Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-01
WOMAN IS UPHELD
ASGOvERNOR'SA|D
Oklahoma Senate Tables
Resolution to Gust "Mrs.
:.
Colonel House."

BY the Associated Press.
OKLAHOMA CITY, March Mrs.
Q. o. Hammonds, depicted as a feml-
nine col. House by her political op-
ponents, has whipped the State Sen
ate into line and will continue as
confidential secretary to Gov. Henry
$. Johnston.
r. A resolution introduced by Senator
Jess Pullen, asking her dismissal on
O charge she hampered formulation
2 of legislative plans by frequently re-
sfusing legislators audiences with the
governor, was tabled yesterday by a
vote of 26 to 3. The resolution later
was expunged from the Senate rec
ords by a vote Of reclamation.
Supported by Senators j. w. Nc
Curley and w. NJ Gulager, Pullen
declared that although he had no per
sonal luminosity against Mrs. Ham
monds, "the business of Oklahoma
should be above the intuition or bunch
OF a woman.
II have heard her say" Pullen con-
rinued, during interviews in the gov
ernor's Office:
Governor, that isn't a fact; 1
have a presentment that it is some
thing else
Out of Khan Branch.
McCurley then sought to introduce
documents to prove Mrs. Hammonds
had been expelled from the womans
order affiliated with the ku Klux
Khan. This attempt was blocked
when the President of the Senate
ruled the charge was irrelevant.
Mrs. Hammonds previously had
been quoted as saying she resigned
from the woman's branch Of the Khan
two years ago.
Pullen then charged that through
negotiations with big interests" the
woman secretary had brought about
n condition in the executive office sim
liar to that which caused the impeach-
ment OF Gov. J. c. Walton.
Gulager secured recognition to al
,tege that the secretary was IAN inter
mediator between the governors Office
and the big interests"
He then f1ourished copies of a news
r paper in which Mrs. Hammonds was
styled "the Mrs. Col. House" of the
Johnston administration. This, he
said, showed how the Oklahoma Sem
ate was being held up to scorn by
this Rasputin.'
Look at Texas" he shouted MA
was elected and Pa was the Raspu-
tin, and look what happened to them. -
Urges Support of Governor.
Pullen resumed with a declaration
that he loved the governor, and de-
manded the Senate go down the line
to put his program over.
THE governors confidential secre-
tary sold him for a mess of pottage,
and I believe she got the gold" he
: declared. "The day viii come if that
lady stays In the executive office when
YOU will be called on to vote on the
: question of whether Henry S. John
ston is to stay in the Office of gov
ernor"
In defending Mrs. Hammonds' rec
ord. Senator Paul Stewart, said that
both she and her husband, DIR. O. O.
Hammonds, head Of the State Health
Department, lived in his county INC
Curtain) for several years. He said
, that since the introduction of the
Pulien resolution he had investigated
her record and found she stood the
test" ~
Mrs. Hammonds said she accepted
her job with the intention Of easing
the burden on Gov. Johnston's Shout
, ders, and would accept any opposition
with the philosophy that any one who
has strength of character and faith
in his convictions probably woild
have enemies.
She has been active in Oklahoma
politics for many years She is a
graduate of Ward-Belmont College of
Nashville. Tenn. and has two sons
OF high school age.