The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-05-20

W BN ANAA Al AAhAN@NAAS
towns during the past ten days and
the candidates went to keep the ap-
polntments.
Their first venture was at knappa-
They left Astoria with a flourish Of
trumpets and ''well show what we
can do air. but they came home quiet
ly and We're glad it was dark; even
thankful that the street lights were
out. as il enabled them to set home
without meeting any Of their acQuaint-
aRces. When the hop-scotchers reach
ed knappa and looked around for the
crowd Of voters that were expected TO
be on hand to welcome them, they
couldn't find voter, not even one OF
their appointed committeeman. They
silently and sadly crept aboard their
craft. which stopped when ii reached
here at the cold storage works in or
der that the hop-scotchers might get
warm after their reception by the
Knappa voters.
The republicans gave rally at Sea-
side last week. and went from here in
a special train, the candidates being
accompanied by many prominent cit
izens. At Seaside they found over 500
people awaiting them and the crowd
kept increasing until. after changing
halls once or twice, the largest emp
ty room in the town would not ac-
commodate the voters who wanted to
hear and welcome the republican candi-
dates. The enthusiasm was unbound
ed, everybody had a good time and
the republicans returned to this city
about as happy a crowd as can be
imagined.
The greatest trouble with the hop
scotchers Is that the voters do not
look upon them in the light of p0lit-
ical candidates. Being without a par
ty or platform and not having been
nominated by any convention, the hop
scotchers are considered by voters
as men who are out hunting office,
solely for the sake Of office and what
the office will pay. When the
democrats met and the old liners re-
fused TO nominate the men who came
before them and wanted Office, these
men, and their friends, tried the dodge
of going out on the streets and gath
ering Up lot of men, less than one
hundred voters, however, and getting
hlem In a room, called the gathering
a convention. This so-called conven-
tion nominated the men and announced
a platform.
But the law stepped in and said:
This win not do. This is no con-
vention. Your nominations are Illegal
You have elected no delegates to a
convention. You have issued no call
The whole proceedings are irregular
and Illegal and you cannot go on the
ballot under a name" These are facts
and let the hop-scotchers squirm and
dodge and explain as much as they
please, but they cannot get away from
the fact that they started into this cam
paign in an illegal manner and the
law stepped in and took away from
them not only a party name but
party platform. Since that time they
have been running as individuals mere
ly seeking Office for personal gain, and
they are bound in no way to serve the
people aside from the personal pledges
they make.
Voters will not support such candi-
dates for public office, no matter how
well they may stand as individuals in
the community. AS is well known,
men who have always stood high in
the community have time and again
proven miserable failures and even
worse when placed in public office, and
this, too, when they have been bound
by the most solemn party pledges.
Take a man who is bound by no
promise TO act in the interest Of the
people, be honest and economical in
handling the peoples business, and
what can be said to him if, after he