Volume 9 , Issue 36

OkieLegacy Centennial Moment

This 1910 news headline from The Oklahoman, dated Nov. 3, 1910, pg. 3, was an interesting article that gives some political history to northwest Oklahoma around that time. This was also a few days before Mabel Oakes was allegedly murdered in the Old Opera House on the southeast corner of the downtown square, in Justice Nelson Miller's offices.

The headlines read: Alva Debate Cancelled, But Woodward Man Would Slip In.

Alva, Okla., Nov.3, 1910 -- "Dr. G. N. Bilby, democratic campaign manager in Woods County, has received the following letter from the headquarters of Elmer L. Fulton of Oklahoma City, democratic nominee for congress in the Second district:

"Several weeks ago Elmer L. Fulton and Dick T. Morgan's campaign manager's personally arranged for a joint debate between Mr. Fulton and Mr. Morgan, to be held at Alva on November 5. This meeting was advertised throughout your county and everything appeared in good faith.

"A week later Morgan's manager called me over the telephone and stated that they would have to call off the debate at Alva on account of Mr. Morgan desiring to rearrange his speaking dates. Mr. Fulton had already canceled a previously arranged date in order to be at Alva on November 5.

Mr. Fulton, with the understanding that the debate had been canceled by his opponent, wrote you that he would not make Alva on this date, as he had spoken there once during the campaign and thought it better to fill the other date.

"A few days ago I heard that Mr. Morgan was intending to fill his date at Alva on the 5th, but we had not been informed of the fact either by Mr. Morgan or his headquarters. This move looked to me like a trick pure and simple, so I called Mr. Boardman, Morgan's manager, over the phone this morning an asked him to corroborate his former statement, calling off the debate at Alva, in a signed letter either to Mr. Fulton or myself. This he refused to do. I then asked him if Mr. Morgan intended to speak at Alva on November 5. He said he did not know, as the secretary handled Morgnan's itinerary. Upon my inquiry for the secretary he couldn't be found, or words to that effect.

"The whole proceedings looks like a trick on the part of Morgan and his manager. They wanted to convey the idea to us that the debate was off, and at the same time have Morgan to speak at Alva at the time advertised, and tell the audience that Mr. Fulton's failure to be there was sufficient evidence to prove that he (Mr. Fulton) was afraid to meet him again.

"Morgan and his committee realize that Mr. Fulton has the best and true side of the argument in this campaign and that their nefarious salary-grab-attack is absolutely false and without foundation; also, that Morgan's record in congress is so vulnerable that it is repolsive to the intelligent voter and they do not care to have these subjects discussed in joint debate. This last move of theirs is the usual method employed by cowardly candidates and is the usual method employed by by cowardly candidate and unscrupulous politicians when they see certain defeat staring them in the face But this is one trick that is going to prove a boomer-rang to them, for Mr. Fulton is going to be in Alva on the 5th day of November to fill his date, and you can continue to advertise him as such.
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