The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-09-30
.uRsCRIPTIoN PKICE.
CAUCUS RULE.

of caucus rule. All admit that under
certain circumstances il is an ideal
way to settle party differences and
selections, so that a solid, unified
front may be presented to the enemy.
Those conditions, however, under
which such rule is desirable is where
fair means are being used. In the
hands of corruptionist. where money
is being employed, it is most danger
Gus thing, and through 1t, if abided
by, the will of the people can be
ruthlessly set aside.
Suppose that in the Oregon legisla-
ture there are forty six Republicans,
enough to elect Republican senator
on joint ballot. Suppose again that
there are two candidates in the field,
one like Hon. NJ. G. George, going
before the body on his merits, relying
solely upon fair methods for his cleo
ton. There is, on the other side, we
will suppose, the present aspiring ex-
senator. He knows that if caucus
rule is obeyed he has to secure
but twenty-four votes to win. He Sc
cures a man like Joe Simon to do the
scheming, and employs corruption
lists resembling Glass and Joseph to
do the ''dirty work" The state is
secured from one end to the other.
and by the Use of every artifice under
the sun, the organization is captured
at the state and congressional con-
Ventions. Money is used like water
to elect men for the legislature favor
able to Mr.. Corbett. Those opposed
or unfavorable to him are beaten, If
money can accomplish it. All sorts
of outrages are perpetrated unblush-
ingly. When the legislature meets
it may be that the ''idol'' is yet a few
shy of the requisite number OF votes.
The stockholders, thugs and haIlots
are brought out again, the ''sack" is
resorted to and by dint of hard work
and the practice of worse than dam
nable schemes, the necessary number
to control the caucus is secured.
What is the result? A very little
more than one-fourth of the legisla-
ture control that body and the wishes
of the Republican party, and these
put forth ga peoples choice"
If forty-six representatives, as
matters now stand, go into caucus,
and stand by its hellish dictates, as
manipulated by the corruptionists'
just such a result as that presented in
this article will exist. In the hands
of unscrupulous and designing men,
it is the source of untold dishonesty.
1t is tie tool of inferior but rich men
who want to gain senatorial hopors.
When there is an opportunity of such
perversion of the wishes of the Re-
publican party, let king Caucus &C
into retirement. Wipe 1t out OF
existence by an open contest IN the
light of day.
AS matter of fact, no investiga.
tion of the U. S. senate can go behind
the actual vote of legislature. The
caucus may be, as most of them are
rotten to the core. but that matter;
not. The culprit cannot be punished
He has practiced ''a little sharp work
but he holds his seat in what should
be one of most honorable bodies oI
our great nation. He is represent
ing p the constituency of his state
Senatorial caucuses have been very
unsuccessful in Oregon. In 189j
and in 1897 they failed utterly il
their purpose. This is d1scouraging
aside from the other bad features o
such plan, under the present cir
cumstances, to nominate a senator.
liking Caucus" is one of the ideals
1t sounds well in theory. But tn
history of the past, especially in Ore
gon, suggests that Republicans rele-
gate it to obhv:an, and then proceed