The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-13
MISUNDERSTANDING PROPAGANDA.

The success Of the Fields movement. as n has
come to be called by NIL. marked tho end Of
ono distinct phase in the state campaign ana
the beginning ot another The vIcousnoss with
which various democrats turned upon Fields
once hc had consented 10 permit hts nnme TO
bo filed. demonstrated clearly that the opposl
ton realized that the man II had TO defeat had
been named. II was not necessary to await
the outcome Of tho primary, not necessary 10
hold fro untll the voters had spoken The only
thing necessary TO weaken II possible the
enc man in the history Of the state whose flt-
ress for office had brought TO him n volume ~
support that could not and would not be
denied.
And no sooner had the first broadsIde OF crit
icsm beon fired and the reaction from the
voters felt. than II was discovered that not n
single man in tho running on the democratic
side could be depended on to win. Tho Howard
attack on Fields at walters weakened the TuIsn
candidate thousands Of votes. From every
quarter Of the state cnmo mn instant protest
from men who have voted tho democratic
ticket for years IIorc in Tulsa county ospo-
oinlly from the country districts there was al
most revolt against the Tulsa favorte bc-
cnuso OF his expressions at Walters.
His "the republicans will possibly be able 10
point TO n few mistakes OF the democratic ad-
nllnlstratlon" construed as showing tho
Tulsa candidates willingness to not only con-
done all that the satehouse gang has done to
the taxpayers of this state, but a disposition to
defend It while attacking vicously man who
has been through two statewide campaigns
without blcmsh being fastened upon his
character or a dent made In his armor.
Under the circumstances there was nothing
left for the opposition but to call n panic con-
ference in the hope OF reforming It's alignments
to give some confidence to tho rank aud
file The demand was insistent for every can
didate to get out OF the and let some man
in that can run" Nor did tho candidates evinco
any indignation Mt tho demand. But the over
wholmlng question was. who Is tho candidate
that can run fast enough to win?
That remains tho question. whore indeed is
the man who can run to win? Whatever tho
decision, It will bo another case OF feeding a
good man into an impossible and ruthless ma
chine: tho machine viii not be improved, but
the good man will bo mangled. Tho voters OF
tho state know full well that II Is not the man
hut the machine that has made government In
this state n monster OF inefflciency, corruption
and profllsacy; that long as the machine
remains In power the character Of the candl-
date amounts TO precious little; tho machine
ia able to grind him TO proportions that will
| serve It's purpose
A good man may be found willing to go the
route; good man may porchnnce succeed IN
| winning tho election. But II so. then tho ma
| chino will simply have claimed another Victim
and the people will, usual, be the losers.
There is but way to reform a corrupt
! rarty; that is to drive It from power where
wandering In the wilderness with no ravens to
feed It. the godly and decent element can secure
control OF It and make II again ut for service,