San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-13
WAL TON DROPS
!. HIS AIDES IN
KHAN BATTLE
Fires Executive Counsellor
and State Bank
-. Commissioner.
BREAK IS ABSOLUTE
Both Appear Before House
Impeachment Com
mittee.

Oklahoma City. Okla. Oct. 13.-
Facing the crisis of his political career.
Governor j. {. Walton today had
cast aside two of his foremost lieu
tenants in the administration of Okla
homa affairs.
With legislative impeachment
court already investigating his Of
fetal conduct. the governor threw
yeritable bombshell into the ranks of
followers of the situation last night
when he ordered the removal from Of
flee of Aldrich Blake, the executive
counsellor. and DR.. L. L. Bynum.
state bank commissioner: both of
whom. since the days of dhe primary
campaign, have been his chief advisers
and constant attendants.
The two ousted officials went i'm
mediately before the House committee
inquiring into impeachment charges
against the governor, and, while the
nature of their testimony was not
made public, their appearance before
the body was accepted as sufficient
indication that their break with Gov
pIllOr w WIS uboOiuAN.
Sponsored Cores Address.
DIR. Bynum has administered his Of
flee unsatisfactory, the governor
charged. and is out of harmony with
the executive office.
There was no explanation given for
Blakes removal.
Over the denial by Blake that the
affair had any significance. the opinion
gained strength in political quarters
today that the address of former
United States Senator Gore. of Okla
homa, before the state Legislature
Thursday, precipitated the removal of
both officials.
Each has been an ardent follower
of the former senator in his previous
political campaigns.
Governor Walton. it is argued by
some. felt that their allegiance TO him
ended when they sponsored former
Senator Cores address, in which he
severely criticized the administration.
He did not, however, mention specific
departments.
Blake. it was recalled, left here
for an unknown destination when the
governors fight on the ku Klux Khan
waved hottest. When he returned only
a few days ago, he was accompanied
by Former Senator Gore.
Martial Law Lifted.
Troops enforcing martial law in the
state quietly were demobilized; mill
litary courts. established 70 inquire
into mob violence and masked depreda-
tions. ceased TO function. and finally
martial law itself was lifted.
1t was said that upon his return
that Blake did not approve of such
measures. and had advised their cur
tailment, although previously he had
held the post of ':field marshal" in
the governors anti-klan campaign.
DR.. Bynum said the removal order
was distinct surprise to him. Blake,
it is believed, had been forwarned in
conference with the executive which
lasted the greater part of the day.
Governor Walton said he has not
yet chosen successors TO the two of
ficials.
Blake Is Glad.
4 statement declaring that "the
klan fight must go on" and that he
pered" was issued here today by
Al1rich Blake. former executive coun-
sellor who was removed last night
by Governor j. C. Walton.
Blake declared that with the per-
Sonal issue at last eliminated the
path is clear and promised to carry
the fight "into every precinct In the
state" He did not indicate his con
templated course of action. but said
that after weeks "rest" here he
will return TO his home in Muskogee,
Okla.
The statement declared that the
former counsellor had been removed
because forces over which he had no
control had defeated the governor S
campaign against the Khan with the
result that other advisers of the exc
cutive "who differed on the funda-
mental question of who should rule"
had persuaded the governor to depose
him.
Shown a copy of Blake's signed
statement. Governor Walton said:
There's nthing the matter with
that l haven't any comment to
make"