APRIL, 1924
THE UNITED AMERICAN
Political Notes and Comments
HE OREGON primary election, May
16th, is approaching. The citi­
T
zens of Oregon are gradually beginning
to realize that they are once more called
upon to analyze the platforms and state­
ments of hundreds of candidates, all dif­
ferent and so general in character that a
Philadelphia lawyer, the acme of Black­
stone knowledge, would be stumped, if
called upon to say just to what program
the candidate has specifically pledged
himself. The political parties in Oregon
are only nominally in existence under the
present Oregon primary system and in
so far the system has virtually brought
about a state of political chaos. The
declaration of party affiliation can at
present have no material significance in
relation to political government in Ore­
gon. The political party, as such, has
at the present time no power in this
state to regulate and determine what
may be presented to the electorate in
the name of the party. The candidates
for office make their own platforms;
republican, democratic, Non-Partisan
League, socialistic, communistic or what
not. It is up to the voter of either party
to discern the deception, if he can, or he
will eventually contribute to the nomina­
tion and election of men whose principles
are not of the party. The unsavory thing
for the party is that it must take the
blame and assume the responsibility for
the elevation to political power of indi­
viduals who are politcally unsound. If
the principles of the political party are
preferable to the notions of the indivi­
dual, nominally claiming affiliation with
the party, then some means should be
found by which the political parties in
Oregon may again function in the in-
terest of party government.
The present system will always give
room for action by uncontrolled groups
and cliques. Their work, carried on with­
in the political party, will continue to
weaken the faith in party, and eventually
cause the partisan to become affiliated
with one group or another which func­
tions and operates under cover within the
party.
Oregon’s experience along the political
trail that leads away from the highway
of the political party is not an argument
in favor of a free for all form of politi­
cal organization. The political uncer­
tainty that has come to characterize Ore­
gon has caused nation-wide apprehension
and few substantial citizens of other
states are willing to risk coming here
for fear that the next legislative as­
sembly may enact a law that might de­
stroy them financially or that the people
will do the same thing through the in­
itiative.
Meanwhile every voter must use his
best judgment in selecting and nominat­
ing men for public office. Close friends
of some prominence in business life
should be consulted. Sample ballots
should in all instances be obtained, care­
fully studied and marked before going
to the voting place on election day. The
voting is then an easy matter, merely
laying the sample ballot alongside of the
election ballot handed the voter in the
election booth, thereby facilitating quick
marking of the ballot. The sample bal­
lot should then be taken home and de­
stroyed or, if desired, kept for private
personal reference.
Some facts about the candidates seek­
ing nominations for office are herewith
presented briefly for the benefit of The
United American readers:
Charles L. McNary, Oregon’s senior
senator at Washington, has submitted
his name for re-nomination as United
States senator, to the electorate of the
republican party in Oregon, in the pri­
maries on May 16th. Believing it his
duty to remain at Washington to attend
to the important public matters now be­
fore the United States senate, Senator
lllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll£
Now we offer you 12 dividends
every year
'pHIS company now offers to
its customers, patrons, and
the public what we believe to
be one of the most attractive
opportunities for putting their
money to work at high wages
in a great big local industry.
For the first time in the history
of the Northwest you are given
the chance of earning regular
and attractive dividends twelve
times a year—one dividend day
each month.
7.20 per cent in
Oregon’s greatest public utility
—Briefly, these are the reasons for the attractiveness of
this new 7.20 per cent accumulative First Preferred Stock:
1— Your income will be regular
and dependable.
2— Dividends paid by check on
the first of each month or
quarterly, as preferred.
3—Exempt from Oregon per­
sonal property tax.
If you desire to subscribe for
shares on our easy payment
plan you may pay $10 per
share down and $10 a month
per share until paid for. We
will pay you 7 per cent interest
on all your payments until the
4— Dividends exempt from nor­
mal federal income tax.
5— Your savings will be safe.
6— Business is firmly estab­
lished, well managed and
permanent.
7—To yield 7.20%. Price $100.
shares are yours and then your
dividends begin to accrue im­
mediately.
Act on this opportunity today.
Inquire at our Investment De­
partment, 820 Electric Build­
ing, now!
Portland Electric Power Co
Portland, Salem, Oregon City and Vancouver, Wash.
'illlllllllllllllltlllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIi
Place Your Orders With The United American Advertisers—and Tell Them Why
D50 Illuminant, 2 degree observer
Density