Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-02-14
~ CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IA, 1902.
REPUBLICAN, PURPOSE.

REPUBLICAN, PURPUSE.
It is probable the republican
county committee will accept the
suggestion of the state committee
for holding the primaries and the
county convention.
We may expect that candidates
for the various Offices will be in
greater evidence until the close Of
the campaign with the June cleo
ton. The GAZETTE has already
called attention to the work de-
volving upon our county conven-
ton. This is so important that
at risk of reiteration we would
revert again to it. Of most i'm
portance is the selection of candi-
dates for the legislature-one for
each branch.
For the first time in the his
tory of the county it constitutes
legislative district and we may
nominate and elect men of our
own choosing. This makes it
possible to select men who know
what sort OF legislation the coun-
ty needs and whose interests
shall operate as some sort of
guarantee that they will work to
secure such legislation. We say
we may select such men, and
surely our best Interests, county
pride and the good of the
whole state impel us to do SO.
The vital question is, shall we
do so? Certainly not if we stand
supinely by and permit self-seek-
ing men to determine the person
mel OF the convention by virtual
1y selecting the delegates; never,
if we permit the local quarrels of
MultnoInah or any other county
to be foisted upon our convention;
not if delegates are sent to the
convention for the express pur-
pose of nominating candidates
for the legislature, who in turn
are pledged, either directly or in
directly, to support any self
seeking candidate for the United
States senate.
Just here is the danger. The
man who desires election to the
legislature mainly to advance his
own selfish purposes is an all too
familiar character. The self
selected candidate for United
States senator becomes great
political octopus sending the ten
tacles of his selfish ambition into
every election precinct in the
state. Chicanery, trickery, fraud,
bribery, all sorts of political i'm
morality are used to advance the
interests of such a candidate.
This is true whether it is directed
upon the legislature of Maryland,
Pennsylvania or Oregon. More
than once we have seen neces-
sary legislation obstructed or at
terly disregarded by the selfish
ambition of some cheap little
creature who possessed but the
most meagre qualifications for the
office to which he aspired.
Everywhere the people are
heartily disgusted with such
things. In many localities they
have risen in open political revolt
and swept their would-be masters
from place and power. Not for
many years have so much quiet. |
earnest thought and determined
purpose been manifested by re-
publicans.
We have been at no little
pains to learn the attitude of the
mass of the republicans in this
county. We make no mistake.
They will not tolerate any sus-
picion of conditions which PROM
ise a repetition of the scandalous
scenes which characterised the last
two legislative sessions. No man
who is pledged to any self-seek-
ing candidate for u. S. Senator,
or who is likely to regard the
election of such a senator as his
chief duty will receive the sup
port of Benton county republi-
cans. To place such men in
nomination for the legislature is
to invite certain defeat at the
polls.
Republicans-the rank and
file of the party-are determined
that they will support only intel
ligent, courageous, honest men
whose sole aim shall be to legis-
late for the benefit of their con.
stituency and the good of Oregon
in general. Candidates for the
must regard the selec.
ton of senator as merely an in ]
cidental duty to be performed by
choosing the man best fitted to
exercise the functions of that
high Office. Benton county has q
such men, and they must be
or certain defeat will