Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1900-02-23
FRIDAY, FEB. %, 1900.
REPUBLICAN, CONVENTIONS.

REPUBLICAN, CONVENTIONS.
The state republican convention
having been called to meet at Port
land, Oregon, on April 18th, pri-
mary or precinct meetings are
recommen ded to be held on March
21st and county conventions on
March 29th, unless different dates
are ordered by the county commit
tees. This is notice of the first
official action to the republicans of
Oregon that the time is approach
ing when the voter shall not only
have the privilege, but that it is his
duty to 80 consider the matters of
public and political interest as to
perform the duty with intelligent
action and to the best interests of
the general public. The state con-
vention will be an important one
as it will be the first state conven-
ton which shall take initiatory
action pointing to great national
and state issues. The Oregon state
convention of 1896 was the first to
declare for an unqualified gold
standard. It was in advance on
this question of the national con-
vention which followed. AS Ore
gon has the privilege of holding the
first state convention before the
beginning of presidential cleo
ton 1t becomes important that the
action of republicans at that con-
vention shall be well guarded and
thoroughly considered. If their
action is thorough and we'll done
it may figure largely at times in
foreshadowing the course and policy
of the platform to follow in the ap-
preaching presidential election.
The state convention will nomi-
late candidates for presidential
electors, state and district officers,
except congressman, and elect four
delegates at large to the republican
national convention. The county
conventions will nominate candi.
dates for the county offices. repre-
sentatives to the legislature and
delegates to the state and district
conventions. The foundation or
beginning, leading up to the trans
action of this very important busi-
ness, begins with the precinct or
primary meetings. This is where
We begin the important duty of
selecting the candidates, which are
to fill the Office of president of the
United States, as we'll as every
other elective Office on down. The
holding, therefore, of proper pre-
cinct meetings in every precinct, SO
as to obtain a good and full attend
ance of all the voters, so that good
representative men in each pre-
cinct shall be elected delegates
to attend the county convention,
should receive the best attention
and skill of every voter in the pre-
cinct to accomplish that important
end. The very best and most COM
petent men of affairs in each pre-
cinct should always be elected as
delegates to the county convention
to perform these important duties.
A great many business men finding
their time completely occupied de-
eide they will not attend the pre-
cinct meetings, concluding as they
always do, that it is of little i'm
portance and that others will at
tend the meeting and perform the
duty. This view, to say the least
OF it, is an easy way to avoid per-
forming one of the most important
duties in republican form of
government, and leaves the work
to be done by those generally
who are the least competent. Busy
people are often competent, while
those with too much leisure on
their hands are too often very in
competent. For the reason that
the foundation work in selecting
the candidates for the people to
vote for for the officers who shall
conduct the public affairs of our
nation and state, for the same
reason it follows that the very best
talent, skill and most intelligent
voter which each and every pre-
cinct has, should each and all
attend these primary meetings
and make it their duty to see that
the best and most competent men of
every precinct who will give their
best attention to the public good
shall be elected as delegates to the
higher conventions, and each
county convention should do like
wise in electing delegates to the
state convention.