Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-02-04
WISE woRps 70 CANDIDATES.
A Silver Republican Discusses the Ef-
fects OF Pushing too Hard,

| tects OF PUSHING too Hard,
EDITOR JouRNAL.-I desire to say a
word To candidates who wish to be
considered by the union of forces in
Marion county
The Peoples party central commit
| tee referred the matter of union back
TO the people. BY this action the
| delegated county convention will be
Instructed for or against union. 1t
will be some time yet before the pri-
maries will be held ana during this
time every Populist will be turning
the matter over in his mind and form
ing his conclusion as to how his vote
will be cast at the primaries. So far
these people have shown a desire to
unite, if this can be done on principle.
But they seemed determined TO not
permit the usual scramble for office to
enter into the union. The union
must be first upon principle aud
measures, without reference to the
wishes of mere candidates. When
man announces himself a candidate
for office he usually sets about
Immediately to secure harmony upon
vote getting proposition, aud prin-
ciple must subordinate Itself to pol
icy. No announcement for personal
Candidates will lose their influence in
the union even if their otiiciousness
does have the effect of destroying the
union altogether. l realize as well
as you that the offices must be
filled and that an equitible division is
the proper division, but for once in
Marion county l should like TO see
the Office hunt the man, and | believe
this will be possible if the proposed
combination is allowed to organize
free from the influence of contending
candidates.
If personal advancement upon the
part of the leaders of any one party
appears to be the motive for Union,
fear that no Union will be formed.
Thousands of good honest men will go
into this Union whose only motive
will be, that the principles they hold
dear may prevail for the advancement
of the common people. Now they Will
claim the right to select their stan
dard bearers themselves, and they
never will permit any man or set of
men TO put through their convention
any "cut and dried" ticket of self in
terested politicians. Their standard
bearers must be selected for their
fitness solely and not because Of the
pull or the push" as understood in
politics.
1 would say to all candidates, gen
tlemeI possess your souls in patience"
Your ambition is laudable, but your
merits must be told by Others not by
your selves. Other men have merit
beside you, and If in the union your
party is allotted the Office you desire,
your merits will no doubt be consid
ered." But don't try to pack any pri-
maries or set up a county convention,
the very knowledge of such actions
would be leading cause why your
party should not be allotted the office
you seek. Be CAREFUL, be cautions, be
candid, help on the union, don't ob.
struct it, but let your motives be the
promotion of the common good of
your country and not merely personal
We must make radical changes in
our mode of attempt, self-goverE-
ment, or our ship of state will surely
founder upon the rocks OF party sJriie.
1t is not our desire simply to put
other men at the helm, who will still
continue the same course, but we must
decide upon a course to steer and then
put men at the helm pledged TO steer
in the direction decided upon, men
selected expressly for their fitness.
Let US follow the plan here Indicated
and we will all be surprised at the
strength our ticket Will deyelope in
the ballot box.
Yours truly,
w IN PTnnnNJ