Morning Oregonian., September 15, 1908, Page 8, Image 8

THE 3IORXIXG OKEGOXIASV TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 19Q5.
8
POKTLAXD, OMGOX.
Entered at Portland. Oniok Poatonca aa
Eecond-Claa Matter.
eakaortpOsai Bates Isearsaslr AeJvnnoa.
(Br Mall)
Dally. Sunday racrodeo. on rear.
Dally. Sunday Included. (IX monthe.... J
Daily. Sunday Included, threa montha. X
Dally. Sunday Included, one month.... i
Dally without Sunday, on year -vv
Dally, without Buaday, ala months..... J
Daiiy. without Sunday, thrta months., l.ir.
Dally? without Sunday, ona month .
Weekly, ona yaar. j"
Sunday, ona year ; ?"
Sunday ud Weekly, ona yaar.,
By Carrlar.
Dally. Sunday Included, one yaar.:.... .00
Dally. Sunday lmluded. ona month i
Bow to Remit Sana poatofflea money
order, express order or personal check on
your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency
are at tha sender's risk- Olva poatofflea ad
dress In full, including county and atate.
Posts- Rate to to 14 pases, 1 cant; 1J
ta 28 paa-ea. 2 eenta; SO to 44 pages, a
cents; 44 to 60 pages. 4 canta. Foreign oat
aae double ratea
Eastern Business Office The 8. C Beck
with Special Agency New York, rooms 48
so Tribune building. Chicago, rooma 610-sia
Tribune building.
PORTLAND. TUESDAY. SEPT. 15, 190.
A CROSSLY IMPROPER MKTHOD.
Washington' primary law contains
"a statement" resembling but not ex
actly like that of our own. Jt at
tempts to pledge members of the
Legislature, elected by the various po
litical parties, to their party's choice
for Senator, but leaves it to the mem-
ber's option. "If he desires, he may
sign and file" his pledge. That is all
the Oregon law requires; but there is
further effort In Oregon to enforce the
pledge which of course Is absurd.
In a strong editorial the Seattle
Times 'repudiates this feature of the
primary law of Washington which
offers such pledge to the candidate for
the Legislature: saying:
To attempt to curtail tha right of a mem
ber of the Ieaielature to exercise hta own
Judgment a to who should be chosen after
the Legislature ha, been assembled Is to
violate tha fundamental law of the land
and h who attempta It la as guilty of law
tireeking as ha who openly breaks any stat
ute of the Ktate of Waahlngtr.n.
This partial attempt of the primary law
to prevent the members of the Legislature
from exercising their own Judgments, by
substituting the Judgments of their constitu
ents, is an Indirect attempt to violate tha
provisions of the Constitution of the United
States and It ought to be repudiated at
on re and forever.
For there la absolutely no difference be
tween coercing a candidate for the Legis
lature prior to his election Into agreeing to
vote for a certain person for United States
Senator, and In choosing that official by
direct vote of tha people but that ta posi
tively forbidden by both the Constitution of
the United Slates and the constitution of
Washington !
These words become all the more perti
nent because the law requires a majority
of the members of tha entire legislature to
choose a Senator and therefore a minority
of the people ought not and cannot legally
or morally determine who that candidate
ahall be.
In the voting which has taken place, aa
to preference for United States Senator.'
nothing but a farce has been enacted.
The argument is the same as that
presented by Judge M. C. George, in
his letter published by The Oregonlan.
In that letter the whole subject was
carefully reviewed. To call attention
afresh to its more salient points we
reproduce these extracts, viz.:
The National Constitution, that governs
us all. make It the sworn duty of Stat
legtiilatora themeelvea. to aelect a man for
, Senator when the proper time comes, and
no one has either a legal or a moral fight
to ask or demand that any legislator fore
swear himself or promise away hla consti
tutional duty of self-selection.
It is the legislator' (worn duty to se
lect, by his own viva voce vote, and no
rltisen voter, bound by our National Con
stitution, can dictate that vote, and no
auch cltlsen ahould fall to recognise and
respect a legislators rlKht and duty.
No cltlsen voter, morally or legally, can
demand that any candidate, who aeeks the
office of legislator, shall break his oath of
office, or pledge himself so that he cannot
carry out his oath freely, or require that
the candidate abdicate any constitutional
right or duty pertaining to tha office; and
It become an unjustifiable hold-up by a
voting citizen, or by the voting people of
any atate in our Union, to demand that
any candidate thus promise that he will vote
for any particular person for 8enator.
In this matter the will of the people of
Oregon Is not supreme, but subordinate and
subservient to the expressed constitutional
will of the people of the United States, who
have decreed that member, of the respect
ive Legislatures, sworn to do their duty,
shall themselves freely choose a Senator,
and not the people of any atate, at any ao
called election or otherwise.
Wa all believe In "the will of the people"
when lawfully expressed; but no will of the
people of any state can put aside nor ahould
It attempt to put aside, tha constitutional
will of the people of the United Statea
In Oregon many legislators, through more
or leas election duress, have promised. In
effect, to abdicate their own constitutional
function and plain duty tinder Federal law.
and to vote. If elected, not for their own
free deliberate choice, or eelectlon. for Sen
ator aa win be their sworn official duty
to do. but on the contrary to vote for whom
soever a plurality names for them through
soma aubordlnate state enactment tor so
called "popular selection. "
It is truth, doubtless, as Judge
George says, that "neither they (the
candidates) nor the Impulsive people,
fully realize the seriousness, legally
and morally, of such action under our
"upreme law, which all are bound to
"espect." That "the questionable Ore
gon attempt Is having an adverse in
fluence elsewhere, to direct amend
ment of the Constitution of the United
States on this subject," is certain.
Judge George continues:
We assume to teach the - people of the
whole country In tha election ' of Federal
officers, but no othsr state, nor any politi
cal party elsewhere dream, now of follow
ing seriously any "Statement No. 1" or
of "Instructing" legislators in matter
wherein they are veated with their own
constitutional discretion, and under oath
to do their National duty.
Several other atatea have, thus far, been
willing, within tha great parties, to defer
largely to soma party man of pkpular
choice, but we try to go far and beyond
to force a winning party to elect a Senator
from a defeated party.
In Oregon solely, wa ahall have the in
congruous result of compelling. In defiance
nf. our supreme law. If Statement No. 1 be
followed, free legislators of one set of politi
cal principles, to vote for men of voppoa!te
principles.
Though It be reprehensible either to prom
ise to do an unlawful thing, or be elected
and not keep one'a word, yet one thing Is
apparent It ought not to lie tn the mouth
of any voter to complain, who held the
candidate up to make a promise lnconsist-.
ent with known sworn official duty. Every
voter Is presumed to know the law. and to
know that no candidate can deprive or dis
qualify himself when elected from doing hia
official duty; and that all promises so to
do. whether forced or voluntary, are con
trary to law and public policy; and any and
all such votera are forever estopped from
complaining.
Less baneful promisee have been declared
by courta void, ta law, and void in publlo
policy.
Is a promise inconsiderately made,
that would require the member to
violate the spirit and intent of the
supreme law, to renounce, a duty im
posed upon him by law, and therefore
in the highest sense void in publlo
policy, to be accepted, treated, main
tained and enforced, as the flower and
fruit of reform? Then reform must
have new definitions. "Such a course,"
we make a final quotation from the
Seattle Times "is not only coercive,
tout destructive of all constitutional
principles, and should be repudiated
by a sensible people. The next Legls-
lature should strike out all reference
to United States Senator from the pri
mary law."
THE MAFVK ELECTION.
Again this year in Maine there Is
an acute contest on prohibition, and
the Republicans suffer losses and tha
Democrats make gains. Opposition to
prohibition In Maine smoulders for
a time, then breaks out again. This
is its year. In 1880 the Democrats ac
tually carried Maine in September,
yet Garfield was elected President.
Davis, Republican candidate for Gov
ernor that year, received 73,644 votes;
Plalsted. Democrat, 73,713. Yet two
months later Garfield carried the
state by a heavy majority, and was
elected to the Presidency.
But it must be admitted that, the re
duction of the Republican majority
in Maine at this time is not favorable
to Taft. Maine, every twenty or
thirty years, stirs, like Enceladus un
der Aetna, then falls back to normal
conditions again.
The real contest this year, as so
often heretofore, is in the states of the
Great Middle West. It can hardly be
expected that the majorities for Taft
anywhere will equal those gained by
Roosevelt; but there are supporters of
Taft who think that his majorities
might be less than those of Roosevelt,
yet his election might still be assured.
Four years ago Democrats in every
state by thousands refused to vote for
Parker, and many of them voted for
Roosevelt. This year the Democratic
vote is coming out for Bryan.
Whether It will exceed the Republican
vote for Taft, is yet to be determined.
In Maine, some years, the Democrats
vote; In other years they do not.
Even this year the whole Democratic
vote has not been thrown. "Llcker"
comes nearer bringing it out than any
other question.
HUGHES ANTJ NEW YORK BOSSE,
If the- New Tork bosses have their
way, and defeat Governor Hughes for
re-nomination, the Republican party
there might almost as well hang up its
fiddle; and the Republican cause in
the Presidential campaign will every
where be immeasurably damaged.
The New Tork Republican machine
doesn't want Hughes, because Hughes
has no use for the machine and de
spises machine politics and machine
politicians. It may be and probably
Is the fact that the Governor should
have given greater consideration to
the nartv managers. But he didn't;
and tt is a condition, not a theory, that
confronts them. The condition is tnai
Hughes is on their hands and they
nnnnt a-et rid of him without sacri
fice of every prospect of success for
the state ticket in New. York, ana put
in In en-eat leooardy there also the
National ticket. Hughes' defeat will be
public notice that the Republican boss
is in the saddle still, that the machine
still lives and rules, and that the Re
publican party purposes to stand by
the old-time alliance with the powers
that prey.
Hughes has not done much for
practical party politics but he was
done a lot for the party. It had a bad
name in New Tork before Hughes'
time; it will show this week at Sara
toga whether it really deserves the
good name he has given it.
EDISON THE EVANGELIST.
Science has even now proved that
the body is composed of electricity;
suppose It should presently demon
strate the same proposition for the
soul? Ohm's law and the other elec
trical formulas would then become
strictly applicable to the world of
spirits. Theology would cease to be
speculative and become an exact sci
ence. All the preachers would have
to study Maxwell on electricity and
magnetism. The seminaries for min
isters would be forced at last to teach
natural science. Creeds could no
longer be quarreled over because we
should simply sit down and compute
them by the calculus and each sepa
rate article would be as impregnable
as Taylor's Theorem..
Such are some of the joyful
thoughts which sweep into the mind
when one peruses Mr. Edison's re
mark that "Electricity is going to
solve many of the mysteries of life
and death." Nobody who has paid
much attention to the trend of recent
speculation and discovery in physics
can doubt that the great inventor
speaks advisedly. The advance of
knowledge has already rid the world
of a great many "mysteries," though
plenty remain to plague us. The un
timely death of children which used to
be accounted an unfathomable provi
dence is now a simple matter of sewer
gas, diphtheria breeding filth or foul
milk.' World desolating pestilences
which our fathers fought with prayer
and explained as the decrees of an in
comprehensible Deity we have also
analyzed into the simple elements of
dirt and sloth. Many other mysteries
have been resolved by investigation
and many shocking old dogmas shown
to be literally true. Thus a generation
ago polite people agreed that a merci
ful ruler of the world could not possi
bly permit such a dreadful thing as
infant damnation to happen. We now
know that it happens thousands of
times a day and we know why. The
damnation is not postponed to the
next world but begins here and It is
effected, not by imps with redhot
pitchforks, but by heredity and en
vironment. Long ago Bishop Butler
put the Deists to rout by showing that
their sentimental "God of Nature" did
precisely the same cruel deeds as were
ascribed to the deity of the theolo
gians. At any rate the deeds occur
and tha ruler of the universe, by
whatever name he goes, is responsible
for them. This is a difficulty which
those who believe in an anthropomor
phic God have often evaded but never
solved.
We see no reason why Mr. Edison's
tentative speculation Is not sound.
Very likely life and death are electri
cal phenomena, as he suggests: and If
they are there" they can be reduced to
mathematical formulas and forever
rescued from the clutch of supersti
tion. Our inability to understand life
and death has always been the oppor
tunity of the mystery monger. He has
ever been ready with his explanation.
Invariably without the slightest basis
of fact to build it on. and the expla
nation , has uniformly been devised
with singular ingenuity to benefit the
pocket and enhance the power of the
man or the sect who invented it. If
life and death turn out to be mere
electrical phenomena, as they are
quite likely to, then what a world of
queer beliefs, of hopes and fears, will
vanish.
The rapid solution of mysteries in
the past prepares us to anticipate that
the surviving ones will ultimately be
cleared up. In a few decades, more
or less, there will be no such thing as
"the occult," or "the supernatural.
Everything will have been explained.
"And then," cries the sentimentalist,
"what a dismal place the world will
be." Hardly so. Most of the disease,
misery, cruelty and persecution which
men have heretofore endured may be
traced back to the Influence of "mys
teries." Nobody was ever tortured to
defend the Pythagorean Theorem, but
multitudes have suffered for the dog
ma of the Trinity. With every mys
tery that vanishes the real happiness
of mankind increases. Compared
with our forefathers we are like men
who have escaped from a quaking bog
and found footing on ground that is
solid albeit somewhat beset with pit
falls. Through the work of men like
Edison our children will be rid of the
pitfalls. The most wholesome, happy
and altogether blessed thing In the
world is serene, impregnable. Demon
strable truth. The more of it we have
the better we shall be, the longer we
shall live and the .fitter we shall be
to face our Maker when we come to
die. Therefore the truest evangelists
on earth are Edison and his fellow
workers. BELATED OWNERSHIP ASSERTED.
We note with pleasure, and wel
come with joy, the very recent discov
ery, made over in Washington, that
the Evergreen State is willing to
assert at least a slight interest in the
Columbia River. Few Portland peo
ple who have ever taken an active
part in endeavoring to secure appro
priations for the Improvement of that
noble stream, will fall to recall the
vehement .declarations of the Wash
ington press to the effect that the Co
lumbia River was not only an Oregon
stream, but it was actually a Portland
affair, and that Portland alone should
be forced to make all Improvements
that were necessary. Of course Port
land and Oregon never sought to force
ownership of a portion of the Colum
bia River on Washington, but simply
regarded the matter of improvement
aa one in which both states were in
terested. "We shot a deer," said one of two
excitable hunters as the animal fell,
but, as closer examination disclosed
its Identity, he exclaimed with vehe
mence: "You have killed a calf."
When the ownership of the salmon or
the regulation of their catching is
involved, it seems to be a case of
"we;" but when river improvement is
mentioned It. is "you," and all of
Washington's interest in the topic
vanishes and It becomes' a case of
"you" with Portland and Oregon, foot
ing the bills.
The outcome of the present badly
tangled fishing situation is uncertain,
but, if it should succeed in awakening
in the minds of the Washlngtonlans a
permanent feeling of proprietorship
in the Columbia River, It will not be
devoid of merit. . Having publicly ac
knowledged that the river seems to
have some value as a place In which
salmon can swim between traps) our
friends across the stream, may even
tually learn that the river is also of
value for navigation purposes. The
"second choice" vote, however, is
about the best we can expect on this
latter feature so long as Puget Sound,
Washington, finds the Columbia Riv
er, Oregon, sucih an active competitor
in the shipping trade of the two states.
' DEEPER CHANNEL NEEDED.
Nearly forty ships and steames,
with an aggregate carrying capacity
of about 160,000 tons, are now assem
bled In Portland harbor. A few of
these vessels are in the coasting trade,
but the greater part of the fleet Is
here for cargoes which have been sold
to markets beyond the sea. It is the
largest deep water fleet that has ever
reached Portland so early in the sea
son, and the quick dispatch that the
vessels are receiving is proof conclu
sive that this city has Increased its
business In fne same ratio as the ton
nage of the port has increased.
Among this fleet are a number of car
riers of from seven to ten thousand
tons capacity, or about twice as large
as the average carries of ten years
ago, and three times as large as the
vessels which came hefre twenty years
ago. The size of these ocean carriers
has increased proportionately with the
growth of the port and the depth of
the channel to the sea, and we have
now reached a point where it is abso
lutely necessary that early provision
be made for taking care of still larger
vessels than those now coming to the
port.
The problem of getting the freight
of the inland empire, the Central Ore
gon country and the coast regions out
to tidewater at Portland has already
been partly solved by the building of
the North Bank railroad, and Its solu
tion will be complete as soon as the
railroad lines now projected for the
state are built. Within thirty days
there will be direct rail connec
tion between Portland and the
heart of the rich Wallowa coun
try and a large volume of new traffic
that is tributary to no other port will
develop. Before the first train reaches
Wallowa Lake, the North Bank road
will be running trains into Portland,
and there will be open to this city, a
new trade field extending as far in
land as the Bitter Root Mountains,
and from which Portland has been
barred for more than ten years.
The Tillamook line will be in opera
tion for a considerable portion of the
distance next year, and it is almost a
certainty that the Central Oregon line
will be hauling wheat out of a portion
of that vast region which it enters,
late next Fall, and within two years
the entire region will be pouring out
a rich traffic that will all find its
market at Portland. These new feed
ers, which are drawing to Portland
wealth from localities in which we
have never before secured a foothold,
will be supplemented by numerous
electric lines, of which the Oregon
Electric system stands at the head,
with the United Railways promising
to make a contest for some of the
field Already reached by the older
company. "
Practically all - of the enormous
amount of new business to be devel
oped in these fields, which will soon
be accessible, will come to Portland,
which, on account of its geographical
location alone. Is the logical trading
potnt for the immense territory Just
opening. But we cannot expect to re
tain this immense business, now in
sight, if we are negligent In keeping
our shipping facilities up to a high
standard. We need a thirty-foot
channel from Portland to the sea.
This thirty-foot, channel is a greater
necessity than the twenty-five-foot
channel was five or ten years ago. It
will require time and money to secure
the Increased depth needed, and in
order that we should be prepared for
the increasing size and number of
vessels that our rapidly growing com
merce demands, no time should be
lost in getting started.
The superiority of our railroad fa
cilities over those of any other port In
the Pacific Northwest is assured. We
must place our shipping facilities in
the same impregnable position, or we
will' be ill-prepared to profit to the
fullest extent by our splendid location
and the wealth of natural resources
directly tributary to the city.
Japan seems to be awakening from
her financial carouse. For the past
three years, the Nippon empire has
been spending money with all of the
freedom and- abandon of a drunken
sailor, and quite naturally the bottom
of the till has. been reached. It was
announced several weeks ago that the
ship-subsidy graft, which was such a
profitable aftair for the shipowner and
so expensive and useless for the tax
payers, would be reduced or aban
doned entirely, and now comes the an
nouncement .that the army and navy
estimates are all to be cut and the
most rigid retrenchment practiced.
There is a possibility that Japan has
at last discovered that an army and
navy of sufficient size to conquer the
world were so far beyond her financial
ability that It was the part of wisdom
to abandon the attempt. This decision
might have been hastened by the re
cent display of naval strength and
cash resources by the country which
was reported to be on the Japan list
for early annihilation.
The inventive genius of man has
perfected the railway block signal
until It is practically Infallible. When
ever, a train aproaches a "block" on
which another train has already en
tered, the danger signal Is automatic
ally flashed before the eyes of the en
gineer, and it remains as a warning
so long as the train Is on the block.
But, while the block signal has nearly
reached the point of perfection, . no
method has yet been discovered by
which the careless engineer can be
forced to keep a close watch on these
signals. It was a temporary lapse on
the part of a careless engineer on the
Lake Shore road yesterday which
caused him to run past a block signal
into a collision that cost one life and
injured thirty people. European rail
roads have no advantage over America
in mechanical precautionary measures
against train accidents, but they seem
to have more careful engineers.
Bryan declares that his chief title
to support is that he is the "heir" of
Roosevelt. But Roosevelt, in an earn
est letter commends Taft, as the man
to carry out the ideas and purposes
that have been pushed during his ad
ministration. Bryan now declares this
may be very well, but Taft should
speak for himself, for nobody can be
lieve Roosevelt, whose "heir" Bryan
boasts himself to be. Well, Taft will
speak for himself. But It cheapens
the Presidency to find the candidates
for It running round among the elec
tors, tin a search for their suffrages.
Washington .didn't do It, nor Lincoln,
nor even McKlnley. Of course Roose
velt did not. But the vile example has
been set, and Taft probably will fol
low It. It Is, however, a striking mark
of the degradation of our National
politics. . ' '
Labor Leader Hardle, of London, Is
delivering lectures In America, telling
his hearers how much better in the
field of politics the English working
man has fared than .his American
cousin. According to Hardle, the Eng
lish plan has had "so many good re
sults that It would tire you If I tried
to enumerate them." All of which
may be true, but it still fails to explain
why labor and the general industrial
situation in England are worse off
than anywhere else In the civilized
world.
The San Francisco Commercial
News, usually accurate on such mat
ters, on September 11 printed a list
of vessels at "Puget Sound and British
Columbia" and Included therein five
vessels which are at Portland. These
vessels were the Americana, Beechley,
Boverlc, Nederland and Suveric, total
ing 13,375 tons net register, and ac
cordingly of material aid In swelling
the statistics for the Puget Sound
ports.
"It's no affair of mine, and I don't
want to interfere, and you'll do as you
please, of course; but you fellows in
New Tork are facing sudden political
death if you don't nominate Hughes,
and I shall be glad to help at the ob
sequies." That Is not exactly what the
President said, but is about what he
meant.
Dairymen on the Sluslaw get a
higher price for their butterfat, which
comes to Portland, than do those on
the Coqullle, whence it Is sent to San
Francisco. One reason Is the product
rules higher, because of the better
market up this way.
A Portland man, intoxicated, died
from suffocation because his hat was
by accident Jammed too tightly on his
face. The only moral some people
can see in this unhappy incident Is
that it is a mistake to wear a hat
while drunk.
Fortunately for the good name of
Oregon, after that violent Debs circu
lar about the "scab-herding aggrega
tion of legalized murderers," it was
not necessary to call out the militia to
protect Debs. . . '
There is no mistake this time about
who is the residuary legatee of the
Roosevelt policies. President Roose
velt says his name Is Taft. Roose
velt ought to know whether he has an
heir or not.
Hon. Milt Miller Is back from the
East and says it's all right for Bryan.
To be sure; to be sure. ' But didn't the
Hon. Milt also, do a little pleasant pre
dicting along about 1896 and 1900?
Bryan has opinions about the
Brownsville affair and niggers in gen
eral; but they are matters of con
science,' it seems, upon which no one
has a right to interrogate him.
State Fair week and hop-picking
time. and no rain. Climatic conditions
must be changing. Tet the week is
young.
PRIMARY LAW NEEDS FIXING
Rraulta In Whatcom County ' Are a
Grave Disappointment.
BelHngham Herald.
While the defeated candidates are
ruefully contemplating the wreckage
and the victors are shuddering over the
close shaves they had, a word on the
practical workings of the direct pri
mary may be received with a little con
sideration. With some degree of con
trition this paper admits that the law
Is not all that had been claimed for It.
It has been frequently maintained in
these columns that, although the law
is cumbersome, it would accomplish its
purpose, which is to let the people ex
press their choice! The results do not
bear out this claim.
Unquestionably many who received a
plurality of votes are not the choice of
the majority. In many Instances the
man who won would have been defeated
If there had been but two In the race.
The effect of minor candidates upon
the results is a thing that had not been
fully considered. The man who cannot
win may easily prevent the best man
from winning. Courtesy demands that
no specific case be referred to, and only
general Illustrations can be used. Sup
pose, for instance, that the liquor deal
ers want to elect a man who will not
close the saloons on Sunday. On the
other hand, the business interests gen
erally approve a man who will close
the saloons, but who stands for other
things besides Sunday closing. It Is a
matter of history that the so-called
'-'moral'' element and those who repre
sent isms are rarely content with half
a loaf. They want the whole thing or
nothing. To, them the business man in
favor of Sunday closing is just as ob
jectionable as the saloon man. They,
therefore, put forward a kindly dis
posed but wholly unfit gentleman who
divides the moral vote, and the saloon
man. slides in. This illustration does
not cover all of the shortcomings of
the law in this respect, but it calls at
tention to an apparent weakness.
s
Another defect is to be found in
the worry and expense and bitterness
and travail of the campaign. Extremes
were probably reached In Whatcom
County, owing to the strong factions
that exist here, but the case was
bad encAigh In any county. Feuds that
a generation may not wipe out were
engendered. The hand of every candi
date was at the throat of every other.
Men who did not have money to meet
ordinary expenses of everyday life
spent hundreds in going into the high
ways and hedges for votes, and the
only consolation they have is that they
must work a little harder to recover
from the effects of their foUy. The
whole community has been disturbed
by the agony of -a 90 days' struggle.
And, when the results are contemplated,
there are not many who will maintain
that it was worth while.
Worst of all, from a party standpoint,
tha dominant party did not nominate
its ticket. Democrats and Socialists,
forgetting their party . preferences,
rushed into the RepubllcanTanks, where
the interests centered, and decided
many of the results. Even some of
the candidates would not have been
Republicans under other conditions.
Some unquestionably helped to ' elect
weak candidates in order that they
might defeat them at the general
election. The Republican party in this
oounty is torn Into a dozen petty fac
tions and the Democrats will smilingly
profit by this unpleasantness. No
such strife Is to be found in the mi
nority parties. In some instances they
have not nominated candidates, but
will center their fight upon a few
offices. While the Republican party is
inflamed the Democrats are serenely
considering the future.
And they, have every reason to be
lieve that they will be successful, for
it must be admitted that the Republi
cans, as a result of Democratic and
Socialist interference, did not succeed
in nominating strong men for every
office. Many good men who have long
aspired to certain . political honors
kept out of the race, because their
dignity would not permit them to en
ter Into an unseemly scramble. It,
therefore, happens that the people
have named men whom no Republican
convention would have dared present
to the people as the party's nominees.
On the whole, the direct primary
needs a lot of fixing, and the people
are not likely to raise a loud protest
If the knife is applied by the legisla
ture. Too Many Candidates.
Hoqulam Washlngtonlan.
Now that the smoke of the primary
battle Is clearing away, the defeated
candidate is nursing his wounds if
any and cogitating: "Is it worth the
effort?"
It has cost many a pretty penny dur
ing the campaign Just closed, and it is
a question if it would not have been
the better part of judgment had about
halt the candidates remained out of
the contest. Under the primary, it is
left In the hands (too much) of the
Individual to choose whether he shall
undertake to serve his country or allow
some other fellow to have free access
to the plums. So, when a man elects
to enter the political arena he should
put up his best fight and be prepared
to look defeat in the eye with some
degree of complacence.
Gone, but Not Forgotten.
St. Helens Mist."
The "Oregonlan expresses regret be
cause, as it claims, Bryan's former
speeches cannot be canned. Why can't
they be canned? They can and should
be canned. Their tin tin abulations
should be sounded In .the ears of Demo
crats of the Parker stripe who sing
paens In honor of Grover Cleveland and
dishonor his memory by surrendering to
Bryanlsm. The cross of gold should
not be forgotten nor the crown of
thorns permitted to fall Into Innocuous
desuetude. Those old speeches may be
a little rotten for canning purposes,
but those who swallowed them eight
year ago would do so today if tha
Peerless prescribed the dose.
Easy Money.
Woodburn Independent.
A man went Into Meehan's Tuesday
and asked Al Edgar for the loan of
$2.50 on a watch. Edgar loaned the
money and took the timepiece for se
curity. The man pondered awhile and
decided he wouldn't "soak" his watch,
and money ar.U watch changed hands
again. A few minutes later the visitor
leaned toward Edgar and confidential
ly told him that he would take that
12.50 after all, whereupon Edgar gave
him mat amount. Then he walked out
without leaving the watch and left for
the country. Acting Marshal Beach
tried to catch him, but -he was too
swift.
Why Xott
Albany Herald.
Bryan, the Peerless Leader: Chafln,
tha Beerless Leader, and Taft, the
Fearless Leader why not?
FRAUD AT STATE'S CAPITAL, TOO
Here, as Elsewhere tn Washington,
Democrats Masquerade as Republican.
Olympla Recorder.
We would casually like to inquira
what has become of the Democratic
party? If Bryan ever gets to see the
comparative vote in the primaries in
Washington state he will have even
his publicity bureau strike this state
off their mailing lists as altogether
hopeess. It was unquestionably true
In Thurston County, as was found to
be the case in Pierce, King, Walla
Walla, Spokane and other large voting
counties, that great numbers of Demo
crats called for and voted the Republic
an ticket at the primary. In this coun
ty it is safe to aay that the bulk of the
Democrats voting, used the Republican
ticket. .Just what the reason was Is
not plainly apparent and probably the
trend of the Democratic-Republican
vote differed In different counties. 1ft
Thurston County It is probable that the
Gubernatorial contest was the main
subject of interest, and, while some
Democratic votes went for McBrlde, It
Is believed that the majority of them
were cast for Governor Mead, although
likely a desire, to have a hand in the
Republican nominations for various of
the offices influenced the Democrats
In changing political coats for the pri
mary. In the larger cities, where the
saloon element Is more of a factor,
doubtless a good share of the Demo
crats voting the Republican ballot did
so for the purpose of supporting Mc
Brlde for the Governorship.
But whatever the animus, and In the
main such interference must be consid
ered as attempted for the purpose of
manipulating and weakening the ma
jority party nominations, it is against
the whole intent, spirit and object of
the primary election law, and if party
pride will not suffice to prevent such
wholesale meddling, then such amend
ment should be made to the law aa will
remedy this serious defect so as to
make the primary what It was intended
to be, a party nominating convention of
the electors of each party.
JIMMIES Dl'RKlX, GAME LOSER.
Campaign Started aa a Joke Bat It
Was No Joke.
Spokane Special.
"1 have perpetrated a bigger joke
on myself than any other person has
ever perpetrated on me. No more po
litical honors for mine. The only or
ganization I had was a lead pencil, a
small head, and a machine of news
papers, which are greatest medium of
publicity in the world."
So declares Jlmmle Durkln, Demo
cratic candidate for the Gubernatorial
nomination, who has conceded that he
had abandoned hope of occupying for
the next four years at least, the execu
tive mansion in Olympla.
"My platform was written as a Joke,
but in five days so many people came
to see me who took the joke seriously
that I had to make fools of them or a
fool of myself," explained Jimmie. "I
took the latter alternative, saying to
myself that I would go In and win.
"With the expectation of trying to
overtake the joke, which had gone
throughout the state, I spent consider
able money. Old as I am, I have lots
to learn, and one of the things is this,
when you have started a Joke do not
think you are going to be taken seri
ously by the great majority of the peo
ple. Whatever you do In this world,
do not take yourself too seriously un
less you know that other people are do
ing the same thing, and before you
start take a few lessons on the Inside
history of human nature.
"I havo not given to one man a sin
gle drink or cigar nor have I paid five
cents more or less to any man for
political ends, neither have I seriously
asked one man to vote for me.
"No more political honors for mine,
I do not see where there is any great
honor coming to any man in politics,
except in so far as it tickles the vanity
and selfishness that Is In him in being
able to say of his opponent, 'Well, I
showed him that I beat him.'
"How any man who is In business
and expects to grow, cannot see the
value there Is in newspaper publicity
in putting his wares or political princi
ples before the public Is past my under
standing, if he Intends to have a grow
ing business."
Why Wouldnt All the People Vote?
Yakima Republic.
We should say offhand that about
two-fifths of the voters of this state
stayed away from the primaries. In
which the newspapers of the state had
done their best' for six month to arouse
interest, and at which the question
whether the gang should continue to
rule the politics of the state was to be
determined. Under ordinary clrcum
tan.ces we may expect to see a minor
ity of the voters at the primaries, as of
old. Most of the mlagovernment of
which the people complain I due to
the fact that the citizens will not at
tend to one of their most important
political duties, which Is to see that
this fountain head of all their privi
leges is kept pure.
What They Want I a Railroad.
Madras Pioneer.
Beggars cannot be. chooser, and on
this principle the people of Central Ore
gon will have to be satisfied with Mr.
Harriman's refusal to say which of
the various routes into Central Oregon
he will adopt when he builds the prom
ised road. What Central Oregon wants
is a railroad, from whatever direction
It comes. In the meantime, however,
there will be a perfectly excusable
curiosity to know from which direction
the blessed relief Is coming. Mr. Har
rlman say, "we are keeping that to
ourselves," which we are ready to for
give him, if he won't keep the secret
too long.
One View of the Hopdealer.
Gervais Star.
The hop industry is one of the most
valuable in this state, and yet it is
virtually ruined through the machina
tions of dealers who have sapped its
very vitals until the grower cannot and
does not make his actual salt. It Is
nothing to these dealers that farmers
are ruined; that a great Industry is
debauched; that barefooted children
are abroad in the land. They make
money and that suffices. With them
it is either rule or ruin.
Satan la Accommodating..
Washington Star.
"When you feel any temptations
eomin' along." said the friend and ad
viser, "you mus' say, 'Get thee behin'
me, Satan.' "
"Da's what I done said," answered
Mr. Erastus Plnkley, "an" den I
'maglnes J hyuhs Satan answer me
back, "Da's all right. We's both gwlne
de same way, an' It don' make no
dlf'unce to me nohow which leads de
puhcesslon.' "
Chance for a Profitable Partnership.
Corvallls Gazette.
Some funny things happened In the
award of the premiums at the- All
Benton Fair. Miss Rose Tunison wm
awarded a 22 rifle, a boy's suit of
clothes, and $5 in merchandise in a
hardware store. Archie Rickard was
awarded $10 in dress goods and Is now
looking for soma good-looking girl to
make suitable selection for him.
SILHOUETTES
BT ARTHUR A. GREENE.
The desire to achieve success in Ufa
Is too often, merely the desire to "rub It
tn" on tha other fellow.
a a
When thieves fall out the Prosecuting
Attorney usually gets a confession.
s s
When I look at soma of the married
couples of my acquaintance I am quit
convinced that love is blind.
as
A fool and his affinity are soon parted,
e s
The poet's allusion to "the cold chaste
stars" is not Intended to be applied ex
clusively to theatrical luminaries.
s a s
As a rule six months is sufficient time
to cure the most ardent of love affairs,
s s a
To the grief-stricken minutes seem
hours. To the happy hours are but
minutes.
a a
Flirtations are dice games between
fools and knaves.
s a a
It's a wise child that knows its own
father In these day of easy divorce.
a a
The philosopher learns to bear calmly
the troubles of his friends.
a a
A full heart paralyses the lips.
Pnps Will Learn.
A foolish bull pup
Sought to sup
On the tenderloin of a cat;
But puss was averse
And licked him much worse
Than he ever was whipped before;
Now the pup is wiser and hates a spat.
And his head Is exceedingly sore;
As his courage goes down his res pact
goes up
For that scrappy old tabby cat.
as
In the midst of dreams of happiness
one may always be certain that Fate is
winding the alarm-clock.
s a a
Now that Senator Bourne has returned
local Interest in haberdashery is expected
to pick up.
' a a
Tou will notice that a thousand people
talk philosophy where one lives up to It.
as
The man who is always agreeable la a
half brother to the Jelly-fish.
ass
The dead are usually forgotten before
the undertaker's bill is paid.
s a a
The bachelor may always console him
self with the thought that "Peaes hath
her victories."
a a a
Women have a secret contempt for
clothes that are comfortable.
a a a
Love's Epilogue.
My love is like the rose that blooms too
late,
Forgetful of Its foredoomed fate
To die when frosts of Autumn come.
My love is like the lingering 'strains
Of haunting music that the memory
clasps unto Its bosom
When of the Joys of life naught else
remains.
My love's the olden glory of the gold thst
long past Summer's alchemy devised
Out of sweet nothings to ornate a gray
and Bomber life
When love has come to one alas, too
late.
WOE FOR UUH tuiini.u
Getting Xo Money From the Campaign,
aud He Resent It.
Portland Advocate (Colored).
Somebody is responsible for the state
ment that Is going the rounds that a
prominent Republican who ta on the in
side and Is looked upon as a kind or
leader In politics in Oregon, is quoted
as having said that he didn't care how
tne p Negro voted. He may, or
may not, have said this, but tha whole
outfit Is acting Just that way, for only
a month or so ago a Taft and Sherman
Club was launched, and a few dollars
were asked for to pay hall rent, so as
to have a place to meet. "We have no
money," was the cry. But yet there
ha- been $30,003 put Into somebody
hands here in Oregon to conduct the
campaign. The white club', place of
meeting and printing is paid for out ot
thl. campaign fund. Why not tha
black man s? Does this look like the
above statement is true? Does It look
like the Republican party considers
colored votes of any material interest
to the Republican party In Oregon or,
elsewhere? We are forced to the con
clusion that they do not, or els they
are acting rather dilatory about It.
It is reported that Chairman Cake,
of the Republican state committee, on
his return trom the East severs!
weeks ago, brought back a big sacK
to be usd in conducting the campaign
in Oregon, but this news need not
cause the colored brother to pick .up
his ear and extend hi palm, for It is
not for him. as the same arithmetic
that his predecessors used is still In
vogue, to-wlt: Naught Is naught, a fig
ure is a figure, all for the whits man
and none for the nigger.
Snell and the Senatorahlp. '
Tacoma Dally Tribune.
Judge William H- Snell will be a
candidate for United State Senator be
fore the State Legislature.
Judge Snell wa overwhelmingly in
dorsed in the primary vote of Pierce
County and maintains that the Legis
lative representatives of Pierce are
thus bound to vote for him for United
States Senator.
Eminent lawyers doubt the consti
tutionality of the primary law, while
others define it far differently from
those who would have it thought that
the greater number of votes would
give a candidate the nomination.
coii hoj th overwhelming indorse
ment of Pierce County. Jones had the
indorsement or oiner co""w
Ankeny was Indorsed by still others.
The real fight will be In the Legis
latureand may the Pierce County man
win is the wish of The Tribune.
aiiM r Am Dead.
BufTalo Times.
When I am dead
Btrew no roses at my rest
Nor burden ma with vain regrets nor
Fulsome eulogy.
But let me so
Hence aa I came aye. ... .u
With all my Imperfections on my head.
And all my alna to bear ma company.
No Intercession make for me.
Tha plea of pity, easily Invoked.
Can change not Jot or tittle of my atate
When I am Judged.
.For as nuiu 1 1 1 b .
To Joy In things forhiddsn by tha book.
Through all his years, and when ha coma
to dl
To play the craven.
And wl'h bended Vnae to beg
Absolution for the evil he has dona
When restitution is oeyona mm u
When I am dead
Btrew no roses at my feat
Nor burdsn ma with vain regreta nor
Fulsome euloity.
When 1 am dead.