Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-12-23
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
TUESDAY, DEC. Z3, 1902.
The PRINCIPAL EVIL.

X. MCDI1uS Oi OpOkduS, SONSN
ing OF legislative contests over
the election of U. S. Senator
says: THE principal evil that
thev do is in preventing the nea
who would best represent the
state from entering the contest
at ALL"
This has been the experience
of possibly every state 1t GER
tainly is that of Oregon. Few
states, indeed, are represented in
the United States senate by two
of the best qualified men they
might have selected. Men OF
the highest a'tainnneut5 aud pre-
eminent qualifications are men OF
profoundi self-respect. Nothing
will induce them to resort to
chica1ery, duplicity, demaeogy
and possibly to corruption and
bribery. Men who are seif-seek-
ing candidates for senatorial hon
ors are not always above suspi-
cion of employing, OF at least OF
being willing to employ, any or
all of these artihces to secure
election.
If the wholesome maxim that
"the office should seek the man
rather than the man seek the OIL
fec" were applied to the selec-
ton of senators it would quickly
clarity the political atmosphere,
remove the apprehension OF leg1s-
lative deadlocks and put men into
the United States senate whom the
whole nation would respect and
honor.
It is the application of this
maxim that keeps Hoar and Hale
and few others in the senate,
and it is the defiance of it that
confers the august title Of SEN
ator upon the Quays, the Cor
mans, the Tillmans and quite
three score of mere puppets and
''me toos."
It was once believed that cleo
ton of u. S. senators by the
state legislatures would insure
the choice Of the best qualified
men to be found in the state.
The plan has worked, all too fire.
quently, as every oae knows, OF
bestowing the senatorial toga up,
on the illest fitted men that coulc
we'll be selected 1t has thus
happened that states great II
their resources, great In the IN
telligence, virtue and patriotism
of their people are represented
in the highest council of the ia
ton by men whose very pres
ence there reflects humiliation
and disgrace upon the whole peo
pie.
1t should not excite wonder
that there is a strong and grow
ing sentiment among the people
that they should make direc'
choice of whom they would have
to represent them in the U. S
senate.
Whatever may be said for OF
against this manner of choosing
senators, it must be admitted
that it would not give results
more to be generally deploreo
than those which attend the pres
ent method of choosing. Mex
month the legislatures Of a NUM-
Der of states will be expected te
select U. S. senators. Oregon /;
one of these states, and of course
the one in whose selection we
have deepest interest.
It should not be necessary te
remind the members of the legis
lature that the people of the state
really care nothing about the
'claims" of any candidate.
What they desire, what they
have right to demand is that un,
Influenced by the importunities
of any candidates friends or fol
lowing, the members will elect
the best qualified man available
in the state even though the OF,
fee must seek for him.
This may not satisfy some Of
the candidates, ror indeed any
of them, but it will prove eini'
nently satisfactory to the mass o.
the people for it will not only re
fleet the highest honor OH them,
but it will most certainly inure
to the material good and prosper.
ity of the state.
Let preerninent fitness deter
mine the choice of a colleague fol
Senator Mitchell and the whole
state will approve.