Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-04-10
ABOUT GOVERNOR.

Of any sort for governor. This does not
preclude lawyer being elected n he Is
Of the right sort. But most sny kind
Of lawyer would be handicapped as
against a farmer candidate. Not that
a man should not be popular with law
yers, but the combination Of lawyer
and politician has become offensive to
the people.
1t is not believed that lthis prejudice
would be encountered by the Domina-
ton Of Ford or Lord. They both repre-
sent old time constituencies and neither
can be charged with being politicians
in the offensive sense of the word.
Ford was not able to set up the pins or
accomplish much in the last legislature,
as against the men from Portland.
Lord has been where he was precluded
from setting up pins.
In Fulton the state would have new
blood injected into its executive office.
He belongs to a generation later than
Lord or Ford. He has much of the
dash required for party leader. He
is a strong partisan, a parliamentarian
of the Tom Reed style, who believes in
accomplishing public business even
though he has to violate parliamentary
customs and ruffis the opposition.
He is the Tom Reed and Mckinley of
Oregon combined in one. He would
arouse the party spirit and enthuse the
younger blood of Oregon and sweep
the state like q whirlwind. The busi-
pess of the state, and the welfare of the
party would be safe in his hands. He
would he better party man than
Lord or Ford. He would subordinate
personal friendships to public and
party welfare. He would be more fear
less of the party leaders at Portland,
but more devoted to the party machine
than any man named. Geer of Marion
is the only man named for governor
who is not a lawyer, but who is typi-
cal Oregon farmer and statesman.
He made q cleanup of the legis-
lature when he' was speaker of
the house. He pushed the legislative
work with dispatch and every bill was
considered, needed laws were passed,
appropriations were kept down, and
every man was heard. He was courte-
Gus to the opposition and stood by his
party on all important issues. While
he is merciless In his excOriation of what
he considers political fallacies of an
opponent, lashing with ridicule and
matchless invectives any unfortunate
who gets In the way of his train of
thought, he is fair man after all and
a good fellow. There will be good
many Geer men In the convention If
combination does not succeed on the
first ballot. Geer's hands are clean as
to the last legislature. He was defeated
by Ready, and turned down on all
committees. He literally had
nothing to say. He would be strong
in all respects and superior candidate
In many respects. The fight for gov
ernor Is narrowed down to Lord, Ford,
Fulton and Geer. The Republicans
can elect either one of them with a
strong state ticket. The friends of all
these men will support either of the
others who is nominated. But while
all have common interest In the
strongest man being put up for gov
ernor, all have an equal interest in q
ticket that shall be strong in its entire
ty. We belleve.this will not be over
looked. No candidate for governor can
afford to allow his friends to trade weak
men onto the ticket and sacrifice the
chances of the whole ticket merely
to get their man on the head oft 1T
must be an all-around good and desir-
able state ticket 10 win. Our state gov
ernment is at the parting of the ways.
The new road TO party success is along
ths line Of economic reform. That is
the great local issue in Oregon. The
party cannot ignore it. Not only the
platform, but the men on the platform,
must stand squarely on that issue, Tut
their past records must reasonably con-
firm 10 their present professions. That