The San Francisco call., 1897-01-19
[Stetched from life by "cau" artist

than Bourne are all fitting their spears at
each other, and lots of other people are
chipping in and lending variety to the
contest. o. II. Paxton, the well-known
lawyer of Portland, who has been num-
Der of times member of the Legislature,
District Attorney of Multnomah County,
and who has filed other offices, Is here and
gives graphic particulars of the struggle.
Mr.. Paxton is president of the Portland
Consolidated Railway Company, owning
about forty miles of street railway, and is
on his way East on business in connection
with the road.
1.-The Senatorial fight now on said he,
sis peculiar. At present it is Senator
Mitchell against the field. He is opposed
by mum Der of gold-standard Republicans
and by the Democrats, :he Populists and
The union bimetallic members. The last
three are all free silver parties. The gold
standard Republicans oppose Senator
MitchelPs reelection because be declines
to make public pledge not again 20 vote
for the free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer at the ratio of 16 to l. The free-silver
parties refuse to support him, notw ith-
standing he has always in the past been
free silver man. because of the fact that
he supported Mckinley on the st. Louis
platform in the late Presidential election.
"Our State elections occur in June.
The present Legislature, except the hold
over Senators, were elected last June.
Jonathan Bourne of Multnomah County,
who might be termed the leader of the
free-silver forces in Oregon, was elected to
the Legislature as the Joint nominee of
the Mitchell Republican faction and the
Populists. He is now a candidate for
Speaker of the House. He claims that
Senator Mitchell and his managers prom
ised to support him for this Office in con-
sideration of his services in electine Mitch
ell mem bers to the Legislature in June.
Senator Mitchell refuses this support,
finding that by supporting Mr. Bourne
he would lose the votes OF some of the Re-
publican members who are now support
ing him. Mr.. Bourne, by reason of this,
has Withdrawn his support from Senator
Mitchell, and is now actively opposing
him.
"Mr. Bourne is supported in his fight
for the speakership by the union bimetal-
lie mem bers, the Populists and the Demo-
Gratis all free silverites. The Mitchell
forces are supporting II. L. Benson of
Grants Pass
THE constitution OF Oregon provides
that two-thirds of the members elected
should be necessary as quorum to trans
act business in either house, There are
sixty mem bers of the House-hence the
presence of forty is necessary before any
business can be transacted. On the day
appointed the House met and effected a
temporary organization by selecting a
temporary Speaker, Bourne man, and
temporary clerk.
''Since then the Bourne forces, number
ing more than one third of the member
of the House, have remained absent, and
because two-thirds are not present no
businessman be transacted by the House.
The result is a complete tie-up OF the
House. Mr.. Bourne is very determined
and able man, and has no superior in the
State as an organizer and leader of an op-
position. He was the organizer and
leader of the opposition which defeated
Senator Dolph's reelection two years ago.
From appearances he has the power to
prevent the organization of the House
until the Mitchell forces join in electing
him Speaker. Should they do this it is
said several of the Republicans now will
ing to vote for Senator Mitchell will leave
him, which would probably defeat him.
If he does not assist Mr.. Bourne it seems
certain that the Bourne forces will not
vote for him. Thus it would appear that
Senator Mitchell is in precariouS situs-
ton. Everything at the present time