The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-11-26
Machines Fixed Method
of Handling Election
Seen in Danger
BIG BL0WUP BREWING
Result of Fight Over Organi-
zation of Senate to Show
Just "Who Is Governor"
BY CLARK G. HUDSON,
World Capital Correspondent.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 25,---Or-
ganlZation OF the next legislature.
since It has come to include organi-
cation of the election machinery OF
the state is rapidly reaching "A phase
OF rubicundity rivalinE the most heo-
tic hours of the recent campaign. II
threatens TO reveal whether the gov
ernor or the lieutenant governor
wle!ds the power OF political destiny
In this state.
Ordinarily. "A bran new governor.
fresh from the folks with a message
In his system, would be permitted to
think that he Is organizing the legis-
lature by naming a speaker OF the
house, That pleases the noyiate, and
hurts nobody. But when this latt-
tude is exceeded by an asseTtive and
willful executive who essays also to
Organize" the senate, at once there
are emitted sharp cries OF hostility
and astonishnent. Not that the pro-
verbal dignity OF tha; aus;ers body
is ruffled because of threatened in
vasion by the executive. but. in this
particular case, control OF the cleo
tlon machinery Is involved.
Guarding the Sacred Scroll.
The Oklahoma senate is the repos-
itory, the official custodian and
p
of the sacred scroll. known as the
election laws, when the present
code was adopted. shortly after Bob
Williams barely scaled through, IL
was sought TO fix a system which
might be depended upon to remain
fixed In the control Of the domi 1ant
political party. Therefore, 10 was ar
ranged that the secretary Of thp sem
ate should be, eX-Oftlclo, secretary
OF the election board and us exec
utive officer The senatorial dis
tricts being carefully arranged, and
half OF the membership always hold
ing over the plan was about as safe
from party standpoint as could
have been devised, IL would re-
quirc two successive political reyU-
lutions 10 overthrow strong party
majority iu the senate. and IN this
safely guarded nook the election ma
Chluery was carefully coached
Merely as an Incident, IL gave the
senate "a powerful weapon. Also, as
an incident the lieutenant governor
who prr-idos over the senate and
keeps in contact with the election
board by occupying the same offices
At the capitol. has become the chief
directing genius OF elections in the
state.
The announced purpose OF Mayor
Walton 10 take hand In organiza-
ton OF the senate, for the purpose
Of securing legislation which has
been demanded in the vote at the
recent election. and for the further
purpose OF Wrestling control Of the
election machinery Of the state out
OF tho hands OF Lieutenant Cover
nor Trap, president OF the senate;
". G. McAlister, secretary of the
senate. ana I'd Semans, democratic
state chairman. has caused a gasp
Of ama2ement at the capitol No
body thought that walton knew Just
where TO find the firth rib OF his
enemy, but as an expert In political
anatomy he appears TO have fully
qualified. II not he has been listen
ing to some highly capable advisers.
Distrust ''thc Machine"
Not only does walton find II nee
essary 10 have the election machin-
cry responsive to his wishes ia order
10 leave himself safe In furtherance
of future ambitions for himself a7d
friends. but the farmer labor league
CONTINUED on PAGE EIGHTEEN