Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-12-30
The Mitchell! Push
Opens the Battle in Portland
Manifesto Of Sol Hirsch, Hume, Lotan
and Followers

ana FOllOWCiS
The first gun in the Openingof the
political campaign in this state has
been fired by the Mitchell Republicans
at Portland, and whether its rever'
berations shall awaken the echoes Oi
success from "Ontario to the sea" oI
prove only little tizz-cracker remains
to be seen.
The influence OF this documentary
be felt In some quarters bat IN Mar.
ion county John II. Metcheii has a
very small following left. The men
who fought Mitchell's battles in the
spring of 1896 ln Marion county have
turned against him or left the party,
and he will never carry Republican
convention again ia Marion county.
We summarize the proposition OF
the Mitchell faction TO hold "faiT
primaries" aud shall keep our read
ers Informed of progress.
WHAT WAS DONE'
The Mitchell Republicans OF Port
land have issued an address to the
regular Republicans Of that city, but
really designed for consumption In
the rest of the state, to the effect that
they desire party harmony aud un-
ion OF all the Republican voters OF the
county and state. Looking solely,
not TO the candidacy or promotion OF
any man or men, hut to the unity and
welfare of the Republican party In
city, county ana state" That Is the
conclusion Of the address, which IL
couched in fair language, respectful
and no doubt was drawn up Ky Mr.
Mitchell himself. The document is
signed by Sol Hirsch, w. Il. Hume
Jim Loaan, and the rest of the ward
committeeman of the Mitchell-Re
publican city organization. 1t is the
throwing down OF the gauntlet by
this desperate faction that first
forced fight within the Republican
party for candidate representing the
free Silver principle and then forced
its candidate 10 throw down the very
principle for'whlch IL had contended
30 Hereby.
The proposals start out fair enough
in terms to have both factions repre-
sented at the primaries and to have
Geo. Ii Williams act as arblter 10 re-
storing peace and harmony. But this
fairness Is for outside readers, u
catch country Republicans with the
idea that The Mitchell faction has
thrown down the olive branch and
asks only for peace aud harmony upon
honorable terms. But TO those who
will read between the lines it means
complete surrender to the Mitchell
faction. The fifth paragraph from
the eud declares:
That said arbiter shall also call the
aforesaid cuuuty and city convention
10 order, aud oe temporary chairman
thereof; he shall appoint Two from
each Of the cOntendlng lactlons
therein who, with himself as chair
man thereof, shall constitute the
committee on credentials for such
convention.
or course IL Is assumed that there
would be some contests at the prl-
marles. In that event "Arblter'
Williams and the two Mitchell men
would constitute the committee on
credentials. That such committee
on credentials would report any other
than the Mitchell delegates need not
be imagined for one MON mt, Yet
with this "sure-tling" clause the
Mitchell faction conclude their "Olive
Branch" propositions and give the op-
position or sound money wing OF the
party ten days 10 accept 10 writing
s'And unless your commlttee shall Sc
accept in writing we shall understand
that you reject these propositions
Ex-senator Mitchell was seen by the
Tribune reporter and was perfectly
familiar with this plan TO reunite
the Republican factions OF Multno'
NAH county. County Chairman Don
aid Mackay had not seen the docu-
ment Tuesday, but said the regular
Republican county central committee
would meet aud consider II.
The Portland Tribune deyotes
a page 10 the pronunclamento Of the
Mitchell Repnhllcans and says 1t is
aimed d I tie overthrow Of the Mac
kay scott Simon Corbett faction OF
wing Of She Republican party. II
concludes It's editorial thus: ''There
is no doubt that II Simon accepts the
proposal he viii be defeated, for the
people viii enlbrace the opportunity
20 rebuke ne gang for their actions
both AZ ihe last election aud In the
legie|ature Thisis the ollYe branch,
but j, reads Indre like description OF
a good lrlshlAan's club al the Donny-
brook fair. The Oregonian publishes
the addfess Without comment and
adds at the end that IL Is understood
that this address win be answered ia
! foW days. or course, there viii be
b1t ope gosaer DJoald Aackay aud