The upcoming state and national election made the news in October 1926. Page 1 of the Elk City News-Democrat reported that Henry S. Johnston, the Democratic candidate for governor, was scheduled to speak on October 30 at the Christian Church. The article urged voters to support Democrats on Election Day with the following: “We appeal to all Democrats to go to the polls next Tuesday and support the Democratic ticket, composed of men true and tried, and keep Oklahoma to the front in the rank of states.”
The newspaper also reported that the junior class of Elk City High School would be performing the play “Adam and Eve.” In other school news, the paper reported that the Elk City football team lost to Frederick 30-7. The paper also included a photograph of the Elk City football team. The printing of photographs in the newspaper was a new development.
In other Elk City news, the paper announced that local gins were cutting prices to help farmers adversely affected by the low price of cotton. In addition, the paper revealed that three Elk City stores—Western Lumber, Hewlett’s, and McGaugh’s—were robbed Saturday night.
Ads in the Elk City newspaper featured the Rex and the Ritz Theatres. Movies advertised included the comedy Tramp, Tramp, Tramp and the western The Scrappin’ Kid.
The October 28, 1926, issue of the Sayre Journal featured a history of Beckham County, prepared by the Oklahoma Historical Society. The history began with tracing the story of the Native Americans who first occupied the land that became Beckham County. The article further included the 1852 expedition by Captain Randolph Marcy, which explored the headwaters of the Red River. The writer quoted from Marcy’s journal: “Our camp is in the river valley near a large spring of sulfurous water in the midst of a grove of cottonwood trees. The grass still continues good and the water in the main river, although not good can be used.” The journal is the first recorded exploration of the area. The article leads into the 1906 Oklahoma Constitutional Convention in Guthrie and the creation of what is now Beckham County.
Further, The Sayre Journal included an article by the County Superintendent in support of State Question 145 known as Our Better School Amendment. The question involved school funding. On the next page was a full-page ad urging people to vote against the question saying, “Poor Schools Don’t Get the Money.”
The Beckham County Democrat featured an article about a new medical innovation, the use of anesthesia during surgery. Surgeons could now use an opiate to render a patient unconscious. In comparison, the article stated, “Formerly a stone cutter and his burly assistants held the patient, who was firmly trussed to a heavy table, while the surgeon operated amid the howls.”
The newspaper also included an article about the football game between Erick High School and Clinton. Clinton beat Erick 33 to 0. Next up for the Erick team were Sentinel and Carnegie.
As usual, the Beckham County Democrat included chapters of a serialized novel. The featured book was Lydia of the Pines by Honoré Willsie. The book was a coming-of-age story published in 1917 about a young woman who overcomes adversity.
Beckham County citizens of 1926 had wide-ranging interests from politics to history. They were also readers and appreciated a good movie or a sporting event.