II Is true that
hamon did not openly oppose Har-
reld's nomination but he was not
the personal choice of the oil mil.
.ionaire. and when the republicans
won the national and state elections
there Immediately arose some uucs-
tion over the distribution of the
loaves and fishes. Hamon and iiar-
reid rapidly approaching an open
break before the latter left okla
homa for Washington,
state Chairman Harris had striven
to avoid this breach between the two
and It appeared as IL he had ac-
complished this when the tragic
death Of famon followed Behind
ilamon was a personal following OF
the first magnitude and the dspo-
sition to transfer his mantle of
leadership to his wife carried both
sentimental and political reasons in
To the open. The majority of those
seeking TO elect Mrs, IIamon arc
really friendly to the state chairman.
but they fear that he would not car
ry the question of patronage TO the
point OF party disaffection To gain
a point.
In fact, Harris has sought to es-
cape the patronage reefs He is
A'AAN ''IFN A'hN AAAAA no 'llf NAN ili4
set of men can appcaSe the appetite
for appointments, and no is con
cerned moro in the question OF
maintaining party solidarity than In
getting men appointed to office. In
truth, Mr Harris Is of the opinion
that sound governmental sense
shown by the oncoming legislature
and discretion on the part of party
heads will cause republican success
at the election To he held in Novcm-
brr, la23, and his energies are hc-
ing directed toward that Campaign.
In this even those opposed To him
being selected national committee
man are agreed, but AZ the same
time they do not wish TO lose what
had heen gained through the influ-
F-re National Committeeman IIamon
WAS believed TO have had with Pres
ident-elect Hard