Oklahoma Journeys

Week of September 16, 2007

Governor Walton Declares Statewide Martial Law, 1923

This week on Oklahoma Journeys we take a look at an Oklahoma governor who was at various times adored and hated by many of his constituents. Governor Jack Walton was known for being a bit quirky at times, but the former Oklahoma City Mayor is probably best remembered for his declaration of war on the KKK, the topic of this week’s Oklahoma Journeys from the Oklahoma Historical Society.

From the Oklahoma Historical Society, this is Oklahoma Journeys: Celebrating our Centennial. I'm Michael Dean.

Oklahoma, in its short time as a state has had its fair share of odd political celebrities. One of the elite members of Oklahoma’s odd-squad is Jack Walton, one time Oklahoma City Mayor and state governor for 11 months, the shortest gubernatorial terms in the history of the state. Flaunted as the candidate of choice for the working and common folks of the state Governor Walton made good on his promise of a giant BBQ feast at his inauguration and began his term on ostensibly good footing, however, things then began a rapid decline. Largely to blame for Walton’s short time in office was his so-called “war” with the Ku Klux Klan. The period of Walton’s governorship was also a time of activity for the KKK. During the 1920’s the Ku Klux Klan experienced a resurgence in Oklahoma and the Midwest. In this incarnation the Klan not only continued to hate African-Americans but also expanded to include hatred of Catholics, Immigrants and anything that might be perceived as anti-American. The Klan was particularly strong in Oklahoma and did in fact control the politics in a number of towns. Thinking that opposition to his programs was organized by the Klan Governor Walton took it upon himself to declare war upon the group and began by declaring martial law in Okmulgee and Tulsa. He also unconstitutionally suspended the right of habeas corpus for people in those towns. When a grand jury began investigating the legality of Walton’s activities the governor escalated the war.

It was in this week of 1923 that in his efforts to stifle Klan activity and prevent grand jury snooping, Governor Walton declared martial law over the entire state. He then placed the entire state capital complex under his direct command. Walton, by dropping this political atomic bomb on the state, and through various other mishandlings managed to alienate himself from everyone in the legislature and caused a complete reversal of opinion from his one-time supporters. The general feeling around the state was that, Klan or no Klan, Walton with his haphazard declarations of martial law, was going too far and by declaring it over the entire state he was setting himself up for trouble. Indeed, his actions did invoke the wrath of the legislature who began circulating demands for impeachment. Walton tried unsuccessfully several times to prevent the legislature from meeting, and when they did it was to suspend and then eventually remove him from office replacing him with Deputy Governor Martin Trapp.

You can learn more about all 26 men who’ve served as governor of Oklahoma, by visiting the special centennial exhibit “Inspired to Lead” now thru the end of the year at the Oklahoma History Center, just east of the state capitol on NE 23rd Street in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma Journeys: Celebrating our Centennial is a production of the Oklahoma Historical Society dedicated to the collection, preservation, and sharing of our state’s past. I’m Michael Dean.