National Republican., 1882-10-19
The Oregon Senatorial Contest


Although the Republicans have a con-
siderable majority in the Oregon legisla-
ture, no majority caucus has yet been held
on the question Of choosing United
States Senator. The Republicans who
met in caucus nominated ex-senator
Mitchell. The Republicans who refused
| to 60 into the caucusar numerous enough
to prevent Mr.. Mitchell's election. What
| their ultimate purpose is is not known.
Thus far they have thrown away
their votes on various individuals.
The United States statute regulating the
election of Senators requires that at least
one ballot shall be had each day. The
presumption is that this law has been
complied with in Oregon. The struggle
on the 10Th of September. The Asso-
ciated Press dispatches on the subject
| have been meager and irregular. Some
complaint of this having been made in
this paper the general agent of the Asso-
ciated Press at New York sends US the
following:
Editor of THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, Washing
| ton, ID. c.:
| DEAR SIR: Your comments upon the failure of
the Associated Press to report the balloting, from
day to day. in the Oregon Legislature. to select
| United States Senator are based upon an entire
misRpprehenson of the Associated Press service.
1t does not lie with the Associated Press agent at
| Portland 10 select the news which shall be sent to
| New York. such selection being made at San
| Francisco. 1t is obvious that if our San Francisco
| agent regarded the balloting at Salem n matter
| of sufficient Importance he would have diff
Guilty in obtaining reports of it. As a matter of
fact, the contest over the election of Senator has
been going OH for more than three weeks, and it
| would have been absurd waste of money for
| the Associated Press to pay the very high tele-
graphic rates which are charged on overland busi-
ness, for the purpose Of reerating day after day,
the conditions of a deadlock, which have not
changed sufficiently at any time to be of interest
to others than those personally interested
in the contest. Your statement that
the reports of the balloting have heen
withheld whenever Mr.. Mitchels prospects
were improving is shown to be absurd by the
fact that on September % Mr. Mitchell received
Al votes, and that was promptly teegraphed to
the Associated Press; whereas the latest ad-
vices from Salem telegraphed yesterday, Mr..
Mitcholrs vote 80. 1t would have cost con-
siderable sum of money TO report the daily ballot
ing which, as the foregoing statement shows, has
huctuated only one or two votes for against the
gentleman whose cause the Associated Press
agent is charged with endeavorng to damage
The managers of the Associated Press do not be-
ieve that the public interest in the matter would
have justified the expenditure. Very respectfully,
j. c. HUSTON, General Agent
We have no doubt of Mr.. Hueston's
willingness and desire to furnish the
press which depends upon his associa-
ton with the news. We must, however,
take issue with him when he treats the
struggle over the Oregon Senatorship as
a mere personal struggle between indi-
viduaIs, and we must protest against the
San Francisco agent of'the Associated
Press being allowed to decide that the
contest is not of sufficient import
ance to be daily reported to the
public. The fact is, that the country
is now watching with some anx-
iety for news rs to the contest going
on for the control Of the hro houses OF
C0ngrGss. There are in the Senate, as
now constituted, thirty-seven Republi-
cans, thirty seven Democrats. and two
Independents. Gibson, a Democrat has
been elected in Louisiana to succeed
Kellogg, a Republican; Riddleberger, an
Independent, has been elected in Vir-
ginia to succeed Johnston, a Democrat.
This would, without further changes,
make the next Senate stand Republicans
SO, Democrats 81, and Independents 8.
One of the ndependents-Davis, of Illi-
nois-will undoubtedly be displaced
by Republican, which would
make the body stand Democrats
81, Repu blicans 81, and Independents o
This condition of things makes the
Senatorial contest in Oregon one of alb
sorbing interest. With Republican
elected there and in Illinois the party
has only tie if the Independent Read.
usters of Virginia are ostracizcd by the
Republicans as proposed by MIR. Blaine
and his great national organ, the New
York Tribune. In that case the Repub
licans would have to depend on New
Jersey to send Republican Senator tc
enable them to choose a Vice Presi
dent next March to succeed Mr.
Davis. 1t is for these reasons tha
, we were little restive undel
: the neglect of the Associated Pres
, to report from day to day the progress
9 of the contest in Oregon. Mr.. Huestor
/ will readily see that the fight in Oregon
4 may yet be between parties rather thai
, between individuals and that the whole
| country and not merely the friends o
I the candidates, are anxious to know
/. what is going OH in that far-off State.
why Beechcr and Foiger Disagree.
@ The announcement of Beecher that he is agains