The herald., 1895-02-28
OREGON'S SENATORIAL BOUTS
Where Caucus Nominations
Don't Cut Any Figure
Mr.. GIBBS AND HIS ClNCH
Dolph Gets "Hoist by His Own Petard'
of 1882
Mr.. GIBBS AND HIS CINCf
George W. McBridc's Opportunity to Make
Capital for His Party and Fame
for Himself

equivalent to an election. Seldom has
there been found Il recalcitrant element,
in either the Republican or Democratic
party, of sufficient strength to overthrow
the expression of party desire by Sena-
torial caucus; and it is firmly believed
that, up to date, Oregon is the only one
OF the Pacific states that has, ON more
than one OCCASION defeated majority
caucus nominee without electing candl-
date from the opposing side. The recent
overthrow of Senator Dolph by his own
party, though he had the strongest fol-
lowing of any candidate in the past ten
years at the opening of the light >orty-
two votes and only lacking three more to
elect hm-brings to mind similar occur
rences i'm the history of the "Old Dimin-
ion Of the Pacific, as Oregon is some
times called.
Deazon Smith and General Joseph Lane
were each elected ut the time of the ad-
mission of the state i'll 1858, to serve
short term for two years. In 1860 came
the tidal wave of public sentiment growing
out of the cruel untimely death of Senator
David c. Brodcrick of California at the
hands OF Judge d. s. Terry. The senti-
ment was that the Pacific states must be
either slave states or free states; and
therefore Il fusion was made between the
Republican legislators, headed by Medo-
rum Crawford, and the freesoil Democracy
by W. H. Barnhart, by which Edwin d.
Baker, a brilliant orator and former
resident of California, and James W.
Nesnith frce-soil Democrat who had
served in the army as private soldier,
were elected, Nesmitl for six years and
Baker for four Baker, as is well known,
was killed at the battle of Balls Bluff
and John Whitaker, then Governor OF
Oregon. appointed Benjamin Stark (now
a resident Of Connecticut) to Till the
vacancy. The Legislature, at its next
session, elected Benjamin +. Harding to
succeed Stark for the rest OF the unex-
pired term. Nesmith served out his full
term and his speech against the infamous
scheme to make Benjamin Wade tempor-
ary President OF the United states through
an impeachment of Andrew Johnson, will
be read with pleasure by the future stud
ent of American political history. De-
void of all attempts at fowery verbiage,
it contains as much vigorous Saxon and
as many strong appeals to patriotism.
as any speech ever made on that floor.
Ncsnith died in June 1885.
In 1882 Addison c. Gibbs was elected
Governor. He had commenced as
tavern keeper at Roseburg, in the imp
qua valley, but abandoned it for the prac-
tee of law. He was a very large, fat
man, with face like the fulmoon, and
it is said he wore a hair 'cincha' to keep
his ''abomnabe visccra, the late
John Owens would have said, from be-
coming too prominent. The bar OF South
ern Arizona then included many meu who
have since become famous as politicians
in San Francisco-among them, ID. W.
Douthitt, James ID. Fay and Others of
less prominence. J. Henry Reid, b. +.
Dowel, Findlay Watson and others of that
4
politicians in the webfoot metropolis. At
the time of Gibbs election there were two
brothers in Portland engaged in carrying
on an iron foundry, and principal owners
in the People Transportation Company,
steamboat corporation engaged IN navl-
eating the Willamette River. As no APP
propriations had ever been made for
penitentiary building, Gibbs leased the
convicts' labor to the aforesid foundry
men. When the election of Senator to
succeed Hasting came up, Gibbs sue
ceeded in capturing the caucus nomina-
ton of his party, then largely in the as
cendant But there was an element that
was sore against him until the day OF adj
journment approached, when a break from
Gibbs was effected, and George II. Viii
lans, afterwards United Statts Attorney
General in Grants second term was
elcced Senator.
In 1886, through a clever manipulation of
the soldiers vote at Camp Horney, then
in Grant county, by Thomas II. Brents,
County Clerk of that county, James IL.
Kelly a brave old Colonel of volunteers in
the Indian wars, was counted out of the
Governorship by less than 200 votes and
the election given to George L.. Woods
lawyer of limited ability then residing
Mt The Dalles. The Democracy avenged
that outrage by electing Colonel Kelly
To the United States Senate in 1870.
Woods was no sooner elected Governor
than he began laying his wires for the
Senatorship. Not AN appointment, even
OF a notary public was given out OF the
gubernatorial Office except on the express
stipulation that the recipients and "his
sisters and his cousins and his aunts y
should work for Woods for Senator Just
about that time there was an element in
the Republican party in Portland that did
not particularly fancy Woods. They con-
trived to keep two delegations out of the
caucus, and, by cXasperatng delays.
wore him down III the home stretch. ~
Henry W. Corbctt was the senator chosen.
He was a native Of Lansingburg y. y.
and a hardware merchant doing business
in the webfoot metropolis. He made Il
good and useful Senator Though he
figured little in debates OF national
character, he gave the Pacific states %
greater increase of postal facilities than
any OF his predecessors. He is is still
lNlnE III IOrtlanu, banker ana very
wealthy.
In 1870 the Democracy made a clean
sweep, carrying the doubtful counties OF
Grant, Wasco, Douglas and Curry. be-
sides electing full ticket of state officers
The principal aspirants 10 the Senator
ship were Col. James X. Kelly of Wasco
and James ID. Fay of jackson. Kelly
had avowed himself opposed to any Gov
ernment aid to railroads and had there
fore antagonized Ben Holaday who was
road southwark from Portland and had
got it as far as Salem. Holiday met Fay
and promised to throw the entire Repub-
lican vote for him il he could keep
enough of his own following out Of the
caucus. That such a thing would have
been done had it been possible there was
no doubt. But it took ten disaffected
Democrats TO carry out the bargain and
Fay never could arouse more than six OF
them. After three weeks of weary watch
ing. Fay and his friends went into caucus
and Kelly was nominated being elected
the following day. Fay committed sui
eide in 1873.
The election OF 1872 witnessed an ex-
traordinary spectacle, the struggle OF John
II. Mitchell attorney for Ben Holladay
against the free election of Henry W. Cor
bett. The leaders OF the Corbett forces
was William Bristow OF Lane county,
while Orrin Denny was leader OF the
Mitchell forces 1t was u battle of the
hitterest sort Several of the strongestDem-
uciats in each house, seeing danger ahead
IN the election OF corporation attorney
Ia the Senate. came out and boldly an
swercd ''Corbett when their names were