The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-02-29
Will Hamon and Harris Organize Party to
Win or Send 1t Down to Defeat Again

,norIous campaigns ever staged ID
1tlanoma Not since the over.
heated days OF Haskell when new
stato vas being carved and first pol
tic,' ambitions were Clashing In u
rev,.y organized arena, has anything
,omparaoie to 1t occurred.
| Sor was the victory Of the Has
lelI. Murray combination in the dem
nc party OF those days any more
\ r.,r,uipte than the victory which
Iakr l., Hamon and James II. Harris
have lust scored in the republican
party l,.,..,,.-.
Il or,,pose the factions and reconcile
i .re .,I1shing ambitions OF their party
,s aid Bnl and Charley? That Is a
question that only event itself can
4 determine.
7'g, Wining campaign OF the lla-
NOR. Harris com binatiJn is the roai-
JatIou OF an ambition that has
..I-t,d since tho advent of state
hood At that time j. l.. Ilamou, the
s1..,ssful candidate for national
committeeman In the campaign Just
ended. was chairman OF the state
J committee, which had Just been
III ana.ramated with the state commit
4 a. of old Indian territory. Harris
n was Cd member OF the committee.
n 9otN wore ambitious
Charles Hunter. an eN-member OF
Il The Rough Rider organlHaiion that
Il won glory on the field OF Santiago,
nut Roosevelt in the governors Of
nee in New urk and set on foot a sell
lment that resulted in elevaung that
great character 10 the presJdehIy,
yas soon made chairman He con-
TIrtod the campaign for the election
If capt. Frank Frant2, also a Rough
\ Rider, which failed OF its purpose
4 lut did leave in the saddle the
Frantz- Hunter combination when
the state was organized and the
p.ums were being distributed
Hamon, then n struggling attorney
az I.awton, dropped out OF repubi-
4 can politics as a principal, content
ing himself with backing the aspira-
lOns and Vaccinations OF his friend
Harris and in establishing "A friend
4 Is relation with the leaders Of the
dominant party in the state. For
A Years Hamon was considered to have
Il lafgely transferred his allegiance to
4 The democratic party, always appear
a lng as an influential character at the
n Gatehouse. and being recognized AS
III valuable adjunct to the political
m nachine of Oklahomas blind sena-
~ toi.
In the various fights made by
idTTIS bNUStQutul 10 HAdNtllppus
and he has been in some sort of
fight in every campaign whether
state or national since, Hamon was
the power behind the throne; OF late
years the finafcial power.
Harris, IL was said. was carrying n
handicap In the Hamon backing and
friendship. and four years ago in the
Harris NJ McGraw campaign there were
many oklahoma politicians friendly
TO Harris who finally landed in the
McGraw camp because OF the Hamon
influence among the Harris forces
II was the Harris Hamon intention
10 secure control of the republican
party in Oklahoma, and candidates
we're suggested and political engage
ments made always with this end IN
view. Whether in the first instance
ne plans were for the two to abso-
lutely own the two controlling offices
in the party organization cannot be
said with any degree of finality.
Probably not. For both realized in
these days that Hamon was without
sufficient strength to command any
thing in the nature of formidable
v following.
III But always at the critical moment
"a In HarrLS campaign Hamon would,
as the fellows put it, move In and
open up and always things were
doing in the vicinity of his quar- ers,
whether in the Huckins or the Skir-
Hn
When early last year there were
rmors of Hamon entering The race
for national committeeman for him
self no one took them seriously. II
was pointed out that the Hamon
recotd in the state was SUCH as to
discourage anything of nat kind
"NCu give man ambition
and fifteen or twenty million dol
lars and turn turn him loose in the
politics OF a state and he's a dan
Serious hombre regardless of his rep
utation"
That was the laconic Judgment OF
wise old Oklahoma politician when
he chances of Hamon success We're
q being discussed at Oklahoma City a
year ago. The wisdom of the state
ment is now clearly perceived That
sort OF a man is dangerous-at least
10 the ambitions OF any who may
oppose him.
That ls true said one Of the
group. But Hamon can secure his
election in Oklahoma only by pur-
chasing IT. And you can't purchase
NE party OF an entire state
Most everybody would like TO be
ueve that. And IL is probably true
ways and ways of influencing men to
support you in politics. Which recalls
U incident that occurred on II train
Oklahoma during the early sum-
nsr. The Hamon campaign manager
w. sitting in a seat talking to two
@}er gentlemen.
flake will win" ne declared
lake-------, for Instance" and the
name of the gentleman sitting 10y
am was mentioned. Jake says "a
I'm, Ed, how are you fiXed?"
Well" returns Ed, ~ owe con
Aoerable. IL I had a couple of thou
and dollars 10 take Up that mort
sage, would be in good shape
Jake writes Ed a check and tells
sun to pay the mortgage and repay
a1n 1n When he gets ready. do you
Ahk Ed will fall down ON doine
anything Jake wants him to?"
Men are rarely bought outright ir
pntlcs. The average politician, NJ
matter how cold d-blooded he may be
!us don't know how to do II or has
@ the nerve, which amounts TO the
sine thing.
Az oklahoma City a few weeks
&Q, about fha TINA fha xyagtarp dis