Oklahoma's Nugget Head

Oklahoma has always been bone dry. The Army enforced anti-firewater regulations in the Indian and Oklahoma Territories, and Sooners adopted prohibition along with statehood in 1907. Six repeal efforts failed, in part because bootleggers (estimated 1957 gross: $100 million) lavishly shared profits with any sheriffs and other officials who were of a mind to make trouble. Against this aged blend of piety and politics, James Howard Edmondson, red-haired (nicknamed "Nugget Head") young (32) county attorney from Tulsa, entered this year's Democratic primaries as an avowed Wet who proposed, if elected Governor, to call a quick special election for repeal.

Edmondson got only a drop of professional political support. Just one Congressman--Ed Edmondson, who happens to be Howard's older brother--along with two of the 165 state legislators, rallied to his cause, though a surprising flock of younger men around the state seemed eager to campaign for him. Smart money gave him no better than third place in the eleven-man first primary. Odds-on favorite: Dry-Minded W. P. (Bill) Atkinson, 52, Midwest City millionaire builder and hand-picked candidate of incumbent Teetotaler Raymond Gary. Atkinson was shocked to see Newcomer Edmondson beat him in the primary, force a runoff with a tiny plurality of 427. Atkinson and the Gary machine fought wildly to catch up, but they could not match Edmondson's TV moxie or his nonstop attacks on Gary administration corruption. In last week's runoff, Edmondson brewed a high-proof majority of nearly 70%, carried 70 of the 77 counties.

Swept to victory with Edmondson was many another relative newcomer, such as George Nigh, 31-year-old high school teacher and state representative who is running for lieutenant governor. Washed out along with oldtimers from the statehouse were veteran legislators, judges and 15 county sheriffs. Since Democratic nominations are as good as election in Oklahoma, Edmondson (a mild Scotch-and-water man himself) and his friends set to organizing the new administration, which takes over Jan. 1. High on their list of things to do: hold the repeal vote.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.