The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-08-09
HOPES to Hitch-Hike His Wayt0
Governors Chair of Oklahoma
Alfalfa Bill Has Great
Chance to Beat Oil Man
in Runoff.
BY CARL VICTOR LITTLE

OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. y Al
faIfa Bill7 Murray, Oklahoma's
perennial frontiersman, who hitch
hiked his way to leadership in the
Democratic primary for governor, Is
going to follow the same methods in
the run-off primary and is quite
confident that he viii hitch-hike
his way right into the executive
mansion.
Political observers here believe he
will, too, since he had a lead OF
70 1000 votes over his nearest oppon-
ent in the first primary. In the
run-of primary, Aug. IL, he will
oppose Frank Buttram. millionaire
oil magnate, and it seems only a
political miracle can keep Murray
from winning; and the Democratic
gubernatorial nomination here
means election.
Lunched on Cheese and Crackers
Il spent ST. during the first four
weeks of my campaign" Murray
says. 1T was the cheapest cam
paigning I ever did and am proud
to say that during the campaign, 1
often ate cheese and crackers to
cut expenses. I am glad that 1 was
able to beat a millionaire.
'TlI win in the run-of without
trouble and when am governor,
my door will be open to absolutely
everybody. A caller won't even have
to show a card"
Murray. whose real name is VIII
liam H. Murray, but who is called
Alfalfa Bill' because he was the
first farmer to grow alfalfa in Ok
lahoma, made one of the cheapest
tours of the state of any candidate
in history.
He had to, because he is said to be
virtually penniless.
Asked Strangers for Lift"
His method was simple. He would
saunter into some small town filling
station, dressed in his familiar dusty
and baggy clothes. A motorist
WOulQ QLlfS liz dAiO AhoAo I'LL
would go up to him and say:
Hello, stranger, I'm Alfalfa Bill.
I guess you've heard of me. I'm
going to be the next governor, you
know. The boys over in the next
town want me to give 'em little
talk tonight. Would you mind
driving me over?"
After the meeting alfalfa Bill
would ask the welcoming committee
if zone of you boys could put me up
for the night" The request always
was granted, and next day he would
hitch-hike his way to another town.
In this way he hitch-hiked all
over the state, speaking in countless
agricultural communities, rolling up
a huge farmer vote despite the fact
that the city voters we're against
him.
If he is elected, Alfalfa Bill says
he will live in the garage back of
the executive mansion and rent the
mansion himself, as he isn't used
to living in such a big house. He
also says he will fire the gardener
and raise his own vegetables.
Murray's triumph in the primary
brings back to Oklahoma politics
one of the states most colorful
figures.
Ran Away at IL
As a boy of u he ran away from
home with capital of less than so
cents and wandered down into
Texas. He worked on farm there,
cut cordwood for $3.50 a month
chopped cotton, punched cattle, edu-
Gated himself-he could not read
when he left home-put himself
through high school, taught school,
established rural newspaper, stud
led law and finally was admitted to
the bar.
Then he moved to Indian terri
tory and opened a law Office, later
abandoning his practice to buy a
ranch and start farming. His early
crops OF alfalfa gave him his nick
name.
When Oklahoma entered the union
he helped write the state constitu-
ton. On the front porch of his
three-room log cabin home he stud
led the constitution of every state
in existence. Next he became
speaker of the state legislature.
Later he went to congress.
Led CoIonistS to Bolivia
Six years ago he found Oklahoma
too civilized. He liked the frontier,
and not finding any frontier in the
United States any more he took
party Of coloniStS down to Bolivia,
seeking to establish a group of farms
there on rich land in the tropics.
After a year of this his colonistS
got discouraged and came home;
Murray came back, recruited a new
set and went down to repeat the
venture.
This second attempt was little
more successful. Murray returned
not long ago with little baggage and
almost no money. He promptly an
nounced his candidacy for governor.
and began his famous hitch-hike
cop,roio,,