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The Great Depression and Dust Bowl devastated Oklahoma, so why weren't New Deal programs popular among Oklahomans?
One key reason: Alfalfa Bill.
One key reason: Alfalfa Bill.
William "Alfalfa Bill" Murray served as Okla.'s first Speaker of the House (1907-09), and then represented Okla. in Congress (1913-17).
But these cold facts don't paint the whole picture of what A.B. was like.
But these cold facts don't paint the whole picture of what A.B. was like.
Alfalfa Bill was a polarizing character.
He was brash and aggressively populist.
He denigrated black and indigenous people.
He caused scenes wherever he went.
(If you can imagine such a politician) https://nondoc.com/2020/06/18/alfalfa-bill-murray-was-a-terrible-bigot/
He was brash and aggressively populist.
He denigrated black and indigenous people.
He caused scenes wherever he went.
(If you can imagine such a politician) https://nondoc.com/2020/06/18/alfalfa-bill-murray-was-a-terrible-bigot/
1930: Alfalfa Bill wins election for Governor on a populist ticket: "bread, butter, bacon & beans."
(This platform was unsuccessful in a 1932 Presidential campaign, more on that later).
(This platform was unsuccessful in a 1932 Presidential campaign, more on that later).
e.g. of scenes he caused...
As Gov., Alfalfa Bill declared martial law dozens of times and dispatched National Guardsmen for nonsensical reasons like policing sales of OU Football tickets. https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/history/throwback-tulsa-colorful-alfalfa-bill-fell-short-in-presidential-bid/article_a2e76282-5eec-5f42-bffa-2276c3a2994d.html
As Gov., Alfalfa Bill declared martial law dozens of times and dispatched National Guardsmen for nonsensical reasons like policing sales of OU Football tickets. https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/history/throwback-tulsa-colorful-alfalfa-bill-fell-short-in-presidential-bid/article_a2e76282-5eec-5f42-bffa-2276c3a2994d.html
e.g. As Gov., Alfalfa Bill chained visitors’ chairs to radiators so that no one could slide closer to him and attempt an assassination.
Alfalfa Bill was not without respectable qualities: He valued agriculture, often stating "civilization begins and ends with the plow." As Governor, he planted crops at the Governor's mansion to feed those in need.
https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=MU014
https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=MU014
But he was an embarrassment to Oklahoma.
He reinforced stereotypes about Okies and consistently made Okla. the subject of ridicule.
He reinforced stereotypes about Okies and consistently made Okla. the subject of ridicule.
e.g. "Bread, butter, bacon & beans" wasn't Alfalfa Bill's only political slogan. He also ran on a “three C’s” platform, in that he reviled “Corporations, Carpetbaggers, and Coons”--all his words. https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/alfalfa-bill-governor-william-h-murray-of-oklahoma/
e.g. Alfalfa Bill appended Jim crow-like racist clauses to the Okla. State Constitution causing Pres. Teddy Roosevelt to deny Okla. statehood until the clauses were eliminated.
Okay Okay so Alfalfa Bill was racist and boisterous and would have fit in fine in 2020, what's that got to do with the New Deal?
Alfalfa Bill hated both the New Deal and its architect: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
I mentioned Alfalfa Bill's failed 1932 Presidential campaign. Maybe he lost because of his demagoguery was widely rejected.
But a more likely reason was FDR's New Deal plan gaining nationwide support.
But a more likely reason was FDR's New Deal plan gaining nationwide support.
Alfalfa Bill was an unrelenting critic of FDR and the New Deal, despite Okla.'s dire circumstances in 1932 and desperate need for more federal assistance.
Alfalfa Bill undoubtedly bore a grudge about losing to FDR, and the pain hit close to home when FDR swept every county in Okla. during the 1932 presidential election.
Oklahoma was collateral damage.
Alfalfa Bill (who throughout all this is still Governor) caused Okla. to lose federal money, and he limited the role of relief programs and agencies.
https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=NE007
Alfalfa Bill (who throughout all this is still Governor) caused Okla. to lose federal money, and he limited the role of relief programs and agencies.
https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=NE007
Whereas many universities took advantage of New Deal programs to support and expand their institutions, Oklahoma, unfortunately, did not because Alfalfa Bill staunchly opposed both federal involvement AND higher education.
http://www.newdeal.oucreate.com/exhibits/show/ou-campus/a-changing-campus
http://www.newdeal.oucreate.com/exhibits/show/ou-campus/a-changing-campus
Alfalfa Bill both rejected federal funding and (when federal aid reached Okla. despite his insistence) misused relief funds for political purposes.
It's a miracle Oklahoma received any federal funding during Alfalfa Bill's gubernatorial reign. More accurately, Okla. got New-Deal-related federal money because its congressional delegation successfully got $ in spite of A.B.'s feuding with FDR.
1934: after years of enduring A.B.'s antics (and watching Okla. piss away federal opportunities), U.S. Rep. Ernest Marland (former Republican and oilman) ran for governor with the slogan, "Bring the New Deal to Oklahoma."
He easily defeated Alfalfa Bill.
He easily defeated Alfalfa Bill.
Alfalfa Bill was not the only reason--a conservative Okla. state legislature also opposed New Deal opportunities--but he is a key reason why Oklahoma missed out on the progress other states cultivated during the 1930s.
(also he and Sam Elliot look a lot alike)
(also he and Sam Elliot look a lot alike)
