Wall St. vs. Haskell

Several years ago, Charles N. Haskell, the first Governor of Oklahoma, moved to Manhattan and became associated with what is known as "Wall Street." His original business ventures in railroads, real estate and other Oklahoma activities had left him with a desire for a wider financial field and the funds to use in it. The Oklahoma oil boom led him into speculative oil promotion and financing, and there grew up a group of stocks known as the "Haskell Companies," which were active on the Wall Street exchanges.

His most recent venture, Southern States Oil, after having experienced a wild rise in price, was finally stricken from the Curb market. It was subsequently discovered that much of the rise had apparently been due to Mr. Haskell's buying, and that the Oklahoman had purchased more shares than he could pay for. What the outcome of the episode will be cannot be definitely stated now, except that it will bring about ex-Governor Haskell's financial downfall.

Moralists have interpreted the Haskell episode two ways. One school of critics compares him to former Westerners who have "gone into the Street" to trim it, and found that the Wall Street professionals knew a thing or two themselves. The other school writes heart-interest articles about Mr. Haskell's childhood days at his mother's knee, and tearfully declares: "Wall Street got him!"