The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-02-21
Mr.. COON HAS THE FLOOR.

which is written in reply to the one that
Mr.. Gourlay published in THE CHRoN-
ICLE of February 10Th. The controversy
will be read with interest by the public
to whom the incidents of the struggle
preceding Dolph's defeat are yet fresh in
mind.
EDITOR CHRONICLE:
In replying to Mr.. Gourlay, who has
undertaken the job of ''skinning the
coon," felt at great disadvantage. for
he is supposed to be a brilliant writer,
and in fact writes for pay, while have
to earn my money working in primeval
strawberry patch, and seldom write at
all. Judging from Mr.. Gourlay's effort,
it would seem that there is bounty on
coon skins.
My action as a representative has
worried some people a good deal, but I
have never, up to this time, asked for
space in any newspaper to say a word
concerning the hard things that have
been said of me; in fact, these things
have never worried me very much. But
now comes Mr.. Gourlay demanding,
as it were, if 1 have anything to say
why I should not be ''sequestered in
perpetuity" to my "primeval straw
berry patch" Now I have voluntarily
stayed pretty close tc the strawb berry
patch and think need no assistance in
that direction.
But, communication bearing my
signature appears in THE CHRONICLE,
and Mr.. Gourlay wonders if it could pos
sibly have emanated from the quiet, un-
assuming young man helped to elect to
his first term in the Oregon legislature
He says, "what is Mr.. Coon driving at
anyway" Just this: As young man
OF AZ, who is not yet too old to learn, 1
simply wanted to say to my fellow citi-
zens that in my humbl opinion we have
surplus of political bosses, etc., and
that such valuable aid is altogether too
expensive these hard times, and sug-
gested that if we really want to dispense
with the services of these Captains,
lieutenants, etc., it might cause some
delay if we wait for these people to vol
UNFAIRLY "hand in their resignation. +"
Why should such sentiments disturb
Mr.. Gourlay?
But 1 committed an objectionable sin
because did not vote for Mr.. Dclph for
U. S. senator. The. statement has been
made that I-pledged myself so to do, in
the campaign, and after my election at
different times. This is not true.
The truth ie good enough for me.
During the campaign Mr.. Dol ph's name
was mentioned first and foremost and it
was generally supposed that Mr.. Dolph
would succeed himself. 1 naturally ex-
pected that in the event of my election
my vote would go to Mr.. Dolph. The
election over, other candidates began to
be mentioned, and some uneasiness was
felt by some interested parties for fear
might wish to vote for Mr.. Fulton, as 1
had known that gentleman in Astoria
and had been associated with him in the
legislature of 1898. This uneasiness was
Increased when Mr.. Fulton and myself
arrived in The Da'les together and were
seen talking together at the Umatilla
House.
The editor of the Times -Mountaineer
made it his business to ask me, elbow
are you going to vote on senator?''
replied, ST am going to vote right" It
was feared that I would pledge myself
to Mr.. Fulton. The fact is, 1 made
no pledge whatever at any time
to vote for any certain candidate.
told Mr.. Fulton that I had made no
pledges, and would not do so, and that
l might think it my duty to vote for Mr..
Dolph. Mr.. Fulton will corroborate
this statement. Several ''inquiring
friends" sounded me at different times
and l always replied that 1 should en-
deavor to represent the people on that
subject. On going to Salem, met Mr..
Dolph's brother on the train, and dur
ing the conversation he said he hoped 1
would ''be able to support the SENATOR
replied that I had not ,come to any
fixed determination, but would try to
do the right thing, and the conversa-
tion ended pleasantly. Had I been
pledged to Mr.. Dolph would not his
brother have known it, for::..men were
pledged and held as stock in a corral. 1
think the Dolph managers simply con-
sidered that would not be hard to in
huence and would readily join the herd.
Senator Dolph himself talked to me
PLEASANTLY ;about his having caused the
appointment of an uncle of mine to a