The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-01-18
MIRRORS OF OKLAHOMA

CONTINUED from Page One)
unimpaired. and he looks as good a
physical man as ever did a Wash
ington chore for sixth district Demo
crat.
The secret of Scott Ferris popular
ity, according to men who worked
with him in politics, was his willing
ness to do things for people. He
would make q great effort to put
across the desire for men and womei
of his district, and so great was his
willingness that demands often wen'
to him from clher districts in the
state.
He could also shake hands in a
whoie-heartei SORT of way, and IN
campaigning, there was never man
who could ask for a drink of water
at a farmhouse with more grace, or
Play with tie tabies with more spir
tied abandon.
But despite all this personal prowess
Ferris would insist on publicly speak
ing, and therein he just couldn't
shine.
Right now, IL you shoul1 by chance
find a man who really enjoyed d
to Ferris to tell of it-for Scott will
certainly get such supreme delight in
hearing of il that you will be repaid
for your trouble.
Bill Kerr. formerly executive secre
tary to Governor Lee Cruce, and now
writer. was recently a member Of a
group in which Ferris was an ami
mated talker, in Ardmore. Stories oi
politics had gone back and forth fol
perhaps 20 minutes, and finally lighted
on some of Ferris campaign expert
ences.
Kerr Recalls Ferris Best Speech"
You know, Scott" spoke up Kerr,
"the best speech 1 ever heard you
make was a patriotic address down
in Jefferson county"
"Yes," said Ferris, with a visible
intake of breath that expanded his
chest, THAT was at--; you
were editor at Ringing then and wrote
that speech up, didn't you, Bill?'
YES" admitted Kerr reminiscently.
dillNlbb 1T bht oNtht va
your meeting after you had started
speaking. and l couldn't help saying
to myself. that isn't the Scott Ferris
i know making that speech"
Although Kerr was sincere, the
slight indication in his language that
the Scott Ferris he knew was hardly
capable of big oratorical effort,
lfInff nlfrpant EarrtC
Bill Kerr had scored. All who hao
not heard that jefferson county speech
had TO sit in silence.
"I remember sitting in room in
the Skirvin hotel in 1920, shortly after
the August primary which made Scott
Ferris the leading Democratic nomi-
nee and therefore the dictator of cam
paign policies lin a way).
Another in the room was Elmer
Thomas of Lawton, who was the can.
didate for congress from the Sixth
district and recognized as heady poll.
tician.
Felt Deeply About League Of Nations
"I think we had better carry the
campaign forward on the great &c.
t@iAsfAAoaAaAANAAa VI AAt PfAllQ1ieAAAN hA-
ministration," said Thomas shortly
after / entered the room. 1t devel.
oped that the parley was 4 sort oil
Informal meeting 70 discuss campaign
issues.
II have found in my campaign in
the Sixth that the league of nations
is not standing up as an issue" con-
tinued Thomas. II think we SHOULD
make that secondary thing, ana
throw forward the big things the
Wilson administration has accomplish
ed in eight years"
Thomas had the floor for few
minutes. enlarging on what he be
lleved was the best campaign for the
state.
You are right in a way" replied
Scott, who was propped up on the
bed, "but believe you are wrong
about the league Of nations.
IL have oampaigned over the en-
tire state, and | sense q rising sup
port for the league. You may hay,
succeeded in the Sixth with the otheI
kind of campaign. but | believe
am right about the league"
The talk went back and forth. anc
when | left the room. Ferris still helc
that his league of nations argument
was the real thing for u successful
campaign.
Bested BY Farmer On Pet Subjec
Though.
Ferris. Of course. had been for /.
years congressman, and Elme
Thomas had been no more than
leader In the state senate. 40 OF cours'
Thomas could not understand hov
that league OF nations should be pu
forward.
Many stories are told about Ferris
meetings over the state. but one par
ticularly shows how deeply Ferri
Understood the league. 1t Is reporte'
his campaign party was bouncinl
across country on one. OF the soutl
state's railroads. when Il ran afou
OF group OF young Democrats fron
the santa Fe towns south Of Purcell
Ecott had been eague.of-nationlng 70
several weeks with more or less sue
cess. His meetings had been man
but his crowds had been rather small
In seat up forward sat an oil