The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-04-08
The INFLUENCE OF MARION
NnIINTN

In the past few years an idea hal
made itself felt in the affairs OF Ma
rion county that will have a tremend
ous influence In our state affairs, un
less that idea Is completely lost sigh
of or obliterated, and that Is not pos
sible In the persistence of things thal
are good and useful. The American
people are too practical and have too
much political sagacity TO drop what
Is proving itself a superior Implement
in saving their taxes, and take up al
older and more costly Inventions
What Is the Marion county idea2
Stated briefly, four years ago Salem
and Marion county were insolvent
Their warrants were at a discount
The city and county wore a quarter OF
million In debt New debt was be
ing added and created each year. Eek
penses and taxes were increasing
Property values were diminishing
Wealth was hiding and refusing TO In
vest. Population was declining and
valuations for assessment were
shrinking. That was the municipal
status, and the political party manag
ers said that II could not be otherwise
II was inevitable and party interests
IN0ulIRu llltl liilh NOhAlhutt anu ~ 10
firing mayor of Salem said there was
nothing for II but to ask authority OF
the legislature 20 levy more taxes. or
issue more bonds. That was the con
fession of political bankruptcy.
But the community was not ready
for that, although II had reached the
point OF insolvency and was ready for
receivership in a court Of bankrupt
cy. When the politicians have done
their worst, the people have still the
resources OF patriotism and intelll-
gence. A new deal was Indispensable.
The old game was played out. A few
business men got together and made
program founded on solvency and
good business judgment. They took
the nominating power out OF the hands
OF the political machine, and put up
candidates who were pledged TO exc
cute the program that was laid down
for them. men of sufficient character
TO keep their publicly pledged word OF
honor To the community. The result
is the city and county are redeemed
from insolvency and bankruptcy, and
can become the potent, dominant, up
lifting and saving influence In the at
fairs OF the commonwealth.
What was that program? Simply To
cut your garment 20 the cloth In hand
Create no more debt, floating or bond.
ed. Reduce fixed charges and Interest
20 a minimum, and enlarge fixed in
come 10 a maximum, without laying
new burdens on the people. Stop run
ming fee bills on the public In the
name OF active and pernicious official
ism. All officials were put on a flat
salary. and all fees went into the
treasury. All revenues were collected
from the standpoint OF the public
treasury, instead OF the ofaeeholders'
pockets. As a result. the county Is out
OF debt The city has cash surplus,
and has wiped out all floating debt As
fast as bonded debt has come due Il
has been fiOated by a popular loan
making the people OF the community
stockholders In the municipality, cred
ltors Interested In good admlnistra'
tion.
These influences In Marion county
have been built up In spite OF party
politics, and In spite OF the push poll
tlcians and the political machines. In
fact Il was only possible TO achieve
these results In proportion as their
hold was weakened, and their gratis
broken. In the city Il was accom-
plished >by Republicans, Democrats
| POpulists. Socialists and Prohibition
lists uniting In common cause against
the dominant machine, In the county
Il was accomplished by waging reform
campaigns and compelling the don't
nant party 20 make reform platforms
and pledge los candidates publicly on
| tho canvass To do ali that the oppOsi
ton party offered and promised TO dc
for the people,
Nevertheless. the virtue was In the
people of Marion county. as a whole
10 do these things. or they would not
have been possible, Blood cannot be
got from a pumpkin, and the influence
OF Marion county for better order OF
OF things In public affairs has been
manifested because Il existed in the
hearts and minds OF the people. and
only needed an opportunity to come
out Aud this influence will make
itself felt in our state affairs. II Il Il
given opportunity. This influence has
made itself felt In the county conyen.
tons OF both parties, where platforms
were adopted In favor of nat salaries
for state Oiioials, for direct nomina
tions az the primaries. for economy
aud business administration. These
are the real sentiments OF the people
OF Marion county, and the influence Ol
Marion county IL going 10 be more felt
Ia state affairs than some OF the pOlit
ical manag0rs Ia the state az large i'm
Il Na.aH a.