The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-05-02

come the candidate of the gold-stand-
ard men of the district, those in East
ern Oregon would like to know why
not. By all means let him speak up
and give some reasons for not accept
ing.
The Portland Telegram advises Mr.
McKercher, the prohibition candidate
for congress, to withdraw, and thus
leave the field open to Judge Northup
that the latter may have no extra
weight to carry in his race on sound
money platform. This suggestion is
| we'll advised. There should be but
| one candidate on the sound-mouey
platform. The fight would then
simmer down to contest between free
silver and gold standard, and there
| would be but two real contestants
Judge Bennett and Judge Northup.
What a dire calamity" indeed
! would it be, what commentary upon
the intelligence of the people of Ore
gon," if they would refuse to re-elect
| MIR. Ellis to congress and would elect
| in his stead a democrat. What has
Mr.. Ellis ever done for Eastern Ore
gon to entitle him to reelection?
What has be done to secure the open
| ing of the Columbia river to navi@G-
| tion?-a matter that is dearer to the
| people of Eastern Oregon than any
other at present. 1t would be a
| calamity indeed if he were returned
again and given an opportunity to re-
tard this great work.
| These are not times when men can
expect to ride into office on the wave
Of party prejudice. Merit and qualiti-
cation are to be made the test in the
coming election. The records of Of
Fl ,ials who are seeking reelection will
be sifted closer than ever before. and
those who have proven faithful to the
charges entrusted to them may hope
to succeed before the people, but the
ones who have proven themselves to
be taxeaters, without rendering just
compensation, will be relegated to OBJ
scurity. Officers who have saved
money for the people will be retained,
but woe to the ones who have squan.
dered public money and caused in.
creased burdens of taxation.
If, as it has been stated, some of the
past republican representatives from
this county have been incapaciated
from accomplishing anything for their
constituents by reason Of the harassing
influences of senatorial elections
what assurance is there that the
present nominees of that party may
not be under the same influence, and
thus become incapable legislators? Il
a republican majority is elected to the
legislature. the senatorial contest will
be just as pronounced next January
as it was in 1895, and the same
methods to prevent legislation
will be adopted. Possibly thi:
might be averted however by electine
Representatives of some other party tc
the legislature.
Does anyone suppose for moment
that if Judge Bennett were represen
tative of the second district in congres.
he would allow himself ''buncoed" a:
the present Oregon delegation virtu
ally acknowledge they have been with
reference to the Cascade Locks? Ben
nett is man of business and sufficient
experience that he cannot be mislea6
into believing every statement thai
comes to his ears. Had he been In
congress last month, he would have
seen to it that the .s20, 900 set aside bj
the resolution of both houses for com
pleting the walls of the locks was not
consumed in usuless dredging before
it.could be applied to the use for which
it was Intended. If Eastern Oregon
wants to ever see the Columbia river
opened it had better elect Bennett te
| conorasS