The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-08-29
FIELDS KEYNOTE SPEECH

II was entirely fitting that tho republican
candidate for governor should himself deliver
the keynote speech before the convention. and
that speech In It's utter simplicity yet high OBJ
Jective. It's appeal to patriotism and ita lack OF
partisan rancor. is an invitation TO oklahoma
citizens to for tho nonos sink their parti-
san boastngs and rancor and unite for the de-
fense Of the state from one enemy, It's redemp-
tlon from another.
While tho candidate evlnced becoming
pride in his republlcansm and In the construc.
tive principals OF that organization. he is In
deed a sensitive democrat who can find word
or oven an Implication Of partisan prejudice
sufficient to cause umbrldgc.
IAN of us who taking part In this
convention" said tho candidate, ARE first
OF all Americana ana Okahomans. IL is as
Americans and Oklahomnns who love your
country and your state, and who place their
welfare above all other considerations, that
shall appeal 20 you
That was the premise deliberately selected by
tho man who has been nominated, not because
he wanted tho office. not because no was
politician. but because no did not want to run
and because he Is and has been known for
years as a man of political ambitions
And this:
Starting with some measure OF tho high
purpose of those who voted the democratic
ticket when statehood was achieved. indi-
viduals In office have increasingly displayed
that irresponsbility which always goes VITA
brutal majorities In state affairs. be they
democrat or republican maJorities. That
irresponsibility reached lts elimination In
the present state administration. The gov
ernor and his associates became SO COM
pletey dscredted among democrats that
none OF the candidates for governor in tho
democratic primary dared defend them
What the governor and his friends did to
guard against future contingencies was
carefully and artfully concealed. Reaping
at one stroke the benefit OF his coalition
with the radical class OF labor and agrieul-
ture plus oo-partnership with tho socialist
party the governor gleefully announced.
al got what wanted" All OF you know
now what no got and the reople % the
state are rapidly coming TO better UNDER
standing OF how he got It,"
Proceeding, Fields in e clear, concise ana
sequential manner traces the trouble with the
state government and how the remedy is to be
realized. "rhe people OF Oklahoma who are
citizens first and partisans otterward, IL at all.
will decide whether he gets what he wants or
gets what is Justly coming TO him.
IT is in his challenge to good citizens regard
,ess of party. to ioin In effectng true coal!-
tion administration that the republican candi-
date rose 10 his perorauon and his most In
spring period. Let It be repeated word for
word:
''we must convince tho people that we
mean just what we say In our platform;
that our candidates will be held to strict
accountability, that insofar az II Is possible
20 do under the cleverly designed parti-
San system OF government which We have
IN Oklahoma, we VIII give 20 th,s state four
years OF a coalition administration; that II
will be "A different coalition from that al
ready accomplished by the opposition; that
it will be a coalition OF republicans and the
preservaton OF American institutions
against Russianizing influences"
When In all the history OF Oklahoma has such
an appeal been made 10 the soul Of the citizen
ship? When before has any candidate for gov
ernor asked the support of the conservative,
constitutional citizenship while drawing a line
clearly and courageously between all such and
the destructive radicals and partisan corruption-
lists Of all types2 when before has candidate
dared pledge himself to conduct a coalition ad-
mlnlstratlon Of affairs composed OF both demo-
Gratis and repubncans2
For is years the crying necessities OF this
state and its splendid citizenship have awaited
such man. such proposal and such an hourl
It is gratifying indeed that the republican cam
didate did not wait. that he d!d not hesitate;
but in the very first hour OF the campaign
speakins to the assembled delegates OF his
own political organization. boldly made the
issue between radicalism and conservatism, be-
tween revolution and consttutlonalIsm and a
the same time def!ed the narrow partsans o
his Own party by boldly asking the support o
constitutional order-oyIng democrats anC
.l. Ahnu 1