The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-04-18
MERIT rs. INCOMPETENCE.


The financial question is the one
uppermost in the minds of the people
today. This is year when candidates
for legislative offices must stand uI
and bo counted either for or against
the free coinage of silver. The demo
Gratis in state convention recognize
this fact, and majority in the con-
vention favoring the free and unlimit-
ed coinage of silver, the platform
adopted declares in unmistakahle terms
for that principle, hence there can be
no mistake as to the views OF the legis-
lative nominees on this question. The
Observation-Disclosures is not with the
majority of the democratic party of
Oregon on this issue, nevertheless 1t
admires their honesty and bravery in
making an open declaration of their
principles; and while it does not be-
lieye that the free and unlimited coin
age of silver by the United States is
safe, it recognizes that this is an issue
that must be met fairly and squarely
in the coming election. On this ISSUE
the democratic party of Oregon have
placed themselves on record in terms
that cannot be questioned. while the
republicans have lodged the question
most cowardly, especially in the matter
of congressional nominations.
In the first congressional district
the republicans have placed in nomina-
tion Thomas Tongue, an avowed gold
standard man, one whose views on this
question cannot be mistaken; but in
the second district, the nominee OF
that party is w. r. Ellis, man who
has, time and again. gone on record as
opposed to gold standard. In thier
state platform they have declared
neither for gold or silver. but have re-
affirmed the declarations of the national
platform of 1892 Hence it is that the
republican party of Oregon go before
the people with no clearly defined
principle on the money question.
Worse than this, their nominees for
congress are of directly opposite views
on the financial question.
& In the first congressional district,
democrats who are opposed to the free |
coinage of silver, and who consider
this issue paramount to all others, may |
exercise their preference in the sup
port of Mr.. Tongue. Butin the second
district, they have no such option,
even if they believe the financial
question is of greater Importance that
tariff reform and economical admins
tration.
With 'sstraddle" in the republican
platform and an avowed free silver
man in nomination for congress. the
voter is at sea as to where to
find the republican party in this dis
trict, therefore the contention must
center upon question of personal
merit on the part of the two congress
sional nominees. One is man who
has served as representative in con-
gress four years, and during that time
has accomplished so little for the state
y-hich he, represents that the press of
his own party in this district, with the
exception of the Heppner Gazette and
Long Creek Eagle, have denounced him
as incompetent and unworthy of sup
port. The other is man of recognized
ability as one of the leading lawyers of
the state, one who in congress would
be the peer of any man on the floors |
,f that great deliberative body, a
friend of the masses, and an advocate,
If the interests of the great state of
Oregon.
With such odds in favor of the lat
ter, the MEs-MoUNTANEER, being
In independent democratic paper.
whose aim is to advance principles
which it believes are for the benefit of
he greatest number, and believing
he interests of the state of Oregon
will be more carefully guarded with
Judge Bennett in congress than they
,ave been during the past four years
With Mr.. Ellis as our representative,
,eartily advocates his election, how
,ver wildly it differs with him and a
majority of the democratic party of
Oregon on the question of finance. Ii