The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-06-14
LET Al QUIT POLITICS.

LET ALL QUIT POLITICS.
All men who pretend to be Republi-
cans in Oregon or who have been Re
publlcans in the past, or expect to be
in the future, should quit playing poll
tics. face the responsibilities of good
government and do what is right.
There is no room for politics of the
kind Oregon has had too much of In
the conduct of the legislature and the
state government. Election of a
United States senator and congress
man is political, but laws, state rev.
enues aud appropriations ought not
be prostituted 20 politics. There must
be room in any mans mind for serious
consideration of the business welfare
of the state-that its taxes be not too
high. that it's revenues be not wasted,
that officials respect the constitution,
that open and notorious gratis be
abollshed-that all do right. This
mental attitude toward the state gov
ernment should be maintained by all
who are capable of reading, thinking
and forming opinions for themselves
about public matters. If any man or
woman is a Republican from instinct
and refuses to do what Is right be
| cause the idea has not originated with
some loss-God pity 'em. The Jour
nal believes that at heart the great
majority of Republicans, even mer
like Editor Scott and members Of the
new legislature, want to do what Is
right in the matter Of enacting
straight fiat salary for all state
officials instead of the present system
Of fees and perquisites The state
officials themselves want what Ii
right In this matter. They do not en-
10y the criticisms and suspicious tina
are heaped upon them under the pres
ent indirect system of compensation
Governor-Elect Chamberlain Will no
enjoy taking the emoluments oi
boards and commissions he will b'
compelled 10 take, unless a fiat salar!
law is enacted before 1903.
The editor of The Journal had
long talk with Hon. ID. II. Looney o
jefferson, yesterday, on the subject o
a special session, and he expresses
the opinion freely that the specia
session of the legislature was neces
sary and the Republicans would maxi
mistake to not enact fiat salar'
now.
MIR. Looney Is a strong partisan
and does not belong to the Geer fac
tion, II there be such thing. But h
has enough horse sense to see tina
failure TO do that will postpone th
reform four years and rob the Reput
lican party of the credit. He sal
some doubts existed as TO the stat
. Printer being reached by any la'
70 passed after he Is elected, but he sal
even In that case II was better to d
what was right and was pledged /
the platform, and II the state Printe
. could beat il in the courts he woul
do so anyhow,
Now that is the plain and reason'
D. Bile talk of an agricultural Republica
in clean agricultural county lik
Marion. If the Republican politician
Z, who take a narrow, selfish, persons
Is view of politics will consult with di
g interested voters they will find thl
.e to do what is right In THIS matter
g. the easiest and cheapest way to po
itics.
Al But IL is said Geer fayors a speci'
.e session because he wants to be Unite
N States senator Let us be fair an
n lust and honest Geer would be cal
ing legislature together when
II might injure his chances of becomin
IS a senator But suppose 1t made hin
A. senator. What OF Il? II flat salariC
NJ are right shall this reform be put o
four years because IL may or ma
II not make some one senatorg
N It's shame that public newspap'
II has got to beg and plead with anyon
TO do thing so manifestly just an
a right as that state officials should 1
A, paid definite fixed salaries and th'
Is all fees and earnings OF their Office
y should belong TO the state treasur
5. But II seems no good thing can !
d accomplished without agitation Tn
ia agitation must be carried ON until III
A, victory for Hat salaries is won. Tn
n people know what is right aud mui
r not cease 20 demand Il until they 50
n H. The Journal will print petition
every week and citizens must circ
late them constantly until the bait
is won for state house cleaning
Right and Justice are in favor 1
n this proposition and right wrongs n
u man." Those who are Indifferent
l' snoering at this reform have n'
a. studied into the details as presente
e in this paper II they will do th'
they will no longer oppose paying
Q reasonable Hat salary to every stat
l. Olhcial and no more.
---o--
Friends Of the pubic school shoul
a. ...a. -. a y TukhlI 60 eehaol a