The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-12-19


open, knowing that he has broad acquain-
tance throughout the state of Oklahoma,
with many warm admirers in the ranks Of
the states Democracy who, while knowing
him to be Republican, are yet proud to
claim him as political friend.
His standing with the party Of the oppo-
sition as man worthy of confidence and
trust is evidenced by the fact that of all the
Republicans in Oklahoma, he was selected
by Governor Robertson to serve as the Re-
publican member of the state board Of af-
fairs, while his standing as man who puts
service of people above all else may be found
in the fact that no whisper of complaint
has been breathed against the manner i'll
which he has discharged his official duties.
In addition to all else it may be noted that
Kayser can come before the voters in his
party's primary, with the enviable record of
being most successful business man and,
as such, man who can give the taxpayers
of Oklahoma that thing which they so earn
estly demand-a business administration.
Of Kayser's possible opponents in the
Republican primary, Fields will be compelled
to face the handicap of having once been
named the standard bearer of Oklahoma's
Republicans, only to carry his party through
disastrous campaign to an inglorious de-
feat.
Fields would enter the race with the full
knowledge that while he is the editor of a
farm paper Of reputed authority upon things
agricultural, he is the man who so earnestly
urged the Oklahoma farmers to plant the
pink bloom cotton, because it was SO much
more prolific than the white-blooming var
iety, while the memory of the wooden horse,
imported from France at heavy expense
upon his suggestion, will prove hard bronch
for him to ride while racing about the arena
in an effort to lasso the festive, wild and
bucking voter.
big JIM Harris might, according to
present superficial indications, be named
among those who will be eliminated at the
start. Unless things change most materially
he would not get far enough from the post
to be classed, after the Republican primary,
as an also ran. For while he is recognized
as having been one Of the best organizers in
the Oklahoma Republican party, and while
he is known as one of the best handshakers
(no party barred) in this states group Of
political good fellows, the poison gas which
was thrown in the bitter internecine strife
wherein Jim McGraw and the late Jake
Hamon led the opposing factions of Okla
homa's Republicans, year ago, left bad
taste in the mouths of many Republican
leaders-a taste which, justly or not, Big
Jim Harris will have to answer for in part.
In addition to this it may be noted that
the fight which will soon be made to name
lannon's successor as national chairman
from this great southwest state, will be one
in which Harris will be compelled to take
part, and no matter how that contest may
be settled he cannot hope to come out of it
without showing few bruises and scratch
es, which will not add to his political beauty
should he come before the men and women
of his party asking them to name him as
their choice for the position Of chief execu-
tive of Oklahoma.
With Harris eliminated and the fight mar
rowed in the beginning, to contest between
Kayser and Fields, it may be said that they
are both newspaper men of ability, but while
Fields has catered to the needs of the farmer
at long range, sitting in leather-cushioned
chair in an extensively furnished office in an
Oklahoma City skyscraper, Kayser as the ed
itor of one of the best country newspapers in
Oklahoma, has administered to the rural
needs, in his section of the state, by personal
contact.
Fields is city-bred man, bearing all the
ear-marks Of metropoltanism both in his
personal appearance and in his style of writ
ing, while Kayser comes from the rank and
file, college man, but unspoiled by learn
ing, a capable man, an unostentatious man; a
business man and, at the same time, hail
fellow we'll met, whose friends and acquain-
tances are numbered among members of
the newspaper fraternity and the business
men of both parties in every section OF the
state.
AS Democrat, speaking from a purely
narrow partisan viewpoint, we would rather
see the Republicans name any other man as
their candidate for governor than j. W.
Kayser, but as a man who believes it more
than possible that the Republicans may elect
the next governor of Oklahoma and who,
in event Of such a contingency, would wish
to see the best and cleanest and most thor