The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-06
BY GEORGE Il. ROSCOE
United Press STAFF Correspondent


OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. Cone
big contradiction of all precedent,
political and otherwise-that's how
the friends of william H. alfalfa
Bib Murray, Oklahoma's Governor,
size him up.
Conceded by all his rivals to be a
fox in the game of politics, AL
falfa Bill" gets a weird delight out
of his surprise utterances and his
even more surprising actions.
Here in Oklahoma and the south
west, his supporters concede him a
prominent place in the 1882 national
Democratic convention. Many say
he will be the Democrats standard
bearer.
To this Governor Murray has only
one reply.
81 may be a candidate if the
people-not the politicians-nom-
mate me-"
Left Home at IL
Murray was born Nov. 81, 1869,
near Collinsville, Tex, and his
mother died when he was 2. His
father was the late Uriah Dow
Thomas Murray, preacher, who
last January administered the oath
of office to his son.
Bill left home at II. Recently at
his fathers funeral, the Governor
delivered a eulogy over the coffin.
He said:
Il thought I did not need my
father when I was IL; began to
admire him when was 30, and
when was 50-God, how I wish I
had MIN with me-"
Alfalfa Bills" education COM
prised attendance at country school
and at College Hill Institute where
he obtained the degree of bachelor
of science.
Goes With Opportunity
After leaving college, he taught
school. His first political race was
for state senator of Texas, and he
was defeated by o. B. Colquitt, who
later became Governor.
Then, with his brother George,
Bill established the Corsicana Daily
and Weekly News. For two years
Bill edited the paper, studying law
at night. He was admitted to the
bar at FIT. Worth.
Opportunity in the Indian Terri
tory called, and in 1898 Bill headed
into Tishomingo. Governor Doug
las johnson of the ChickaSawS had
trouble getting laws approved by
the Indian bureau. So Bill was re-
tanned to draft laws. Every statute
he drafted was approved.
And at the same time, Bill did
his counting. He married the Gov
ernor's niece, Miss Alice HeareL,
teacher, on July 10, 1899. Bill was
getting on in law. Today he is Ii
censed to practice law in Texas,
Oklahoma, old territorial and
Chickasaw courts and in the SUI
preme courts of Oklahoma and the
United States.
Regarded as Infallible
Signs pointed to the birth of a
state. So Bill retired to a ranch
and for four years studied constitu-
tional law.
In 1907, when the Guthrie consti-
tutional convention was called,
Murray was elected president. To-
day, political experts credit him
with having written most of Okla
homa's constitution and regard him
as almost infallible on constitution
al law.
In 1910, Murray decided to run
for Governor. Lee Cruce defeated
him. In 1912, he ran for congress-
man-at-large. He carried all but
four counties.
Defeat Was Disappointment
In 1916 he predicted Americas
entry into the World war and was
defeated. In 1918, urged to run
for Governor, he did and was de-
feated.
Disappointed, Bill sold his lands
and paid off debts Of more than
$4,000. He began travelling in South
America in 1919 and the broad
plains of FL Gran Chaco region of
Bolivia, sloping to the foothills of
the Andes, captured his magma
ton.
Dreams Of pioneering prompted
him to return to America and or
ganize a group of citizens and re-
turn to accept the colonization offer
of the Bolivian government. He re-
NAMED until revolution Invested
him of titles to the land.
NEXT: alfalfa Bill comes
home