The New York herald., 1922-10-29
RADICALISM SPLITS
OKLAHOMA PARTIES
Stand of Democratic Candidate
for Governor Alienates
Conservative Votes.
GOES BEYOND PLATFORM
His State Ownership and Other
Drastic Ideas Win Repub-
lican Support.

llcan Support.
Special Dispatch TO THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
OKLAHOMA CITY. Okla. Oct 2S. -
Party regularity has been cast to the
winds by thousands of Oklahoma voters
in the most unusual political campaign
the State has known.
The Democrats are split largely be-
cause of the refusal of Mayor j. c. Wal
ton of Oklahoma City. the Democratic
nominee for governor. to place the plat
form of the Democratic convention
above the platform Of the Farner-Labor
Reconstruction League. the frst organ
ization In the State to indorse his can
didacy.
The League platform has been de-
nounced by Democratic boilers as
radically socialistic, demanding. as il
does. State ownership for utilities. mills
and elevators, a State bank, and in
creased exemption from taxation. That
platform was so amended by the Demo-
cratic convention. The Democratic plat
form made a regular thing out of a
radical thing. Yet Mayor Walton as
serts that he abides by the doctrines OF
the League platform.
Fear Effect ON Business.
Conservative Democrats have been
breaking away from the party. They
are not satisfied with Walton's inter-
probation of the League platform, and
they fear that capital will withdraw
from the State and other capital be
warned away by the adoption of the
policies sponsored by Walton.
Many leading Democrats have taken
the stump against their party.
Republicans are claiming enough do
fectiQns from Democratic ranks to elect
John Fields. the Republican nominee.
The supporters Of Walton declare that
he will get two or more Republican
votes for every Democratic vote he
loses.
Walton's stand has drawn to him the
heaviest union labor strength that a
candidate ever has had in this State
and the largest Socialist vote that a
Democrat ever had In Oklahoma. Also
II has drawn to him negro strength
that few Democrats of the South have
had.
Fields has for fifteen years or more
been editor Of farm journal In recent
years this journal has scen the property
of Senator Arthur capper of Kansas.
For several years FIELDS was professor
In the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege. In 1914. as Republican nominee
for Governor. he came within $500
votes OF winning.
His campaign Is being made largely
on non-partisan issues and 1t has been
notably free from references to the
administration of Pre- tsident Harding
and national issues.
The influence OF Gov. Robertson In
the campaign was manifest shortly be-
he nrff,1 uh rod
he had sent WORT down the line to his
machine men to support Walton. Rob-
ertson Captured the Democratic con-
vention. The very first plank Of the
Farmer-Labor Reconstruction League
platform condemned the Robertson adj
ministration. After the Governor g
speech to the convention II adopted a
platform that praised The outstanding
accomplishments of his administration.
This was the most EMBARRASSING thing
that has happened to the Walton can
didacy. but Walton remained true to
the League and at the same time had
assurance of the support OF the execu-
tive whom the League had condemned
and the Democrats praised.
g Outside Speakers Aid.
To the middle Of October no Republi-
brought into the State IN Fislds's behalf
save Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant Sec.
retary of the Navy. Early in the cam
paign 1t was announced that Senator
James Watson of Indiana and Senator
Arthur Capper of Karsas would tour
the State. Some heavy Democratic guns
have been laundering.
Mayor Walton aasserts that corpora
tions, corporation lawyers and big
business interests are against him.
Quite a number Of Democratic women
are openly supporting Fields. but q
majority Of the women are out fos
Walton.
1t is not disputed that thousands OF
Masons In the Democratic ranks will
refuse to vote for Walton because OF the
Catholic support that IL alleged to be
pledged to him. Among women In the
larger towns an anti-Waiton influence
originates from charges Of extrava.
gance made against him as Mayor and
his affiliation with labor unions and his
appeal for the negro vote.
On the platform and In the open places
little has been heard since the primary
of political activities OF the Ku Kiux
Klan. The Klan indorscd Robert II.
Wilson, State Superintendent OF Educa.
ton. In the primary race. Wilson was
accused by the opposition OF being q
member Of the KIan. He has, however,
taken the stump for Walton and mailed
out thousands Of letters to his followers
beseeching them to be regular.
Rumors that he had been indorsed by
the Klan were set at rest by Fields In
his opening speeoh after the primary.
He declared that churches. lodges.
creeds, &C.. should have no part In his
campaign. but he Ia likely to get a
heavy sprinkling Of Khan votes.
Fields stands boldly for white su.
premacy and denies Democratic insinua.
tions that he would ask repeal Of the
Jim Crow law. Recently an editorial In
The Black Dispatch, q negro Newspaper,
called upon negroes to vote for Fields
In the hope that the law would be re-
pealcd. That the negro vote Is d.
vided is generally conceded; otherwise
II would hold the balance of power In
the State.
Few OF the nominees Of the Demo-
cratic party for the Legislature had the
League Endorsement Conservative
Democrats do not fear the Legisla turs
would enact laws Of tho North Dakota
stripe.
The Constitutional Club. containing
boiling Democrats. warns of the DOS
sibiiity OF a Socialistic Legislature In
1924. This possibility Is said to be re-
sponsible for many Of the leading oil
companies OF the state favoring Fields.
The oil companies also are opposed 10 a
State soldier bonus Iii, 10 he voted on n
the election. This provides $50, ,oo0, 900
for ex-service men during the next ten
years Walton favors II.
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