The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-04-29

stay. chief good and final hope Con
found It, there are so many setbscks!' %
-Oregonian, April 2Sth
Is II true that Geer has been only
an Office mendicant? Has he always
built all his expectations on poll.
tics?" Has ofTice-holding been his main
occupation and final hope?" Or did
he serve as many years as Jacob did
Laban before he got the coveted prize
of the governorshlp at the hands of
the Republican managers?
What is the history OF Governor
Geer's services to the Republican par.
ty? He was in the legislature several
times for which he had the princely
salary of 1920 a term, and he took few
or no perqpisites, and legislated him
self and his relatives into no Offices.
On the other hand, he made the Re
publicans a model speaker of the
House. and there was no deadlock over
the senatorship, but every Republican
went to the joint caucus on a verbal
announcement that n senator was
elected without anyone being bought
with appropriations or federal Offices.
He next made several campaigns,
and notably the one when Lord was
elected, and then his own campaign,
rolling up Republican maiorities that
made Oregon so hopelessly Republican
that Mr.. Furnish expects to be put in
by the use Of no audible arguments
whatever. So strong did Governor
Geer become as n campaigner that
Governor Pennoyer said that he could
stand It to have any man sent out over
the state after him but Geer, saying
the latter was unable to undo all ne
could do TO win the farmers away from
the Republicans, admitting he was no
match for Geer on the stump
For his services in 1896 he was
promised the Portland collectorship,
but was tricked out of II by the very
faction that Harvey Scott is lined up
with today, and at which the people of
the state were so outraged that they
started a tidal wave that made Geer
governor, the only Office he has ever
had worth anything and that paying
not enough to support a man If he
would live In an executive mansion, as
"A governor should live. That is the
record Does that constitute Geer a
man who cannot live without office?
Geer supported himself on his farm.
although he was not a great money |
maker at any time. and was probably |
but can II be fairly said that he was
an oflicemendicant? If he had held |
the Portland collectorship a term, and |
been fred out of Il rich, and had been |
rich ever since, and had been enjoying !
the spoils of politics and official pat. !
ronage ever since, as Harvey Scott
has he could be accused OF relying on
official pap as the main stay, chief
good and final hope" OF his life.
What did Geer give the Republican |
party for honoring him with the gov
The claim of the Oregon
ian that he was nominated by the |
faction is not borne out by |
the history OF that convention. Geer
and his friends carried Marion county
and gave Lord delegate from his
own precinct as a matter OF courtesy. |
that the Scott.Fulton.Furnis faction
would have done well 10 emulate.
Geer carried besides every other coun-
ty in the state, and the Mitchell-Re.
publican delegation was not given
seats In the state convention. That
the pre-convention fight at Salem by
the now yociferous convention organ
was sham and frivolous is proven by
the fact that II was dropped the mo-
ment Il had accomplished It's purpose.
and viii not be revived AS against
The attacks OF the Portland Oregonian
and the Salem Sentinel. Geer rendered
The Republican party the incalculable
service of improving the state govern,
nent In every way during his term.
No state has better managed institu.
ions, and In all OF them there has
leen maintained a clean management.
IN his record he could have gone and
made canvass as the nominee for
governor that would have carried the
whole ticket. and cost the party very
title money. lie was threatened by J
lefeat only by the faction that has
,ut up Furnish
hut such service is not wanted by
he powers in control of the Republi-
AN party OF Multen-no.my county
'he rammany heelers who cluster
bout the Portland postofiice building
Inder Jack Matthews wings, prefer
he kind OF candidate who has to
nay his way at the primaries. and who
vim have 10 tap his barrel and Mark
lanna's in order TO get enough votes
D elect him. The economical cam.
aigns conducted by a hayseed from
he Waldo Hills that roll up big ma
lrities at very little expense are not
'anted by the highbinder element of
ortland. When the barrel has got to
e tapped they viii have drippings !
nder their advice Mr.. Furnish viii
ave to feel his way along the lines OF
he least resistance, II they had want
a the assistance OF Mr.. Geer and his
lends In this campaign they have