Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-02-23
No Union Wanted,
For Mere Political Spectators in
Office.
Candidates Must BE Reasonably Accept
able to All Three Parties.

|
remember that the sole object is tC
promote better government and that
II this fails IL matters little who nc
cupy the offices; that not all the men
who favor Unipn are actuated solely
by unselfish motives; and that TO put
otfice-seekers into Office will vitlate
the effort for reform.
Union with taxpayers, with men
interested in securing the best possl BILE
government at the least possible cost,
is all right; and we care not what
may be the present or past party af-
filiatiOps Of such men We ask only
that we agree upon systems OF pro-
/ posed government. But Union with
this kind Of men must not carry with
IT Union with the political ne'er-
do-wells, the broken-down, miserable
nacks Of politics, who, belonging 10
either party, see in this proposed
Union only means to personally ex-
ploit tine public revenues.
IL this movement is to sue
ceed, II it is TO make for
good government. IL it is not
to work the undoinv OF the Peonle,s
| party, we must be prepared to firmly
boost out Of it all men, of whatever
party, who are preparing to speculate
in offices. AS a matter Of principle
we can have little patience with, aud
less respect for, chronic otfice-seekers,
a swarm OF whom, like vultures seek
ing carton, are crying for union on
any terms. We must 20 back to first
principles and see to IL that the Office
seeks the man.
In order TO protect the people who
have x one into this movement il
is necessary for the different organi-
cations to agree upon common plat
form, for IL they cannot unite upon
principles they have no moral right to
unite at all. Then, they must agree
upon common ticket, composed Of
members of each party, to be appor-
toned as wisdom and prudence sug-
gest. In order to have union the
names of the men nominated
by the different conventions must
be submitted to all the con.
ventions for endorsement and
II the name OF any mao
presented is repulsive TO either
convention, that convention can re-
ject il.
If three organizations work for one
ticket, 1t must be composed OF men
acceptable TO each party. In no other
way can success be insured. And as
the character, not only of its own
nominees, but for all upon the ticket,
and the organizations unitedly must
abide by the conduct of all the nomi-
nees in office, IL logically follows that
no man not acceptable TO all
should be named for any Office.
L know that every chronic Office
seeker, every man used to machine
methods who hopes 10 secure a nom
ination by controlling a convention
by machine methods, will oppose this
plan, but in no other way, as l can
conceive, can we make sure of
nominating a ticket that will be
worthy Of the movement. AT least,
in no other way can the Peoples
Party hope to save ITSELF from tie
disaster,of being party TO the election
of some men whose political conduct In
the past has contributed TO the neces- |
sity of the people attempting a union |
CT this kind. 1t must be re membered |
that the Republican party hasn't a |
complete monopoly on pre- datory poll
ticians,
Every candidate must be pledged in
writing to the support, per ,onally and |
otliclally, OF every principle In the
platform.
Every candidate for a state Office
must he pledged in writing to, IL
accept the constitutional
salary, and no more.
Now, word to those who are op.
posed TO union upon any terms. Do
not comfOund union as here outlined
with fusion, There is difference be.
tween the taxpayers attempting to
unite upon sound principles OF govern
ment for the good OF the common
wealth and politicians trying to
unite political organizations for the
profit of prospective Office holders.
One is union, the other fusion, than
which there is nothing more despis-
able ia politics.
This question OF Union will be
settled by the the people be-
fore the conventions meet, and every
member OF the Peoples party should
loyalty abide by decision OF the ma
Iority OF the party. Anything less
than this Is political anarchy and will
not be INDUCED in by men who do not
allow prejudice to riot with reason.
The question OF Union VS.. Fusion is
lebatable, good and honest men will
be found upon both sides, yet 10 is,
after all, matter OF method only,
.he party being united on principles.
The organization OF Socialists
party at this time is unreasonable and
4 INDUCED In will array against il as
enemies men, who otherwise would
De its friends. 1t would work for the ..
benefit OF the Republican party and II
aunched before the June election | .
would subject It's promoters TO charges {
lnd imputations as grave as any that
ire being made against the leaders OF
he Union movement by the gold ,
tandard men. The time to organize !
i social Democracy is after the cleo \
ion, when those even not in favor OF I
{ will be unable TO successfully i'm
'ugn the motives Of its leading men,
)ers. :
In all organizations there are intel :
ectual differences hard to reconcile, 4
,ut SO long as an organization can 9
gree upon educational principles the
ule that the majority shall decide v
uch questions as this one OF party Z
'olicy is the only safe guide. Without :