With 1926 being an election year, the Beckham County newspapers were full of political ads in April for every office from governor on down. State Democrats were even holding a political rally in Beckham County, and all the newspapers reported on the upcoming event. The rally would feature candidates and stops in Sayre, Delhi, Elk City, Merritt, Highway, Erick, and Carter. Banquets were being held in Elk City and Erick with musical entertainment by the Flat-Footed Policemen Quartet and speeches by prominent individuals. One of the articles proclaimed, “The fires of love and patriotism have receded into smoldering embers. Let us rekindle these embers into a flame then use the great democratic party as the most available means thru which to direct our activities.”
Front-page news in the April 15, 1926, Elk City News-Democrat was an open house at a local manufacturing plant. The plant manufactured the Perfection Coat and Parcel Carrier, a device attached to top of an automobile to carry items. The plant was at 6th and Jefferson in Elk City and was expected to employ 100 people. The April15 issue of the paper also announced the upcoming Elk City egg show. Judges were going to award first, second, and third place prizes for the best brown and white eggs in lots of a dozen. Winners would receive cash prizes, and their eggs would go to the state show in Oklahoma City. In addition, the paper printed results of the recent Beckham Literary Meet. Elk City Junior High and High School had several first-place winners at the meet in every competition from debate to piano.
Ads in the Elk City News-Democrat included several after-Easter sales. Both the Rex and Ritz Theaters were showing a variety of movies including That Royale Girl and The King of the Turf. The Purple Parrot Tea Shop advertised a delicious breakfast “for those who like the best.” An ad for the Lorain oven offered a cooking school to demonstrate the new gas range, and another ad touted the Happy Jenks Vaudeville Act scheduled to perform on April 15.
The Texola Tribune reported that free mail delivery would start April 15 in Elk City. The article reminded readers that other cities could also have that service if they put up mail boxes and numbered their homes and businesses.
The April15, 1926, issue of the Beckham County Democrat included a column entitled “Mother’s Cook Book.” This regular column advised homemakers how to stock their pantries so that they could always accommodate an unexpected guest. Such items as canned fish like tuna or salmon, canned vegetables, condiments, crackers, and cookies could always be used to create a meal fit for company.
The April 15 issue of the Sayre Journal reported that the Sayre High-School girls were holding a pencil sale to raise funds for new basketball uniforms. The article urged the public to give the girls their support just as they did for the boys’ sports endeavors.
The Sayre Headlight reported on the arrest of two men for possessing twenty gallons of whiskey and operating a still. With the aid of a search warrant, Louis Beckner was arrested at his farm for his possession of whiskey, and his neighbor Irving Webb was arrested for hiding mash and attempting to destroy it. The still was located by following tracks to a point on the Beckner farm.
The Sayre Headlight also contained an article entitled “Cost of White House Growing.” The article reported on the expense of maintaining the President’s residence. In 1926, the total cost to the taxpayers over the years for the White House including construction, maintenance, and furnishings totaled $10,000,000. The article noted that each President made changes including furnishings, china, and silverware.
Another article in the Sayre Headlight contended that3,084,733 native-born adults in the United States were illiterate according to the 1920 census. The article advocated for adult elementary education by the U. S. Bureau of Education.
As usual the Sayre Headlight published chapters from its latest serialized novel. The book was entitled The Ship-Wife Woman by Hugh Pendexter. It was part of a series of historical adventure books.
In April 1926, the Beckham County citizens were looking forward to state elections and enjoying the convenience of free mail delivery in Elk City. They liked seeing a good movie and reading an exciting book along with various other forms of entertainment. They were interested in national trends and news as well as local progress.