Random Thoughts

In the 1896 presidential election, the most significant issue was whether the U.S. would stay on the “gold standard” or use silver money as well.

Putting more money into circulation was one of the goals of the Populist Party, which farmers and ranchers had formed in 1892. Then, in 1896, the Democrats also embraced the concept of silver money – and the two parties joined forces.

In Oklahoma Territory, the Democratic/Populist merger led to the voters electing James Yancy Callahan to Congress for the 1897-1899 term. Callahan defeated the incumbent Republican Dennis Thomas Flynn.

Callahan was a farmer and Methodist minister who was born in Missouri, lived in Kansas for a while, and settled in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, in 1892.

Callahan did not run for a second term in 1898. By that time, a gold strike had been made in Alaska and silver money was no longer an issue. Oklahomans reelected Flynn who served a second stint in Congress – as we saw previously—from 1899 to 1903.

After his Congressional term ended, Callahan moved to Garfield County where he operated a newspaper for several years. He died in 1935 and is buried in Enid.

Meanwhile, voters replaced Representative Flynn with Bird Segle McGuire, a fellow Republican, in 1903. McGuire represented the territory until it attained statehood in 1907.

At that time, Oklahoma – like all states – received full representation in Congress. In addition to two senators, the Sooner State had five members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

McGuire was one of those representatives, aiding in Oklahoma’s transition from territorial status to statehood. He stayed in Congress until 1915 when he retired.

McGuire was born in Illinois but moved as a child with his parents to Missouri, Kansas and Indian Territory.

He attended what is now Emporia State University in Kansas. After graduation, he taught in public schools for several years.

He then studied law at the University of Kansas and operated a law office prior to and after his service in Congress. McGuire died in 1930 and is buried in Tulsa.