Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 172, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1920 — TERM’S ORIGIN IN DISPUTE [ARTICLE]

TERM’S ORIGIN IN DISPUTE

Many Explanations of the Letters Have Been Made, but Few Are Trustworthy. Quite a cycle of legendary explanations have gathered around the origin of the popular term “O. K.” It Is held that In early colonial days the best rum and tobpcco were Imported from Aux Cayes, in San Domingo. Hence the best of anything came to be known locally as Aux Cayes, or “O. K.” Another explanation refers to the use of “Old Keokuk," an Indian chief, who Is said to have signed treaties with the initials “O. K.” However, the term didn’t come into general use until the presidential campaign of 1828, when the supposed Illiteracy of Andrew Jackson, the Democratic candidate, led Seba Smith, the humorist, writing under the name of “Major Jack Downing,” to start the story that Jackson Indorsed his papers “O. K.” under the Impression that they formed the initials of “OU Korrect.” James Parton, the noted biographer, discovered in the records of the Nashville court, of which Jackson was Judge, numerous documents Indorsed “O. R.,” meaning “order rescinded.” He. therefore urged that It was a belated business that Major Downing saw on the desk of the presidential candidate. The Democrats, in Heu of denying the charge, adopted the letters “O. K.” as a sort of party cry and fastened them on their banners.