The Handshaker

Four years ago, after her husband became governor of Oklahoma, Mrs. Johnston Murray complained that her swollen right hand was nearly paralyzed from shaking hands with more than 100,000 persons along the campaign trail. But that was nothing to faze red-haired Willie (Roberta) Murray. No sooner was she well settled in the governor's mansion than she started holding weekly open houses, standing at the front door and clicking off (on a counter concealed in her left hand) the assorted Indians, oil drillers and schoolmarms who trooped past. By last count. Willie's tabulation had passed 55,000, and she was ready for bigger things. Last week she announced her candidacy to succeed her husband (the son of old Governor "Alfalfa Bill" Murray), who is barred by law from seeking a second term.

Oklahomans, who tend toward he-men as their politicians, have watched with interest as 138-lb. Willie Murray, a onetime concert pianist, grew to be a heavyweight in state politics. A year younger than the State of Oklahoma (which admits to 46), she met Johnston Murray at a Democratic state convention, has been a close political adviser ever since.

As First Lady, Willie has been an energetic advocate of Oklahoma industry. She furnished the governor's mansion with Made-in-Oklahoma products (to which she carefully called attention with small signs placed on each article), and even toured the state with what came to be known as her "medicine show" of home-state goods. Such boosterism makes her a real political threat, especially in this year's wide-open, 16-candidate gubernatorial primary.

Said Husband Johnston, after Willie's filing: "Mrs. Murray and I have counseled long and earnestly before deciding she should take this important step. In the final analysis, it was her decision and I concurred." His concurrence was no surprise to Oklahoma voters, long aware of Willie's influence. When her candidacy was first suggested last winter, it gave rise to the remark, "Why, she'd be the first governor to succeed herself."

Other political decisions made last week: P:Democratic Senator Ed Johnson, retiring from the Senate (TIME, April 12) but not from politics, allowed as how he is just the man to provide the "strong and experienced hand" that Colorado needs at its helm. Announcing his candidacy as governor, Johnson said: "I will not spare the horses." P: Louisiana's Democratic National Committeeman Frank B. Ellis, leader of the successful pro-Stevenson forces in his state's savage 1952 campaign, entered the U.S. Senate primary race against Incumbent Allen Ellender. Making it clear that he would leave no vote unturned. Ellis said: "I wish it here and now distinctly understood that I have no quarrel with any Democrat who saw fit in his or her conscience to support General Eisenhower in the last election."

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