The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-02-27


One of the great causes which led
the last legislature up to the deplorable
condition where they failed to elect
United States Senator is found in the
fact that so many of the members of
the legislature thought perhaps light
ming might by some possibility strike
them, and hence there was no caucus
held nor any attempt at organization
or concentration by the opposing fac
tions. For wise purpose a provision
is engrafted in our state constitution
in the Legislative department in the
following words. to-wit: "No senator
or representative shall, during the time
for which he may have been elected be
eligible to any Office, the election to
which is vested in the legislative as
sembly; nor shall be appointed to any
civil office of profit which shall have
been created, or the emoluments of
which shall have been increased dur
ing such term, but this latter provision
shall not be construed to any officer
elective by the people" This pro-
vision shows unmistakably that the
trainers of our constitution intended
in unmistakable terms that the mem
bers of our legislature should not be
placed under circumstances where de-
sire for official position from the votes
of their fellow legislators could inter
fere with the course of legislation or
put them where there might be an in
ducement to barter matters of legisla-
ton for votes to elect them to pos
ton. This provision of the constitu-
ton as plainly as language can,
forbids any member of the legislature
during his term of Office from running
for United States Senator. Hence,
with this view of the whole affair it
was contrary to the spirit and plain
provision of our constitution for any
member of the legislature at the last
session to vote for Hirsch, Hare, Car.
son, Weatherford, Davenport, Bilyeu,
Prim, Waldo, Ready, or any others of
that body. The reason for the pro-
vision of the constitution alluded to
and why it should be strictly enforced
is plain to every one after reflection,
because while it was possible for an
election to fall upon any member of
the legislature it was to their interests
to discourage any attempts at organi-
cation of their forces upon any one
man for fear that such organization
would not result in concentrating upon
them, and hence organization they
viewed perhaps as detrimental to their
own interests in each individual case,
and worked without organization,
scattered the entire session on the
senatorial question like an old rusty
shot gun, wide of the mark, and
wholly failed in the most important
duty of the whole session. The result
is to be much regretted, and yet it
cannot be helped at this time, but for
the benefit of the future if men elected
to the legislature SO far forget them
selves as to permit their candidacy for
position before that body, which the
constitution forbids, the next legisla-
ture should pass law making it often
sive for legislator toe be a candidate
for office through the election by the
legislature. or else to pass law pre-
venting members from voting for their
fellow legislators for such positions.
1t somehow seems that if those
who SO strenuously opposed the cleo
tion of Hirsch had early in the session
and concentrated their
efforts on George HI. Williams, r. P.
Earhart, Governor Moody or some
other good staunch republican, that
an election might have been made and
it will always be the regret that such
organization was not made early in the
session.