Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-22
BY HUGH 5. JOHNSON

DN HUH -. JOftNSON
TULSA, Okla, May 22.-Some-
Il where, sometime. there is
sure 10 emerge a new national
leader.
His head is certainly not visi-
bic now.
The Republican Party has been
so utterly out h I the odds
against any observation-disclosures
were too great to expect mitch.
In the Democratic Party. the
single perSonallzcd leadership
was so strongly entrenched and
so determined TO rule in solitary
glory that, If any heads did
arise, as some started 10 do,
they were so promptly and effcc-
lively heaned that pretty soon
no heads dared to rise.
Far be il from me again 10
suggest any now messiah. Ally
record IS rotten. Either Arthur
Krock or this writer Ohcre was
some friendly dispute about thlS)
discovered Wendell Millkie as
n candidate for the field mar
shals baton, long before nomi-
nation. There IS no longer any
dispute as far as this column is
concerned. II respectfully re-
tires from that competition II
claims no distinction here except
as an expert lemOn-pickcr
put that does not bar random
- observations on men and
things encountered IN travelling
up and down this country
The field of possibility i, UNI
predlctable and unlimited.
~ Nobody would have picked
roNgh Lincoln as a remote possI-
blbty in the frontier state Of
Illinois even as late as 1855.
Few would hCve picked roughcr
Andrew jackson or equally
rough Zachary TAYLOR uniiDSome
quick turn II chance threw them
into a pltiless spotlight and that
hight proved their true metal.
This Oklahoma. politically is
no easy horse for a governor 10
ride. II is wild and woody and
fun OF fleas, and has never been
curricd above the knees. Tho
Legislature has q pretty wide
aptitude and latitude for ina
pcachlng and Conyictlng COVER
nOrS not for any mallpaSarCc.
but because II doesn't like the
color of their hair.
The present governor, Phillips
whose front name Is Leon. bat
whom everybody calls Rcd. has
that wild horse eating out or his
hand and not off il
This is something Of a miracle
because, in New Deal p9rlancc
though a Democrat. D. lis called
by the controlling "lond-Spend
national autoCracy a "hcrcfIc
lie has CUTS enough 10 believe in
state economy IN balanced
budget and IN decentralization OF
national and even state author
ltN He believes in these old
American habits rs Wcll ms those
Of individual self reliance and
Solt-suppOrt
II THIS state, d., national
rcpr ,cntativcS In both Sem
ate and House have sold out
these natural virtues for federal
patronage In such q condition.
II Is a minor marvel that oven
they and the national fifth Now
Deal have dared do no more
than a little SurrcptitiouS snip
ing AT the roughneck governor.
II hasn't worked. II hasn't. be-
cause he was elected by the
people on specific promises in
nc A m Q ri creed. already
stated. Those promises he has
performed 10 tho letter. This is
an experience 50 rare in present
day politics. that, regardless Of
partisan differences. ho is n sort
of local hero OF all parties.
no governor can serve two
consecutive four-year terms IN
Oklahoma There is today q
strong bipartisan movement 10
change the constitution and
draft Governor Phillips for
second torn He could Get ~
hands down He says how'll veto
u and he has never yet broken
a public promise
7 IKE Lincoln he always lcors
II rs though he had ,aui in
his clothes and. like Jackson ho
has tho SCARED face of fighter.
lie has never Judged q public
obligation, including war duties.
He speaks in short sentences
and without any formal elo-
qucncc, he lifts the customers
out of their chairs. lie speaks
n homely language md punches
like Dempsey until something
drops"
The highbrows are never CO.
ing 10 get him on his roughncSs.
He is loaded with the highest
college honors. not only i'm schol-
arShip but. in athletics. lie
worked his way 10 his present
position, through the law and
the Legislature, including his
education, in the hard way.
am not picking Governor
Phillips for anything but l
advise keeping an eye on him.
II, a. ~ a., o,rsl, opI ~ tho