Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-07-19
FIRST GUN rs FIRED
OPENING BATTLE OF THE CAM
PAIGN OF 1902.
Firm Adhesion to Sound Republican
Principles Demonstrated in the
Marked Increase in the Republican
Vote in the Oregon Election.


| stronger than ever with the people.
The fact that a Democratic governor
was elected by a small plurality does
not alter this conclusion There was
a bitter dissention over the governor
ship inside the party. The factions
were bent upon knitting each other, and
the faction opposed to the regular Re
publican nominee made no secret of
its preference for the election of the
Democratic candidate. But the fight
went no further The Legislature is
overwhelmingly Republican, the ma
jority on joint ballot being the larg-
est in the history of the state. The
election of a Republican United States
senator is thus assured
But it is in the congressional dis
tricts that the vote is most significant
If it were true, as so many free trad
ers and weakened Republicans have
asserted that there is throughout the
West a feeling of dissatisfaction with
the existing condition of things and
marked demand for tariff revision as a
means of dealing with the trust ques-
ton, the vote of June 2 in Oregon
would nave shown it. The issue was
well defined. On the Democratic side
was a demand for a compete over
hauling of our economic policy, for
repeal of the Dingley tariff on the
false pretense that under that law
trusts have fourished, and for a tariff
for revenue only; in short, a straight
out challenge on the tariff issue. The
Republicans met the question square
ly. They stood by the Dingley tariff,
they stuck to the principle and policy
of protection to American labor and
industry, and on this line they stood
shoulder to shoulder. No local fac
ton quarrels were allowed to enter
into the contest, so far the leading
national issue was concerned. On
that issue a splendid victory was won.
From her two congressional districts
Oregon sends two Republican Con-
gressmen, whose total vote and plur-
ality are over $4,000, or about 5000
greater than the plurality of two
years ago.
Thus Oregon sets the pace for 1902.
She is the first of the Republican
states to answer the question whether
our magnificent tariff system is to be
turned over to the tender mercies of
free trade Democrats. Her answer
more emphatic by 5000 votes than the
answer of 1900, is that the tariff shall
not be tinkered at all, and in no case
shall free traders be intrusted with
the job. That is the obvious and I'M
mlstakable meaning of the big Repub-
lican gains in the State of Oregon.
Had there been any such generally
prevalent desire for ripping open of
| the Republican tariff system as the
free trade Democrats and historical
Republicans would have us believe ex-
should have had some sign from Ore
gon. falling off in the Republican
vote would have been joyfully pointed
to as such a sign. Then indeed would
the free traders and the nervous Re
publicans have said: Behold, Oregon,
| We told you so, Tariff revision on
! the basis of for revenue only, or, at
| least, a sweeping reduction of the
Dingley tariff rates, is imperatively
demanded by the country as a whole
| by Republicans as well as Democrats.
| The lesson from Oregon is unmistak-
able. Tariff revision is the order of
the day, the need of the hour" All
| this and much more would now be
| said if Oregon had shown any defec-
| ton on Republican national questions
But as we have said, Oregon gives
large Republican gains, and the les
| son is precisely the reverse of what
| it would otherwise have been. 1t
means that Oregon wants the tariff
let alone: wants the Republican party
to keep on letting it alone,'' in the
characteristic words of Senator
| Hanna.
In this gratifying result especial
pleasure is felt and particular pride
taken by the American Protective
| Tariff league. This organization, in
| accordance with its invariable custom
| devoted its money and its work direct
| ly to the significant and important
campaign in the first of the Congress
sional elections of 1902. Beginning
more than four months ago, the Tariff
| League has industriously bent its ener-
| gies and utilized its resources with
| a view to affecting the outcome of
the June election in Oregon. Realiz-
ing the fact that the Republican cause
in that State labored under the serious
handicap OF mugwump and free-trade
detection on the part of the so-called
Republican dailies of the metropolitan
city of Portland, the Tariff League
took especial measures to offset this
| hostile influence, and by means of its
educational machinery made sure of
reaching the voters of Oregon in the
| most effective possible manner