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PORTLAND. THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1B08.
JUST A 1K1V PLAIN WORDS.
Two years ago the "statements" In
the primary law were not deemed any
necessary or integral part of the pri
mary, law; nor are they. Attempt now
Is made to enforce "Statement No. 1"
as the chief thing In the primary Jaw
as its heart and core and substance.
It never' was anything but an In
truder or Interloper. It never had any
proper place or part in the primary
low. It was looked upon, when the
law was adopted, merely as an ex
crescence or absurdity, and was al
lowed to pass without challenge, be
cause nobody ever seriously supposed
thnt any person or persons, except per
haps a few cranky ones, whose num
bers were negligible, would ever seri
ously insist that the method of elec
tion of members of Congress, Senators
or Representatives, distinctly , and
clearly defined by the Constitution of
the United States, should be or could
be set aside by any expedient that the
small, self-seeking politicians of a
state might wish or conclude to em
ploy, for their own advancement and
exploitation.
Mr. Mulkey and Mr. Bourne were
not elected through or under or in
consequence of Statement No. 1. They
owed their election entirely to the fact
that they had been the Republican
candidates and as such had received
the Republican .vote the vote of those
wNo adhered to the Republican party
from principle, though caring little for
the personality of its candidates. Mr.
-Mulkey was given his majority be
cause he was a Republican. Mr.
Bourne was given his majority because
he was a Republican. Not that the
great mass or the Republican voters
cared about cither man; not because
they were Infatuated with Statement
No. 1, or with any other statement.
They wanted Republican Senators;
and no "statement" cut any figure
whatever with them.
In the election two years ago State
ment No. 1 was practically Ignored.
It was not pressed or debated at all.
By most who did notice it was deemed
merely a wart on the primary law.
Certain candidates for the Legis
lature, who hoped to got some notice
or distinction by declaring for a nov
.Ity that sensible people laughed at,
pledged themselves. Some of these
wore elected; others were not. But
no man was elected or defeated be
cause he had or had not signed State
ment No. 1. Some of the most noted
Democrats of the state, candidates for
the Legislature, refused it and turned
It down with derision and contempt.
Republicans generally paid little atten
tion to it. It played no part whatever
in the election of Mulkey and Bourne.
They were elected simply and xinly
because they had received pluralities
as Republican nominees In the pri
mary election. Republicans were loyal
to party, and didn't care a fig nor a
groat about Statement No. 1. But
can any sane person suppose that'this
Legislature, njne-tenths of whose
members were Republicans, would
have elected Mr. Gearin. estimable
man as he is. had he received the
plurality of the popular vote over Mr.
Hourne which indeed he was mighty
near obtaining? Mr. Bourne wouldn't
have boon elected, of course had Mr.
c.oarln received the popular majority;
but some other Republican would have
been, ,
It cannot make the slightest differ
ence to The Oregonian, nor be of more
than passing concern to It. whether a
Democrat or Republican shall be elect
ed to the Senate. But it detests little
Volltlcians. with their subterfuges and
indirecllons. and cheap, crawling, sen
sational methods. The Legislature
elects the Senator. If we want a
Democratic Senator or a Republican
Senator, let us start In for the object
we aim at. The popular vote may be
an index or guide, but it is not cbn-
clusive. If there is insistence that it
shall be so regarded, more than one
half the Republicans of Oregon will
prefer Mr. Chamberlain. Mr. Gearin,
or any other reputable and able Demo
crat, to Mr. XTHen and perhaps 4
some others who might be named.
THE SEATTLE ELECTION.
The City of Seattle seems to have
made use of its large Republican ma
jority by electing a Republican
Mayor. Ordinarily this might seem
to be a logical result for an election in
which the Republicans have an over
whelming majority. Of late such a
result has not necessarily followed in
the Pacific Northwest, but, on the con
trary, large Republican majorities
have been used as vehicles on which
small Democratic minorities could roll
their favorites into office. William
Hickman Moore, the defeated candi
date, was elected two years ago on a
platform "that called for municipal
ownership, high license, a closed town
and a variety of other reforms. Some
of these reforms Mr. Moore carried
out to the extent of his ability, but not
all of them. After he became snugly
settled in office ho made the discovery
that, while a few of the voters were
favorable to municpal ownership, the
voters who really' elected him had
other reasons for their action.
With this majority the policies
which Mr. Moore might have stood for
were of secondary importance to the
opportunity his candidacy afforded for
a large number of disgruntled Repub
licans to get even. On the occasion
of his second appearance as a candi
date the Democratic minority which
formed the nucleus of his strength two
years ago deserted Mr. Moore because
he had failed to conduct the office in
accordance with their expectations.
The Republicans whose votes elected
him two years ago, having accom
plished their purpose of revenge, had
no further use for him, Mr. Miller,
the new Mayor, has an excellent rec
ord as a good citizen, and will un
doubtedly fill the office satisfactorily.
His election indicates that, with a good
Democrat and a good Republican run
ning for the same office, and every
thing else in connection with the race
being even, the Republicans threw
their strength to the candidate of their
own party.
THE FIRE DRILL.
The awful calamity at Colllnwood
yesterday brings home a lesson locally
to which not enough attention is given.
The fire drill in the city school is of
more importance than perfection In
scholarship. It is not held qie-half
often enough right here in Portland
It should be of more than even week
ly occurrence, .that it may become so
commonplace that pupils will fall Into
line automatically and teachers direct
its movement as mere matter of fact.
Otherwise the little ones are confused
and frightened, while the larger boys
and girls simply stampede.
An important item of the drill is
overlooked. Keeping step to piano
music is good enough for the ordinary
occasion, but for the Are drill the
drum should be used. The inspiring
rat-tat-tat. at the hands of the right
boy, bossed by a level-headed teacher,
will hold the attention as nothing else
will. Children will unconsciously
mark time- when they hear it, if the
practice has been Drilled into them as
it should be, and clear the' house be
fore the alarm has quit ringing. v
This matter Is put up to the school
officers plainly. There are school
buildings in Portland that are as Cry
as tinder from long furnace heating,
and there are thousands of parents
who know it and have a dread of what
may happen. Far better cut out one
of the educational frills and put this
practical fire drill In its place. By all
means give them the drum and hold
the principal responsible for its use.
DISCRIMINATION" AGAINST THE WEST.
The Oregonian has frequently called
attention to the damage suffered by
our commercial interests through re
dundancy of red tape and scarcity of
common sense in ordinary business
transactions in which the Government
Is involved. From a trade standpoint
this city suffered heavily through the
foolish restrictions placed on shipping
bound for the Philippines with cargo
for the Government. This city was,
and always will be, the most- advan
tageous point for massing such com
modities as are most needed in the
Philippines. In attempting to enforce
the ridiculous order compelling ship
ment of such freight in American
bottoms the Government was obliged
to pick up supplies at other ports less
favorably situated, or else stand the
additional expense involved in trans
shipment to some port where the
shipping trust elected to receive it
with American steamers.
In the East, the unbusinesslike law
was from the beginning a dead letter.
No attempt was Tnade to enforce it.
and the Quartermaster's department.
following ordinary every-day rules of
common sense, bought supplies from
the lowest bidder and sent them for
ward on tonnage secured by the same
system. -As there was ample prece
dent for unbusinesslike methods for
handling Government business, Port
land made only a minor protest
against the system; and It is still in
vogue. There is a certain provision in
the Hepburn rate bill, however, that
has demoralized the trans-Pacific shlp,
plng business to an extent that makes
the handicap placed on Government
business appear tame and inconse
quential. The Hepburn bill forbids
the making of a through rate from
Eastern points to the Orient at any
thing less than the regular rate to Pa
cific Coast terminals.
Prior to enforcement of this pro
vision the transcontinental railroads,
operating in connection with trans
pacific steamers, , made low through
rates In order to bring loaded cars
westward for the lumber business, and
also to supply part cargoes in suffi
cient amount to enable the steamship
lines to maintain a frequent service
to take care of the flour business orig
inating near tidewater ports on the
Pacific. A large portfon of this traffic
was sectfred at Pittsburg and other
points very close to New York and
other Atlantic ports. Tramp steamers
operating out of New York to the Ori
ent were, by reason of the short rail
haul and comparatively Insignificant
local rate, enabled to make rates
which the transcontinental roads
could not meet, if they were obliged to
charge the regulate rate to Pacific
Coast terminals for the. rail portion
of the Journey. The steamships on
the Pacific will not handle the traffic
for the insignificant amount that is
left after the railroads have collected
the regular rate to Coast terminals,
and the Hepburn bill forbids any di
vision with the steamer of the charges
on the rail haul.
As a result, trans-Pacific steamers
are now running with less frequency
than at any time during the past five
years, while the tramps which use the
Suez route are handling an enormous
business. By this provision of the
Hepburn bill, rebating on this class at
business has been abolished, but, as
business was abolished with it, the
advantages are questionable. The
principle of the square deal seems to
have been overlooked when the Inter
ests of the Pacific Coast ports were
considered in connection with the Hep
burn bill, or with that Idiotic require
ment that all Government freight be
shipped in American bottoms.
THE OHIO PLATFORM.
The Republicans of Ohio have
adopted a progressive platform. There
Is no comfort In it for Mr. Foraker or
any other reactionary of whatever
stripe or pattern he may be. The del
egates to the Columbus convention
were elected at free primaries whose'
purpose was explicitly declared. That
purpose was to decide whom the Re
publican voters desired for the next
President of the United States. They
answered unequivocally that they der
sired Mr. Taft. Thus the fuss and
fury of the Foraker opposition evapo
rates aiid the threatened split in the
National delegation from Ohio need be
dreaded no longer. As a p6wer in
Presidential politics Mr. Foraker, with
his not too respectable allies, for the
present at least disappears.
The platform bears no taint of
compromise with evil. It rings with a
valiant tone which recalls the great
utterances of the party in its splendid
youth. It is straightforward, courage
ous and plain spoken. In state af
fairs the platform comes well to the
front of civilized aspiration. It would
abolish child labor, introduce local op
tion and regulate the rates of
public - service corporations. The Ohio
Republicans demand "an effective
and compulsory primary election
law." What more conclusive answer
is needed to the charge that the Re
publican party is hostile to the spirit
of direct primaries than this plank in
the Ohio platform?
One clause referring to National af
fairs will be especially pleasing to
people who love' fairness. It asks that
states which disfranchise colored citi
zens be proportionately deprived of
their representation in Congress and
the electoral college. This Is a piece
of simple justice which has been too
long .delayed. As matters stand, those
whites who disfranchise their black
fellow-citizens are rewarded for the
deed by being permitted to exercise
not only the power that belongs to
them, but that also which they have
taken from their neighbors. This is
wrong. There is no excuse for toler
ating its continuance.
Economists will smile a little at the
clause which declares for "competition
as against monopoly." The day of
competition in the realm of big busi
ness is gone by, apparently forever.
The President, with every other prac
tical statesman, acknowledges this
truth and has turned to the regulation
of monopolies as a working remedy
where destruction is admitted to be a
hopeless task. The Ohio .platform
takes the same view in another clause.
It asks for "Government regulation"
instead of . Government ownership.
Had the delegates really believed in
competition, they would have demand
ed destruction, not regulation, of the
trusts. Competition among them is
out of the question, but they can be
regulated so that monopoly will not
mean robbery.
Another smile will be provoked by
the reference to "generous provision
for the vanishing forces of the Repub
lic." The cynic will remark that the
more these forces vanish the greater
their numbers become, from the show
ing of the pension rolls; but this is a
trifle. Pensions are votes, and there
is no prospect that the burden of them
will diminish much before the next
great war renews it for another half
century. From this exasperating
theme it is pleasant to turn to what
the convention has to say about in
junctions. Clearly Ohio is not in fa
vor of government by injunction. It
asks distinctly, as the President has
also, for "a limitation of the power in
order to prevent its abuse." Of course
this implies that abuse exists, a fact
which no really fair-minded person
tries to deny. The courts have carried
the Injunction power to an extreme.
It now injures workmen only, but
how long will it be before some new
species of controversy makes it a de
sirable weapon to use against other
classes of citizens? The history of
usurpations shows that they are al-w-ays
extended as 'far as "the usurper
can push them. Moreover, the liber
ties of workingmen are Just as impor
tant as those of any other class. The
Injunction abuse virtually deprives
them of their constitutional right to a
Jury trial In a large group of cases,
and this is an evil which cannot be
abolished too quickly. It is encourag
ing to . find Mr. " Roosevelt's opinions
upon the subject reiterated in Ohio.
Doubtless other states will take the
same ground. "Equal rights for all
citizens" is a fundamental principle of
the Republican party.
With the tariff plank in the Ohio
platform there Is "little fault to be
found. It goes as far as there is any
hope that public opinion will follow
and perhaps farther. Revision is de
manded at a special session of the next
Congress, nor is the meaning of "re
vision" left hanging in the air. If the
Ohio Republicans have their way, tfce
tariff is to be reduced to the point
where it will just equalize the cost of
production at home and abroad, with
a fair profit to the home producer.
Compared with our present exorbitant
duties, such a tariff would be almost
ideal Justice. It would certainly bring
great relief to the consumer and widen
the market for American goods. One
may hope that when the time comes
for revision it will not be forgotten
that many productions which now
carry heavy duties can be manufac
tured cheaper here than anywhere else
the world. Upon the whole, the
Ohio platform is a hearty indorsement
of President Roosevelt and all his
leading policies. Coming from a state
where the danger of factious opposi
tion has been great. It is extremely sig
nificant- It is the utterance of a body
of delegates fresh from the people,
and It probably speaks the genuine
sentiments not of Ohio alone, but of
the entire Nation.
The man who fails to score a success
in any country may be depended on to
knock" that country whenever the
opportunity offers. An advertising
m&n who failed to hold down any one
of several good positions which he had
at Portland is now working in La
Crosse, Wis., and gravely informs the
local paper that the Western cities,
including Portland, are "frightfully
overcrowded" with unemployed, and
that "the (Portland) City Council has
Just appropriated $10,000 to be added
to a very much larger fund raised by
the citizens for the relief of the starv-
ing people who are out of work with
no prospect of better times for a long
time to come." So far as Portland is
concerned, there are no starving peo
pie here, and very few who are able
to work are out of employment. Wages
are not as good in all lines as they
were before the slump In the East be
gan, but there is still plenty of work.
It Is perhaps true that there are thou
sands of stranded people at Seattle,
but Portland most emphatically de
clines to be included in the same class
with the Puget Sound metropolis. In
considering "knocks" such as have
been given us by a disgruntled ex
Portlander, it is always well to remem
ber the source.
February was a short month with
a " good many holidays, but in the
twenty-four official business days the
Custom-House in this city collected in
duties $S7,500, or a trifle more than
$3360 per day. The import business
of this city Is practically all merchan
dise and other commodities which are
distributed by Portland merchants.
Very little Is received here for trans
shipment to the East, where the duties
are collected, and, as Portland has
never regarded this class of imports as
Portland business, it has never been
Included In the totals for the purpose
of padding out the statistics of the
port. Customs receipts for January
anri February are well ahead of those
for the first two months of 1907, and
there Is enough cargo tonnage now
arriving to make it certain that March
receipts will exceed those of February.
Viewed in almost any of its phases,
Portland's commerce appears unusu
ally healthy.
E. Benjamin Andrews, chancellor of
the University of Nebraska, in a recent
address before the Baptist Ministers'
Association of Chicago on "The De
cline of Education," -declared that far
too much attention is paid to fads and
fancies instead of to the solid ele
ments of substantial education, add
ing: "If there could be some educa
tional Institution located so far in the
woods and so poor it could not get Into
the limelight, it would give to the
world, students that gathered knowl
edge Instead of worldly fancies." This
is no doubt true, but where, in the
name of "Young America, the Mighty,"
would such an institution get its stu
dents? Boys and girls choose their
schools and colleges these days; they
do not, as in the time in which Dr.
Andrews went to school and college,
go where they are sent, after careful
parental investigation and decision.
Miss Harriman chose for a husband
a plain, untitled American, although,
from, the New York point of view",
there was no reason why Edward H.
should have failed to bring one, of the
best foreign titles in the market. No
wonder that Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish de
clared the Harrimans as "impossible"
in New York society. The idea of a
young woman born and reared in the
fetid atmosphere of New York being
permitted to marry an American was
enough to warrant the social taboo
being placed against the family, even
had there been no objection on the
part of Harriman pere to the borrow
ing of Illinois Central funds by Mr.
Fish.
'Twould have been better to drown
all those rats trapped in the barrel
than to build an enclosure and turn
them loose and put the rat-killing dogs
upon them. The object is to get rid
of the rats. They are a hateful breed;
but after they are trapped there is no
need of ferocity, cruelty and blood.
It seems strange. Indeed, that human
beings should delight in seeing the rat
terrier plunging among frightened
rats, to tear the miserable creatures
that can't escape. We must get rid of
the rats, but after they are trapped
drowning is the simple, easy and mer
ciful thing.
The Tillamook business men who
have suffered by the wretched trans
portation service are not inclined to be
appeased by the promise that the
steamer Elmore will run to Portland.
They announce that they will give
their business to any opposition line
that appears, and It will require an ex
ceptionally good service from this time
forward to enable the Elmore to hold
the trade.
The story of George Washington
must have been told in far-off India,
for each of a band of Hindus who
landed in Victoria en route for the
United States, Tuesday, was armed
with a hatchet If they follow in the
footsteps of a good many undesirable
citizens who land on our shoresfthey
will soon exchange the cherry-tree
weapon for a hammer.
Two members of the Douma have
been expelled from that body be
cause their political speeches were un
satisfactory to the proprietors of the
Douma. If the makers of political
speeches in this country were all sub
jected to such treatment after election
the hilarious joys of a campaign would
be sadly missing.
There are Just eight months in
which to speculate over the name of
the man who, one year from today,
will be feasting on buckwheat cakes
and fried eggs, " turned over, in the
White House.
It is scarcely to be expected that
the manufacturer will overlook the
opportunity to advertise the brand of
cigarette Mrs. McCreery publicly
smoked at San Francisco's leading
hotel.
No well-informed man believed, six
months ago, that Taft could secure a
solid delegation from his own state.
In Ohio as elsewhere, the plain peo
ple are not led this year by political
bosses.
No small number of Oregon sinners
will do penance the next forty days
by renouncing Statement No. 1.
Good morning, Venezuela! Here
you are back on the first page again.
President Roosevelt has still 365
days left in which to do things.
Well. Mr. Bristol is still holding
down the job.
WATER PROBLEM UP AGAIN
Despite Defeats, Hood River Drags
Forth Old Fight Once More.
HOOD RIVER. Or., March 4. (Special.)
Although the taxpayers of Hood River
have voted on the questions of muni
cipal ownership of the city water sys
tem twice and on propositions to provide
more water the same number of times
in the past two years, the question of a
greater water supply for the Apple City.
like Banquo's ghost, will not down. The
largest meeting that has yet been held to
consider this important feature of a city's
welfare took place? last evening in the
Commercial Club rooms In response to a
petition widely circulated and signed at
the Instigation of a number of residents
In the hill section, who claim that their
water supply is Inadequate.
A. A. Jayne. president of the Hood
River" Commercial Club, was chairman
E. J. Treiber. representing the hill sec
tion, stated that a committee of citi
zens from there had decided to make an
investigation into the city's water supply
and would defray the expenses of the
State Engineer to come to Hood River
and report if it was feasible and how
much it would cost to have water brought
from a spring which the city owns, sit
uated several miles from town but which
has never been utilized, and added to
the supply already in use. The propo
sition of Mr. Treiber is to have another
rote talcen to -bond the city for $75,000
to utilize this spring.
H. F. -Davidson, representing the water
company, stated that the present water
supply, apart from added fire protection,
was adequate in volume or a much
larger city than Hood River, and that
the company was considering the matter
of laying; additional pipe for more fire
protection. A vote taken tb determine
the sentiment of the meeting in recom
mending, to the City Council a propo
sition to close with the water company
for the laying of new pipe for this pur
pose and also an option on the present
water system for five years, was carried.
Residents of the hill section say, how
ever, that this action has not disposed of
the matter, and that if the) Investigation
to he made by the State Engineer war
rants it, the City Council will be asked
to call another election, to vote the bonds.
RAILWAY WILL ESCAPE TAXES
Seattle Can't Assess Trackage for
Street Improvements.
OLYMPIA. Wash.. March 4. (Spe
cial.) Holding that a franchise to
operate streetcars over a street is only
an easement and does not constitute
an interest in the land, and as such
cannot be assessed under a power to
assess a lot, block, tract or parcel of
land, the Supreme Court today ren
dered a decision In the case of the City
of Seattle, as appellant, against the
Seattle Electric Company, upholding a
decree of the Superior Court of King
County in favor of the electric com
pany. The city caused all that portion of
We3t Lake avenue from Denny way to
Mercer street to be widened and other
wise improved. The Seattle Electric
Company holds a franchise to operate
cars over the streets along this sec
tion. The Council provided that the
Improvements should be assessed, and
paid for in part, against the property
to be benefited by the proposed im
provements. A commission appointed
to apportion the assessment found that
the Seattle Electric Company's right
of way and trackage was benefited
and levied an assessment of $2j00
against the company.
RESTRAIN LOGGING COMPANY
Kalama Power Plant Wins Suit in
Supreme Court.
OLYMPIA. Wash., March 4. (Spe
cial.) The Supreme Court today en
joined the Kalama Driving Company
from interfering with or placing a dam
in the Kalama River above the power
plant of the Kalama Electric Light &
Power Company. The river has a flow
sufficient all the year to operate the
generating plant of the company. -The
driving company, which delivers logs
and lumber along the river, has cleared
out the snakes and rock, erected wing
dams and other structures along the
river to make artificial freshets to float
logs and timber In the dry months. It
was Intended to construct a large dam
above the plant of the light and power
company to store water for booming
purposes. The electric company called
a halt on the grounds that to fill the
storage basin would cause a shutdown
of their plant for nine hours several
times a week while the water was
collecting. The court holds that they
are the prior riparian owners, and can
not be interfered with or damaged
without full compensation.
SAYS ROAD IS INDEPENDENT
Attorney Admits, However, That N.
P. Paid Purchasing Cost.
OLYMPIA, Wash.. March 4. (Spe
cial. ) B. S. Grosscup, attorney for the
Northern Pacific, appeared before the
Railroad Commission today as a direc
tor of the Port Townsend Southern. In
answer to a complaint filed against
that road charging 5 cents per mile
fare. Mr. Grosscup said that the' road
was an Independent road, operating as
such, and was entitled to the exemption
allowed all roads operating less than
100 miles. Grosscup claims that the
Port Townsend Southern is owned by
the Northwestern Improvement Com
pany, which, in turn, is owned by the
Northern Pacific. The right of way of
the Port Townsend Southern has been
deeded to the Northern Pacific, and
the short road has been reimbursed by
the Northern Pacific for all moneys
expended In securing the right of way
and terminal grounds at Tenino.
BROUGHER SPEAKS AT TEUGENE
Long Face, He Says, Not Always a
Requisite of a. Pious Man.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eugene.
Or., March 4. (Special.) Dr. J. Whit
comb Brougher, of Portland, addressed
the students today on "Hair and the
Backbone." . The speaker was enter
taining. . Among other Interesting
things. Dr. Brougher made the state
ment that one does not necessarily have
to wear a long, pious face to stay in
the straight and narrow path, but may
indulge in a little mirth occasionally,
just so he retains complete mastery
over himself.
Dr. Brougher made a "hit" with the
students and faculty, when he declared
that he would use every ounce of his
Influence to help carry the University
appropriation. Lumber Company Wins Suit.
OLYMPIA, Wash., March 4. (Spe
cial.) The Supreme Court today Is
sued a peremptory writ, ordering Sam
H. Nichols. Secretary of State, to file
the articles of incorporation of the
University Lumber & Shingle Com
pany, an Oregon corporation, as pre
sented to him and admit the company
to transact business within this state.
Nichols had refused to file the in
corporation papers because of a state
law prohibiting foreign corporations
from dealing in real estate, but the
Supreme Court holds the statute was
not intended to keep foreign cor
poration from doing other business as
authorized in their Incorporation arti
cles. ,
UNDOING OF THE BECKHAM MACHINE
Row the Democratic Politicians of Kentucky. Vader the Leadership of an
Ambitious and Unaeraanle-us Governor, Wrecked the Party aid Betrayed
the People A Democratic Paper's Review of the Events Leading; to .Sen
ator Bradley 'a Klectlon.
X"nder the caption "The Wages of Sin."
the Louisville Courier-Journal has this com
ment on the late Kentucky Senatorial elec
tion:) The political death of Beckham, like
the physical death of his ally, Hargis,
was logical. Each reaped as he had
sown.
When Mr. Beckham, who had never
been thought of for the Chief Magis
tracy, succeeded to that responsibility
through the assassination of Goebel. he
had one of the rarest and one of the
greatest of opportunities to serve his
people and make for himself an Illus
trious place in Kentucky history. The
Republican party of the state, unequal
to its own great opportunity, had mad
ly thrown it away and stampeded to
pieces The Democratic party, ring
rldden to desperation, where It was not
insurgent against ring-riding, was dis
organized and dismembered, the trage
dy which had- been the climax of the
Republicans' undoing giving It its sud
den and undreamed-of chance for self
redumptioii. Upon the young Governor
thus strangely raised up devolved, more
than upon alt others, the outcome.
How did he acquit himself In this
great emergency?
Did he bring to his task the aspira
tions. If not the ability of a statesman,
or the purposes and methods of the
small politician? Did he make his dom
inating aim the healing of factionlsm;
the elevation of partylsm from mere
combination for private prey upon the
public treasury; the re-establishment
of Democracy in popular confidence by
the rededication of Its organization to
the undying principles which inspired
its birth and sustained its life so long
as it meant more than an empty name?
Did he do what he could for the salva
tion of his party by doing what his
high office enabled him to do for the
moral and material promotion of the
public interest the only end that can
Justify the existence of any political
party?
Instead, he had hardly taken his oath
of office before he began to betray
that he had either no conception of, or
no respect for. its real obligations.
Sprung from machine politics, he soon
showed that his political horizon did
not extend beyond that of his origin,
and blind to the disasters which ma
chine politics had already brought upon
his party, he at once, as his chief and
continuing duty, set about construct
ing, not even a party machine, but a
Beckham machine.
To the prosecution of this work he
diverted every resource which his of
fice placed at his command. He de
veloped the faculty of discovering men
peculiarly adapted to doing the chores
some shrewd, some merely dirty of
machine politics, and these men he
placed In various offices of the state,
that they might pervert the public
service to the promotion of his own
personal fortunes In the only manner
which he seemed able to appreciate.
He formed recirtrocal alliances wher
ever he saw a chance to gain a point
for his ambition, the most notorious of
these being that with Hargis, the law
less lord of Breathitt and the undis
puted boss of the Tenth Congressional
District. So successful was he in his
unscrupulous labors as a machine
builder that for a time he was in com
plete control of the elements which still
clung to the fiction of Democratic "reg
ularity." He demonstrated the working
power of his machine, and knew it so
well when it came to the election of a
successor to Senator Blackburn that,
though he might have taken the office
for himself, he preferred to pleasure
himself by turning Blackburn down,
presenting the Senatorship to another,
and indulging himself with serving out
his second term as Governor, at the
end of which it would be as easy for
him to step into Senator McCreary's
seat as it was for him to usher Judge
Paynter Into Senator Blackburn's seat
It was in the prosecution of this
, pretty scheme of selfish advancement
and selfish revenge that he overreached
himself. Proposing to make assurance
doubly sure, he invented the unheard
of device of having bis machine order
a primary nearly two years before the
Senatorial election, a device which, as
It was to be under the control of his
own machine, seemed sure to accom
plish the end intended, and which did
finally accomplish It, for while his op
ponent, though forced to meet htm on
such unequal terms, defeated him at
the polls, his machine still had the
counting of the returns, and counted
with the fidelity and precision of so
carefully constructed a piece of
mechanism.
Here was really the downfall of
Beckham. The unfairness, the effront
ery, the cold-blooded freebootlng of the
proceeding, were so unmistakable that
reaction and revolt, even among those
who had hitherto supported him, fol
lowed; and, alarmed at this, he
plunged into the campaign of desper
ate double-dealing and ruthless sacri
fice of Democratic principle which car
ried down to defeat the whole state
ticket of his party last November, with
the return of a General Assembly
which has now consigned him to the
general ruin he wrought.
He might have saved something out
of the wreck if he had had one epark
of unselfish devotion to the party
which had done so much for him.
Almost up to the last he had it in his
power to elect a Democrat to the Sen
ate by retiring from the contest, which
he knew he could not win; and al
though he knew this within a week
after the balloting began at least, he
knew that he could never win by any
fair means he stubbornly refused to
give any of his party associates the
honor which he could not take for him
self, his immovable purpose being to
deadlock the Legislature and make
another demoralizing struggle for the
next Legislature. He rejected every
plea of the independent Democrats for
a chance to elect a Democrat, and not
until when, at the close of the session,
enough of them had finally voted for
Bradley to elect htm, did his followers
make the poor, belated feint at any
sort of compromise. is generally
known in Frankfort, and Mr. Beckham
himself knew it. that one of his most
loyal friends. John C. C. Mayo, or al
most any other good Democrat, could
have been elected at any time that Mr.
Beckham would give his consent; but
that consent he obstinately refused to
give.
It Is the end of Beckham, up to the
day before his taking off he tried to
play his conscienceless game of trick
ery, as was evidenced by the astonish
ing ruling of his Speakers of the House
In denying to that body the right to
decide Its own membership. If it is
also the end of Bcckliamism it will be
the beginning of reanimated Democ
racy. The Senator-elect is an old-line,
thorough-going Republican, and re
grettable as It is that 'a sound expo
nent of Democracy could not be elect
ed, the ellmlnatian of Beckham, both
now and in the next campaign, clears
the way for the party to kick the rem
nants of the shattered machine out of
its path and come into its own again.
ONE OF THE FLACKS TO VOTE "SC
No Reason Why Legislative Pay Should
Be Increased.
Corvallis Times.
Whether or not legislator should re
ceive $3 or $10- per day is a question
voters will have to pass on In' June.
Members receive $3 a day or $130 per ses
sion at a regular session now. They also
get mileage at 15 cents per mile. comin
and going one trip to and from the ses
sion by the most usual route. A con
stitutional amendment was submitted at,
the last session, rasing pay to JI00 per
regular session, with $o0 for presiding
officers, and. Instead of mileage their
full expenses, to and from sessions. The
change will increase the salary cost of
members from $10.S0O, to $36,000 per ses
sion. There has never been a dearth of legis
lative candidates. The old pay always
brought on its crop of them. It is not
probable that any good man has been
kept from seeking election to the legisla
ture, by reason of the smallncss of the
salary. It is doubtful If more pay would
bring out any better men. If money is
the object of their going, they are not
likely to be good timber anyway. Legis
lators who would be attracted by the
larger pay would go from mercenary
reasons, and would be no better, If as
good, as those who go because it is an
honor, and a citizen's duty. All things (
else at the Legislature are Increasing in
cost, and this item, it might be well
to keep the -lid on.
Hljthly Intelligent Queries About
President Roosevelt t
Arleta Or Mar 08 To the Editor Ore
gonian: Dear Sir: In to day's Issue you
tel of The President of the U. S being in
sulted by the Suomi Temperance Society.
I wish information.
What is the president of the U. S.? -Is
the man who is acting as president
of the U. S. above criticism? If so. by
what authority? The president of the U.
S. being a purely mythical being as is
"Uncle Sam" or, Allmtghty God, is the
removing of Theodore Rozevelt's picture
from a hall an insult to the president of
the U. 8.? If so by what authority did
the picture obtain a place in the hall.
Please answer these questions for the
benefit of one who thinks he is a socialist
& others P W BRITTS
Doubtless in the mind of the inquirer
these are pertinent and important ques
tions. To The Oregonian they scarcely
appear so. Hence It passes them by along
with the vast number of other foolish
questions from foolish people that, it is
not worth anybody's while to attempt to
answer. Especially Is it not worth while
to attempt to answer questions asked
after the 20th glass of beer.
Satisfied With Poor Roads.
OREGON CITY, Or., March 4. (Spe
cial.) The third suit to nullify the
levy of special road, taxes was insti
tuted here today against Sheriff Beatie.
The district Involved is ' No. 2, at
Clackamas. The plaintiffs complain
that the proceedings were irregular.
The first suit was not contested by the
county, and the second suit is still
pending.
IN THE MAGAZINE
SECTION OF THE
SUNDAY
OREGONIAN
PERSONAL PURITY
PROTECTION LEAGUE
Supposititious Portland organiza
tion, composed of prominent poli
ticians and business men, banded
against women adventuresses with
a slight reference to the assault
on Mavor Lane.
A PAGE OF PORTLAND
; LABS AND LASSIES
Photographs of youngsters whose
parents are well known; about the
prettiest piece of colored work the
artroom has turned out.
A LITTLE JOURNEY IN
QUEST OF LOCAL COLOR
It was-made in Portland by Ar
thur A. Greene, who writes a mod
ern classic on everyday sights and
impressions.
TRIUMPH OF BLIND
FRANCIS RICHTER
The young Portland musician
has been received as a pupil by the
greatest master. Mrs. Alma A.
Rogers writes of his progress dur
ing the last six months.
MOST INCORRIGIBLE
FLIRT IN EUROPE
A near view of Princess Patri
cia, the beautiful niece of King
Edward, who has dismissed many
roval suitors.
LESS
THAN TWO
AFTER
YEARS
Contrasting pictures of the heart
of San Francisco taken after the
great fire and the same district as
rebuilt today.
ORDER EARLY FROM YOUR
NEWSDEALER