Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-04
GOV. WALTON STARTS |
FIGHT TO THROW OUT
OKLAHOMA ELECTION
Granted Temporary Court Or
der Hating Certifying Of
Returns to Sec. of State
Hearing to Make Order Permanent
Scheduled for oct. 8-f,XCcutiyc
Claims Election Illegal Because
Upon Were Not Properly Advcr-
tiscd-Ncw Move Questions Gov
errors Use of State Money

Oklahoma City, oct. 3-(By 4. PD
Governor J. c. Walton's attack on
the legality of yesterdays election
on a constitutional amendment to
permit an Impeachment session Of
the state legislature was in full
swing tonight with more than third
of the returns in the state not yet
tabulatcd.
His first gun In tie after election
fight was fired today when he OBJ
tanned. in state district court. a tenn
porary restraining order preventing
the state election board from Certi-
flying the returns to the secretary
of state.
Hearing on the applicat ton to make
the order permanent was set for
October 9. Observers on both sides
anticipated hull in the contest be-
| tween the governor and the lcgisla-
! ture until then. The order was
granted by Judge Tom G.. Chambers,
Jr., ar appointee of Governor Wal
| ton.
| In his application, the executive
alleged the election WIs illegal be-
cause the proposed constitutional
amendments submitted We're not
properly advertised before the cleo
! ton He declared that thousands OF
! armed special deputies commits
! stoned by sheriffs throughout the
/ state had intimiGatcl voters and
! that this. combined with alleged in
/ hucnce cXcrtcd by the ku kluX Khan
! had kept more than 100000 persons
! from The polls.
Close advisers Of the governor de
CARED the election yesterday could
( not be regarded as a reputation OF
| him. They pointed out that in the
I general election Of 1922 more than
! 500 900 votes were cast, while in yes
I terdayS election they estimated the
total vote Will not exceed 100000
when the official count is made. They
explained that they expected 10000
! Of the votes cast to be against the
amendment. This. they said would
! leave only $4,000 cast by the ku
/ KluX Khan and their adherents
making tie total of those who did
not vote for the amendment more
, than 275.000."
! Representative w. ID. MCBee. and
other legislative opponents of the
/ governor. leading the move for his
/ impeachment. declared the vote was
/ an overwhelming rebuke' OF the
1 executive.
Interest in the tangled situation
/ will shift tomorrow to u hearing IN
/ state District Court of an injunction
+ sought by members of the legislature
to bar the governor and his represen-
I tatives from interfering with their
( attempt TO convene an impeachment
| session.
! The act was instituted when it was
! determined that the legislative a
! mendment would be voted on in yes
| terday's election.
/ Meanwhile a new attack was
| launched today against the official
! acts of Governor Walton by Camp
! hell Russell. political opponent of
Z the governor who circulated the mi
( tiative petition for the legislative
4 referendum.
I This time he circulated a petition
for grand jury in district court here
/ to investigate charges that Governor
Walton has misused public moneys
I and to inquire into the appointment
OF thousands of state secret ser
/ vice" agents by the executive. More
than the required number of sigma
lures were obtained and the petition
was filed in what was said to have
/ been the shortest time on record for
such proceedings in Oklahoma City.
! \ grand jury called 10 investigate
similar charges was prevented from
meeting three weeks ago by military
authorities enforcing the executive
decree Of martial law.