Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-12-19
THE JOB AHEAD OF COVER
NOR-ELECT GEER.

AhOAN &fA~Af - ~ @Ne9Afs
The governor-elect of Oregon IL prob.
ably as great an optimlst as Presl-
sIdent Mckinley. lie has need TO
have all his stock OF this comm odlty,
as we'll as his supply Of backbone and
in humanity, we'll in
hand for the task that lies before him.
Gov-elect II. T. Geer is now In the
city and at work .on.his inaugural and
message 10 the legislature He will
70 into ofilce as soon as the legislature
canvasses the vote and declares the
result. His nomintion aud election
was in the nature of a popular up
heaval In the Republican party
amounting TO almost a revolution,
AZ the school election last March
the old machine bosses representing
the regime OF the past we're defeated.
At the Republican primaries the
same elements manifested themselves,
aud at the recent city election the
old ring was completely smashed by a
citizens movement beaded by the
Geer Republicans. So there may be
said 10 be new conditions and a new
political situation confronting the
people OF Oregon, The Mcbride
Mitchell combination formed In sena-
torlal contests is voted down by the
rank and file OF the Republican party.
IL was reDudlated In the Republican
state convention that nominated Nr.
Geer. 1t has been thrice turned
down at the state capital. IL has lost
control In Marion county.
The day OF the trucking, shifting
anythlng-to-ca -the-coon politician
will propably never be over. But the
same Identical animal ought not be
oyerworked. A new string OF the
same species might be put on the pol
lIlcal race track once IN a quarter Of
a century. Mr.. Geer will give refresh
Ing evidence Of independence and
originality II he does not allow
single one OF the old political chest
nuts TO be worked Off on him.
The people have empathlcally Or
dered new political deal. IL ought
not TO be dlnicult for Mr.. Geer TO keep
his agricultural ear close enough 10 the
ground to hear that gentle monI-
tor, called public opinion, even within
the lines OF his own party. II he hears
Alright and does not act upon IL,
IL will act upon hrs party, with more
fearful vlgor than 1t did when IL made
him governor,
Mr. Geer Is governor by virtue Of a
popular uprising In his own party. He
goes Into his ofiice with no mort
cages recorded In advance on the pub
lie service. He has chance to coyer
himself with not a little glory and
make his party serve the true Inter
ests OF the people, II he will make
good use OF his opportunity. lie owes
no set, clique or faction anything. lie
owes tho state that has reared him
the free use OF the talents the people
have given him glorious oppor;un-
lty 20 employ. But he must not de-
scend TO be one Of the mere time.serv-
ing politicians that he has had to con.
tend with Ia the past. He must become
master OF the situation or he will be
the mere servant of the ring
that has held Oregon down for
twenty years.
The old Mcbride Brophy-Gntert-
and Patterson state capital ring will
try 20 swing into place once more un-
der the Geer administration. The peo-
pie OF Oregon breathed a sigh OF relief
aud thought they were done with them
when the Lord administration went
into power four years ago. But Sena-
tor Mcbride was able by gigantic
bunko game 10 secretly steal the
United States senatorshlp and keep
nearly every last one OF his relatives
and strikers In office at the state
house aud state institutions. His ply
'icIans remained on the state pay
rolls, His attendants were promoted
nto higher state otiiees and his SER
rants got fat federal places.
While Governor Lord made the
state the best executive IL has prob