The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-02-15
A NASTY
SMELL IN NEXT
POLITICAL ROW
Rivals Are Framing up For
Barrage of Mud and Both
Primary and Election
Will be Big Melee.


OKLAHOMA CITY There may be
division of opinion on many as
poets OF the coming political cam
pa gn, but all hands seem TO be agreed
upon one thing.
The two big stages of the race, for
nominations in the primary and for
election after the primary, are going
TO be the nastiest. most bitter ana
hardest.fought battles OF recent years
in Oklahoma.
From all over the state, politicians
of the old or newer schools are max
ing pilgrimages to the capital Just
now. and while nobody will stand
sponsor for definite statements. It IS
common to hear a man in a hotei
lobby say. "If that guy gets funny
with us, Wen spring q bunch Of stuff
on him that will make him wish he'd
never heard Of politics"
Leecraft May Not Start.
The race for the Democratic nomi'
nation for governor Is naturally at
tracing the most interest just now,
with supper. about evenly distributed
lin the open-between Judge Thomas
II. owen of Oklahoma City, f. B,
Howard of Tulsa. Hubert Bolen OF
Oklahoma City and r. H. wilson
state superintendent Of education.
The comparative silence so far OF
AN. Leecraft, state treasurer has
kept him out Of the gossip here, ana
there are many who are willing TO bet
that his name will not go before the
voters at the primary.
They base their assertion on grape
vine Intelligence from the capitol thar
the official state.house support must
not be split. and that 1t will go TO
the strongest man. Wilson got out
into the open earliest of the state
house candidates, and ii is believed
that II his supporters can bluff Lee
craft out OF the race. they Will do II.
Otherwise. If Leecraft comes iR and
stays in. Wilson is apt to find hard
shedding in quarters where now every
thing appears bright and rosy.
Admit Owens Strength.
Judge owen, former Muskogeean, is
admitf6l to be the strongest man on
the east side Of the state, and there
is no conversation concerning the COM
ing Democratic primary that does not
start with his name as the strongest
man in the field at this time. This
Is because Of owens personal follow
ing. and his known strength in public
circles.
.Bolen. as an owen entry, and How
af,f.< representing a large personal fol-
lowing. have been making the least
noise TO date. although Howard is now
visiting different PARTS OF the state
in furtherance Of his candidacy.
II is the fear that candidates before
the urinary will tell what they know,
or think they know. about each other
thai is keeping hundreds of minor
leaders throughout the state from
making alliances at this time. II is
the popular belief here that the little
hnsses are looking 10 alliances that
will result in the least publicity when
Inc big storm breaks.
Harris Is G.. d. p. Choice.
In Republican circles, Big jim OF
"Mudhole" Harris of Wagner has ar
omen field. The report is current
here. as in Muskogee. that Big jim
is TO make the race for governor
with John Fields as his campaign
manager, and with Jim" McGraw o
Tulsa backing him with all tn
strength of the McGraw machine tina
put up such stubborn opposition L
the rule of Jake Hamon.
There Is quite a little disappoint
ment here that It isn't to be Fields a
a candidate, with Harris as his mana
ger. instead OF the other way around
The one great race for the executive
chair made by Fields, and his popu
larity with the farmers and the publ
in general. are weighed against Har
ris opposition to good roads and hi
hirh.handed treatment Of party issue
in The past Republicans in the cap
tai are not accusing Harris openly o
double-crossing his friends in the pas'
They put IL. rather. that Jim Nc
Graw will shoot darn sight square
by Harris than Harris ever did b