Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-01-08
WANTS no u0 mo- CONaRRSs.
Unique Reasons Set Forth Iy T. T
Geer Why ne SlOuId be Eleetel.


prom Mondays oregonian)
MAcLKAY, Or, Dec. "a, 1Ss9.--tTo
THE BDrTOR l-In q recent number
OF your journal you give South
ern OREGON paper as authority for
the statement that Hon. Robert A.
Miller desires the democratic Domi-
nation for congress next spring, for
two reasons; First, he wants to
make the Portland water bill con-
test In the Legislature last winter
the issue in the coming campaign;
aud secondly, he thinks the people
Of the different sections Of thestate
should be relieved from the great
disadvantage Of not knowing his
ability as a public speaker, or
words 10 that effect.
This startling piece Of information
has given rise to a thought In my
mind--an occurrence Of such won
lerful infrequency, that 1 hasten
10 diyulge II. In that campaign i
desire TO be Mr.. Miller's opponent,
not particularly for glory, hut solely
for the unselfish purpose of saving
the republican party from threat
eDed defeat.
In the last legislature Colonel
Miller and / occupied adjoining
seats, and in the great wafer bill
contest which stirred the popular
heart into threatening billows us
large as gimlet handles, we stood
shoulder to shoulder In the defense
Of the peoples rights. His colleagues
from Jackson county abandOn-
ed their opposition to the bill early
In the session, thus leaving the gal
lunt Colonel the only democrat from
Southern Oregon who championed
the peoples interests.
Many time aud oft when, no
doubt, our fellow members thought
we were consulting concerning
some important pending measure,
the colonel was simply cOnii,ling in
me his belief that bis opposition to
the water bill would surely place
him In the halls of congress, and 1t
then occurred To me that may be my
opposition TO the bill would land me
there, too.
These facts were well understood
between the colonel and myself, but
| must insist that his public avowal
Of his part of the agreement at this
time Is altogether too previous. We
had agreed to keep shady until our
respective conventions had met, and
then suddenly appear as two dash
ing dark horses, whose very de-
meanor would show them to be
wild, woolly, and hard to curry.
This lack of faith on his part,
however, justlfies me In making, as
| now do, a bid for the republican
nomination. All through life ex-
ceaslve modesty hns been my great
est enemy, and / assure the republic
cans of Oregon, that IL Is only as
the result of putting forth the great
est effort of my life that | have sum.
moned sufficient courage 10 make
this announcement; bat i am con-
vinced that the success of our party
next June, as well as Colonel Mil
ler's defeat, demands the nomina-
tion of some man whose record on
the water bill cannot be assailed by
the opposition, and / am that man,
don't you see? II that Is to be the
issue don't see why even his excel
lency, the governor, should oppose
Colonel Miller In preferences 10 the
candidate.
Aud Il Is altogether proper that
the water bill should be the issue In
our next congressional campaign.
What can II matter 70 n member OF
congress whether the duty on Inn
ported wool Is high or low; whether
the character OF our foreign inn
IL becoming such as TO de-
mand the interference of Federal
authority; whether the state OF
Georgia, which has about the same
la congress as Iowa,
has so far succeeded la suppressing
her popular vote that her election
returns show only about one-third |
~ many voters as the former state? /
| say, what difference can these and !
questions make? What the
people Of Oregon want, yea, demand,
Is that our next member of congress |
shall have clean record on the |
Portland water bill, aud this popular |
headed by our great aud |
good governor, must not 20 un-
needed.
My esteemed friend, II. w. (
says | am not a safe I
OF the people because (
Df my promise 10 bow TO the be- I
hests of the 'party b0sses,n but I I
wish 10 impress upon his mind the
'act that Ia making this bold dive
Ior the congressional nomination | I
lm surely going counter to the wish
" every "bussh IN the state, and 1
perhaps every voter as well. Shall |
be allowed any credit for indie
The same esteemed friend says
hat lone man, with right on his
ide, Il la the majorlty,N Well. In
his case, am that man; 40 bring
'n your convention, aud Colonel /
Miller. and Your water bill.