Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-04
'0klahornans 10 Hold
Poll tuesday With
Aid Of Martial Law
BY III. Associated Press

Guard troops In i've counties,
OklahomanS will vote Tuesday
in the states primary election,
highlighted by races for the Sem
ate and for Governor.
Gov. Johnston Murray de-
clared martial law yesterday for
i've eastern counties where
vote-selling scandal has broken
open. Six oersons have been
charged with buying or selling
absentee ballots. The counties
are Pittsburg, Adair, Sequoyah,
Cherokee and LeFlore.
Interest has centered on the
Governors race with Is Demo-
cratic candidates, including Mrs.
Willie E. Murray. the Governors
wife. and q not Senate fight be-
tween Senator Kerr and former
Gov. Roy j. Turner, both Demo-
Gratis and oil millionaires.
It will be the first martial law
for election day in Oklahoma
history and the first declaration
issued by Gov. Murray in his
3l2 years as governor. However,
Gov. Murrav.s father, former
Gov. William H. tAlfalfa Bid
Murray. gained national atten-
ton during the early 1930s by
issuing more than 80 military
orders during his term.
Kerr's Biggest Battle.
Oklahomans also will vote in
five Congressional races and
contests for all four-year State
Offices.
Senator Kerr, who unSuccess-
fully sought the 1852 Democratic
Presidential nomination, is
fighting perhaps the biggest
political battle of his career for
a second term. There are seven
other Democratic candidates
besides him and Mr.. Turner but
they have attracted little in
terest. There also has been lit
tie activity in the Republican
races.
Senator Kerr and Mr.. Turner
each has served as Governor,
Kerr from 1942 to 1947, and Mr..
Turner the next four years.
Each has had his day in the
national limelight, Mr.. Kerr as
Senator and national committee
man from Oklahoma and Mr..
Turner as chairman of the ma
tional Truman Barley clubs in
1913.
Non-partisan observers rate
the contest a tosS-up. The seven
Democrats are not.~expected to
get many votes and the nominal
ton could be settled in the first
primary. However. if neither gets
more than so per cent Of the
votes, the nomination will be won
in the State runoff election
July q.
Wide Open Race.
The Governors race has been
wide-open. State Senator RAY
mond Gary Madill, has been
awarded the top spot in the first
primary by most observers with
a toss-up for second spot in the
runoff. Senator Gary, president
pro tempore of the Senate,
started his campaign far ahead
of anyone else and conducted a
well organized and financed
drive.
william o. Coe, making his
third try for the nomination, will
draw a heavy vote throughout
the State although it will not be
a two-man race as in 1850 when
he was edged by Gov. Murray.
Mrs. Murray started late and
was given little chance of pulling
a strong vote. However, she has
waged an active campaign, fin
ishing off by making headlines
as she few around the State in
a heliocopter. She is certain to
draw a lot of votes from the rec
ords Of her husband and her
father-in-law, also a former
Governor.
Senator Bill Logan, Lawuon;
Democratic National Committee
man w. c. Doenges, Bartlesville;
and William Gill. jr.. former
Oklahoma City manager, all
have attracted wide attention.
Senator Logan has Endorsed
repeal OF Oklahoma's constitu-
tional prohibitions against liquor.
Although handicapped by not
being too well known throughout
the State. he has attracted at
tention with the controversial
liquor issue.
Fire in Bethesda Home
| Blamed on Refrigerator