The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-12
OKLAHOMA TO BE
 TESTED TODAY
Effectiveness of Roosevelt Speech Will Get Chance
 at Polls
By DEBS MYERS United Press Staff C0rreepondent)

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 Oklahoma City, July 12-UP)- Oklahoma's primary provided today a partial test of the effectiveness of President Roosevelt's trans-conti- mental tour urging the nomination and election of liberal congressional candidates.
 President Roosevelt in a speech here Saturday spoke few kind words for the incumbent Senat tor Elmer Thomas.
 One of the most loyal of the New Dealers, monetary expert and a potential candidate for the chair manship of the Senate agriculture committee If he is returned to the next Congress, he had two formid- able opponents in Gov. E. w. Mar land and Rep. Conner Smith.
 Approximately 600,0O0 persons nine-tenths of them Democrats, will participate in the voting. The can- didates for the Republican nomina- tions. Ross Rizley for governor and Harry O. Chaser for senator, were not expected to poll more than 65,- GOO votes.
 All Watching Polls
 All three candidates watched the polls open with boundless optismism. Thomas said that since experience counted in the Senate, he was sure the voters will return me to Wash ington." Marland said sentiment for him was sweeping the state" Smith who said MT. Roosevelt wasn't talk ing about him when he spoke of the "lunatic fringe" of the party Satur- day, said the voters would repudiate his opponents-"those two old men,"
 Marland disputed with Thomas the right to MT. Roosevelts blessing. The governor has supported every thing that the New Deal offered within his province and during his speech at the fair grounds Satur- day, MT Roosevelt practically pat ted the governor on the back. He said that Marland had always CO., operated with the national admin istration, and had made good gov ernor.
 Test of Roosevelt
 So the test of MT. Roosevelts pres tige here was not as clearly defined as it will be in the Kentucky primary where Gov. A. B. (Happy) Chandler and Sen. Alben W. Barkley, are con- peting for senate seat. In Ken tuckley, Friday, MT. Roosevelt en- dorsed Barkley and gave Chandler political rebuke while both stood on the same platform with him.
 Smith, former leader of the Townsend old age pension movement claimed no support from MT. Roose- welt but he said he was as good a friend of the president as either of his opponents.
 Much of the turbulence of the primary campaign came from the governors race, where five candi- dates competed. Among them was William H. (Alfalfa Bib Murray, former governor who was sporting a black eye received in fracas with a political. foe last Saturday night; Jack Walton, another former gov- ernor who was impeached; Leon C.. Red) Phillips, former Oklahoma University football star; w. s. Key and Ira Finley, labor leader.
 Referred to Murray
 MT. Roosevelt was presumed to have referred to Murray Saturday when he talked of "a Republican running as Democrat" Murray, out of sympathy with the party lead ership, introduced former Gov. Ali M. Landon, the Republican presi- dential nominee, at rally here in 1886.
 The horde of candidates for minor offices included number whose fame lay in their famous names" |" There were more than a dozen Mae Vests, Brigham Youngs, Daniel Boones, Will Rogers and Wilbur Wrights.
 The last Oklahoma legislator elim- mated the run-off primary. The candidate polling the largest vote wins regardless of whether it is clear majority and faces the Re- publican nominee in the fall general election.