The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-10-27

faNBuituAi9 W Htdu OI NilhL was un=
dertaken by the Taxpayers League at
Portland his excellency has made
special trip to Portland, and out of
the abundance Of his mouth his heart
hath spoken.
In the Sunday Oregonlan he is rep
resented as calling on the Taxpayers
League, and proceeding to impress
on that body all sorts Of reasons why
a special session was not necessary.
He could not wait for them to call
upon him with their petition for a spe-
cial session.
And here was the final utterance of
the Governor at Portland Saturday.
when asked fatty whether he would
call special session or not
Don't know. am waiting for the
people TO express themselves on the
subject They are doing II now, aren't
theyH and the governor smiled.
when the newspapers out through the
state get to grinding. we'll hear some
more" and His Excellency smiled
again. mo, pll not tell you what I
think about the question. Nobody
knows that don't tell. IT'S FOR
THE PEOPLE TO SPEAK, NOT ME-"
The above sounds very strange
when the constitution makes It the
duty Of the governor alone to call a
special session. lt sounds very strange
when his Office has done nothing but
furnish arguments 20 keep as many as
possible from asking for a special ses.
sion.
Governor Geer himself started the
movement for the special session. He
advised getting mp petitions for It. He
wrote Senator Corbett the strongest
letter that could be framed In favor
Of a special session
Next It was given ont that he would
listen TO the people. Then he began to
direct all the arguments that could be
got up against a special session.
through the newspapers. Lastly he
Voluntarily appeared before the Tax
payers League to head off a petition.
IL can be stated from the accumu-
lation Of facts before the people that
the governor has not for some time
been I'm waiting attitude, but ap-
parently has decided the case I'm his
own mind. and. as there is no one but
himself to act, II can be set down
that his position since Saturday is
that there shall be no special session
Governor Geer got great credit
among the people for his stand against
the Furnish machine. He got great
credit for allowing his name to go be
fore the people as a candidate for
Senator. He got great discredit among
the machine politicians for his stand
for an extra session. The people now
ask has he gone over TO the ma.
chine?
The machine politicians have
fought the special session idea from
the start They and their papers all
accused Geer of seeking 10 promote
his own interests thereby. They
threatened him with an investigation
OF his school land administration. II
looks as though they had won.
There may still be an extra session.
Sometimes a few days bring about
great changes In the political atmos
Dhere. But II there Is one called, and
any good comes from il, Governor
Geer will get or deserve no credit. II
great losses and injury comes for not
having one he will get and deserve the
blame for not protecting the people.
As Governor Geer expressed II some
months ago, the people have little or
nothing good to expect from the regu-
lar session under any circumstances.
| II will be session that all the most
thoughtful public men of the state
were glad to keep clear Of.
| II the regular session does any good
or promotes any reform II will be due
20 the agitation of the needs of a spe-
cial session. The politicians will be
80 scared that in moments Of repent
ance they may do a few decent things.
But they will not make mp for all the
extrayagances and evil that will be
wrought
An orderly special session, sitting
FOR a week. with the measures to be
passed drafted and blocked out before
hand, would render the state a great
Iseryice.
In the uck and jam Of the regular
session with all the great tasks before
H. nothing will be- done orderly or de
Gently The people can view only the
regular session with terror.
| From these evils the governor can
still save them. But ii Is doubtful II
public matters of importance can get
any consideration free from politics
and personality