The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-06

SISTMI.NI ~ tttA ASTALilIiNG.
. For weeks thcrr has been a seri,able sen OF
speculation concerning gubcrnatorial possibiii-
ties At I.uv. O. score OF candidates on both
eide, have been aiscuHsed. For a very consid-
orablc t,uIo there vas little evidence tina, pub
lie opinion w1a crrstnliizing around any OF them.
But within tho past two weeks there mas been
very noticeable crysaigation Of opinion both
IN the republican and democratic ranks
From the democratic mlsts two figures are
emerging Thdir outlines are clear and distinct
Thcy are far In advance of their fellows. These
nguas are Judge Tom owen Of 'AIuskogee. and
Mayor walton. OF Oklahoma city. They are
The only Two possessing dsccrnable positive
support OF a militant character. The others all
occupy positions OF more less strategy where
support may eventually rally but whert sub
stantaf support is now very conspicuous boz
cause OF it's absence,
Political logic further portends that these two
figures win eventually fight II out In tho prl-
mary and practically ulont. We will not pop
ularlzc ourselves by the assertion that Leecraft,
Trapp. Wilson, Howard and the others will all
be out of the field before the gong sounds but
such appears TO be the unacceptable conclusion
OF one familiar with Oklahoma, political con-
ditions and more OF less experienced In the
exegencfes OF party politics.
Every pohtea; straw at this time points
strongly TO a great conflict within the demo-
cratic party next year preparatory TO tine main
engagepent between tho democratic and repub-
lican- forces IT will be not only a much
warmer inter party contest than has ever before
been waged, but It viii be vastly more Inn
portant; for on its outcome will depend the
character Of tho democratic party for years
10 come.
We anticipate challenge when we say that
the democratic party Is tinged heavily with
radicalIsm. that this radlcaIism has been grow
inIs and that It has cost the democratic party
heavily m the years since statehood. Every
radical unconstitutional political movement
which has sprung UP In Oklahoma has drawn
heavily from the original democratic ranks.
For every voter deserving tho republican ranks
for such movements there have been at least
a halt-dozen who have deserted the democratic
ranks. It Is not our purpose To here inquire
into the causes, simply state the facts.
The socialist forces, the rabor forces. tht
farmer forces, the nucleus Of the nonpartisa.
lcague-all and sundry--have been largely re-
cruited from the democratic party AS Il orig
inaily funcuonod In tho first oklahoma cam
paiFns THESE organizations. or moyemen s
have become formidable az whole. but merely
irritating when acting separately and In opposl-
ton one to the other
The possibility OF uniting them ana whipping
them into a single political unit has doubtless
attracted many ambitious minds but 1t re-
palned for Walton. the radical mayor OF okla
homa city. TO mako progress along such Inc
and suddenly appear democratic candi-
dste for governor backed by thus couglomcra.
don o.; uucpnsttutionalism which ayoyedy
seeks the subversion OF the existing form, of
f,, 81
,he Oklahoma City mayor 10 accurately per.
ccive that he has been close student Of Town
ley and is an admiror Of the North Dakota ad-
venturer. -
inevitably the constitutional element OF th1
democratic party must be seriously concerned
over this Development when the fun measure
OF the danger is perceived the yarm viii be
much greater. For it Walton is permitted to
capture the democfato name and Organization
q In the primaries, It makes very little difference
whether he wins the election or not so far as
the damage TO the democratic party is con-
aerned The party itseit VIII have been launched
on a path which will lead It into wilderness
OF unreallzod ambitions and disheartening dis
lppolutments, there TO wander for years
sooner or later II win occur to all OF the
prospective candidates that the one possible
strategy oncring a possibility of defeating this
radical is TO clear tho field OF all saye the
strongest candidate. strengthening the party
ticket by placing other ambitious gentlemen OF
strength on guard IN various other state offices.
Who rs the strongest candidate 10 pit against
the rudcal? A knowledge OF Democratic poll
,ics permits us TO venture The assertion that
owen viii finally be agreed on. which means
no more than that he win have the fight Of his
lrc to defeat the smoothest politician the
democratic party has known since Haskell
As me knowledge of the facts above stated
has spread and the oonseQusneeso sof such an
ater-party contest has impressed itssn upon