The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-24
WITH UNCLEAN HANDS

man of business, departs from the narrow
and beaten path of truthfulness ne engages
to follow route which will lead nm lnto
the brambles of trouble and places hlmseH
in position where he must needs try 10
explain the inexplcable.
No matter how mediocre man may be.
no matter-if he is a poltlclan-n ne pc
longs to that class which will never set the
world on fire or turn rivers to running up
stream, if he goes about the performance OF
his duties in such a manner as to evidence
an honesty of purpose and determination
to do his best (no matter how limited MS
ability. for his constituency, for his country
and for his God, he merits and has the trust
and good will of everyone who knows hm,
either personally or by hearsay.
But when a man seeks to bolster up his
claims for position or distinction, for business
or honor, through attempting to tear down
the good name and fair reputation Of COM
petitor or opponent, especially when both
name and reputation are unassalable, ne
puts himself in most unenviabe position
and advertises to the world the fact that his
condition is desperate and that he will stop
at nothing, but will stoop to any subterfuge
to bolster up his claims for position ana
preferment When he stoopS to attacking the
good name and fair fame of his fellow man
he places himself in the column of business
or political shysters, losing at the same time
any claims which may have been his through
personal merit.
When Judge Harreld entered the lists
against the field for the Republican senatorial
nomination in Oklahoma, he had many ad-
mirers who rallied to his support and voted
for him. even in the face of his inexplicable
vote in the Berger matter, and despite a
certain knowledge that he had, at no time,
evidenced any ability which should cause
him to be honored with the toga of a states
man-which would give him a voice in the
halls of the most exalted legislative body in
all the United States.
Partisan politicians of the Republican
faith voted for Harreld in the primary cleo
ton, voted against men like Captain Bisbee
and Cash Cade, men of proven ability and
intrinsic worth, because they believed that
Harreld was the better mixer, the better
hand-shaker, the chap upon whom nature
had bestowed a pleasing personality, genial
smile and distinguished and statesman-like
personal appearance, making him, thereby,
the man who could win Democratic votes
from the regular Democratic nominee and
carry Oklahoma from the tried and true
Democratic column into the ranks made up
of what is known, politically, as doubtful
states"
They recked not that the other mere
men who were versed in the affairs of the
| state and nation; they cared not that the
: other men might be better fitted to repre-
sent the interests of the great people of this
great state; they paused not to think, OF
thinking did not care that the people OF
Oklahoma need, demand, should have in the
person of their United States senator mar
! who is of proven ability, of real worth, OF
material value to the federal government a.
a representative of one of the greatest cogs
in the grand master-wheel of our nationa
{ organizaton-the great state of Oklahoma
Forgotten were all traditions with (which
the life histories of real statesmen, statesmen
of all parties are replete Forgotten wer,
all the requisites of men who help to max,
' the fundamentals of this nation the creates
9 principles upon which any nation has beer
or can be buded All that the voters il
the Republican primary cared for was t.
2 nominate a man who could with ingratiatin
mannersms and studied appearance of wis
q dom, hypnotic the voters into the belief tina
y he was the Messiah of Republicansm, tn
Moses of the party who would lead the faith
full children of that political faith throug
|, the mazes of the Democratic wilderness an
y into the Promised Land-into the halls o