Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-12-26
THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN OREGON.

Inc hepuOilcAu party IN OiVRO" -"
come to a crisis. IL stands at the FORK
of two roads. IL can take the old road
of be- ssism, machine politics snd dIcta-
lion from corporatiOns, ~r it can take
new road of progress, tilan cial reform,
and subsection of mpnopOlies to the
law, The time whel the party can he
prostituted to private or corporate
interests, should be at an end. The
day has come when party that refuses
to serve the co.AnUn people has no
future.
The leaders who turn deaf ear to
the demands of the masses for relief
from extravagant state government,
or municipal corruption, will find them
uniting regardless of party lines for
their overthrow. The Republican
party has come to this pass in Oregon.
1t must choose whether to serve al old,
worn out and corrupt set of machine
politicians, or give the people new,
clean and representative administra-
ton of affairs, both in state and nation.
The Republican party must cast off its
offensive machine politicians or it will
utterly fail to be acceptable to the peo
pie.
Republicans of Oregon began the
good work of cleaning out the political
stables last June. They declared for
new order of things. They directed
the party in unmistakble terms to take
the new road. This gave the party
new hope and brighter prospects. lis
future can only be marred by delib-
crate refusal to heed the stern admoni-
tion then given.
If the Republican party is now forced
out of the channel of progress towards
good government, upon which 1t has
so fairly entered, the result will be de-
structive alike to the party and to all
those who would again prostitute it TO
their purposes of speculation and plum.
der.
The eyes of the people of Oregon are
upon the Republican party at two vital
points, viz: The organization and con-
duct of the next legislature and
the election of United Stetes senator
The legislature must be organized to
keep the pledges Of the party platform.
State officials must be put upon fair
salary; the railroad commission and
other useless commissions and boards
must be abolished; the general appro
priation bill must be reduced half a
million dollars; and taxation lowered
and adjusted so that the producer can
live. 1t will be argued that some of these
things cannot be done under the pres
ent constitution. This 10 hairspliting
and subtcrfuge. At present nearly all
state officials, Including the executive
and supreme court, are getting more
than their constitutional salary In spite
Of II. Technical lawyers can always
be found 10 cOnstrue the constitution
against the people and driYe a four
horse team through H. when II suits
their purposes. a constitution should
be used 10 protect the people, not 10
plundeT them.
Equally important with the demand
for retFenchment Ia our state affairs, ls
the election VI Unlted States senator
The People Of Oregon should DO repre-
senled in the United States senate, not
the nonresident Pacific railroads, The
representatives elected freeh from the
people cannot be expected ~ endorse
the oholee Of ths old corrupt Portland
machine, whoever that may be, 70
lbepe main propositions they viii bar
monise spd subordleaie All differences
~ 0plnlon oa 1panoial ~ other gues
lions, Tbess aTe tbs principal features
IN outline that constitute tbe political
crisis ~ Oregon,
tbs Republican party has greal
fulurs IN lhe naliopi 1900 a bes 30
fsigs sllbeul fallhfgl esryles ~ ihe
peopls, ~ bas seored upbTohep sueess'
sss lbls yeaT Iom ihs Atlantic ~ ibe
panae, gllb bui isesAesplions' lbosf
fkesplioes wsls ibe less " governors
~ NebIasks sna psllf9fpla, IA lhess
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