The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-31
A CRucLAL CoNrl5Sr

of the state senate is crucial, because with con
troll Of the senate goes the control Of the stat,
election hoard. Ana unless the state election
board is reformed, unless there IL a marked
change in tho conduct OF our elections and III,
laws under which they are held, Il Is perfect,
absurd to think OF bottered public serv.
ice more acceptable political system in this
state
The election hcld in November was the most
corrupt ever held IN oklahoma and that is say
INK much. This fact Is now being generally
recognized details from the various southern
counties come in. We do not pretend to say
that John Fields was elected, but we do say, and
even a cursory analysis of the election figures
prove. that tens OF thousands OF fraudulent bal
Tote crammed into the ballot boxes in those
counties whore democratic dIsaffocton caused
thousands to remain away from the polls. but
where the returns show unusually heavy
democratic vote was poed,
Mr.. Walton tho beneficiary OF this fraud
although there is bare chance that he not
particeps criminis, since the control OF the elec
tion machinery was in the hands OF the admin
is.ration and the administration was desperate
beyond compare in It's determination not to al
low unfriendly governor to enter the execu-
tive offices of the commonwealth. It is not
even denied that the soldier bonus bill, a Grass
impropriety in the first instance was defeated
through fraud. fraud that it is believed was
paid for by contingent fec OF enormous pro-
portions
And what Is the Immediate consequences of this
compounded felony? As the existing admins
tration draws to close find one OF the
great educational institutions in the hands OF
an investigator while the lid is olamped down
TO prevent the public from knowing just what
has iaka Mi is a.
have been irregularities" but the henchmen
OF the administration rush forward to express
ballet that no crlmnaIity was intended. why
not let all OF tho facts be known that the pub
lie, from. whose pockets the institution Is fund
ed may determine whether not there has
been crimlnality.
But that is only part of the harvest which
is being reaped by tfre benefoiares OF the de-
pplcably unfair and dishonest election system.
Announcement is made that the outgoing gov
arnor under Indictment for bribery and eter-
nally damned by the record he has made, so far
as tho opinion OF honest men and women are
soncerned has been retained special sttor-
Rey for ths state in the already notorious Red
ysver case at a salary OF $4,000 a year. one
Ssevitaby recalls the service this Red river case
iAfs already performed for lame ducks how It
tack care of the retiring Encouragement, sup
in lieu of the $4,50o salary he gave up.
or course n a lame-duck attorney generals
services was worth $4,000 year 1t requires
little reasoning to ascertain that lame-ducK
governors services ought to be worth S35,00O
year. And by the same process of reasoning
a lame-duck senator's services should easily
command twice that figure.
such impudent defiance OF deceuoy as this
does not occur unless the gang is buttfesssd be
hind some brenstwork considered impregnabie
against the indignation of the public The cleo
tiun machinery as constituted at the present
time gives the Oklahoma gang the assurance Il
feels necessary with the election machinery
conducted by McAlister and McAllister supiney
subservlent 10 the Robertson -rrapp Semans
gang aided and abetted by Lllard and such
desplcable tools as Tom Heiny, the voting pub
lie hasn't as much chance to register protest
one-legged man has to win foot race with
coyote
We have said this much in order 70 call at
tention to the Importance Of the struggle for
control OF the state senate, because with con
troll OF the senate goes TIE election board; and
to impress upon the public ths necessity OF
closely observing what takes place in the next
10 days There Is very great uncertainty as to
whether not the governor-elect really wants
to disodge MoAlster, and only the event itself
can determine.
Under the guidance of Trapp the forces that
are wrecking the state are preparing to make a
last stand. II they get the democratic sen
ators who favor a change into a secret caucus
they will win, but II Governor Walton and hts
farm-labor backing will play the game IN earneet
and with determination they win.
In the circumstances, II those who seek cloc-
ton reforms enter that democratic caucus with
out positively knowing they have the votes TO
win, they confess their bad faith In their under
taking and boldly proclaim that they have sim
ply been maneuvering to fool the public on
bhs outside OF the democratic caucus are IL
.swn.