Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-06-10
AS OTHERS SEE US.

up to the defeat Of Mr.. Furnish,
Its diagnosis of the case is so apt
that we commend it to the
thoughtful reflection of our read
ers:
Factioral politics has worked
out to its usual and natural re-
suit in Oregon. The state is Sc
curely and heavily republican.
Wherev>1 the vote could be con-
s.rued as an expression of public
sentiment on national issues, as !
IN that for congressman, the re-
publicans swept everything be-
fore them. This test, the only
proper and valid one, slows that
Oregon is republican by at least
$4,000 majority. Yet at the
same election that gave the
splendid Endorsement to the party
and its administration, and that
chose a majority of republican
members of the Legislature, the
republican candidate for COVER
nor is probably beaten by mere
handful of votes.
1t is a reverse in every way un-
fortunate. 1t is an urdeserved
reflection upon the common
wealths of the Pacific coast, at a
time when it is most desirable
that they should stand unitedly
and enthusiastically for republi-
can policies. 1t will give every
where aid and comfort to the
enemy, and it prepares the way
for reprisals and punishments
which can mature in nothing but
future party reverses.
Mr.. Furnish was scratched
not because he was a democrat a
few years ago, although that
probably detracted something
from the enthusiasm of the more
ardent party supporters; not be-
cause of the superior popularity
of Mr.. Chamberlain, although
that helped him to some votes;
but as a rebuke to the bitter fac
tionalism THAT has been rampant
in the party, to dragging person
al and senatorial politics into the
state campaign, and to attempt
political punishments and re:
venges for private grudges and
Sights.
This evil influence in Oregon
politics has been faithfully cult
waited and reflected by the onl,
metropolitan daily newspaper il
the state, the Portland Oregoni
an. Maintaining a nominal re-
publican allegiance, it has de
famed and defed the party when
ever it desired to make men O
unmake them. Witness the Ions
and bitter fight against Mitchell
who is now restored to favor
Witness the crusade agains
Mcbride while in the senate
Witness the persecution of Gov
Geer, until his friends wer
driven to rebel. Witness tn
uarelenting war upon Senate
Simon, whom the Oregouian wa
largely instrumental in sending
to the senate. Witness most O
all the reckless attacks on Presi
dent Mckinley that continued tt
the very day of his death.
Where all are taught that par
ties exist to reward or punisl
men according to their attitude
toward you, where both men ane
parties are pursued vengefull!
day after day aud month afte
month because they have not fol
lowed dictation, they feel them
selves eventually absolved from
party allegiance and entitled t.
their innings. The result is pO
litical disorganization and fac
tioual supremacy. Thus tn
party becomes a secondary affair
and it may be used, as it ha
been used by one side in the pas
and was used by the other sid'
in this election, to get even.
It is most unhappy but it i
not wonderful that the voters
could not be made to heed ap
peals to party loyalty this yea
in support of the head of the
ticket. You cannot lash men
abuse them, brand the party it
self because it has honored them
and carry this policy through
three years and eleven months
and then turn around and hea
all the breaches by preaching
duty to the party for thirty days
That was the experiment in Ore
Ia t1,o 1,,,u> ;1;o