The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-05-27
RED
HOT
POLITICS
Discussed in Wood
burn Last Night
Rival Candidates Exchange
Compliments
CrOiSan Defends Himself OF
McMahan'S Accusations

J.. II. MCMahan becomes more bitter
I'm his attack on the official record of
his opponent E. NJ. Crolsan, as the
campaign progresses. AT Woodburn,
Monday evening, before a large audi
ence, he delyed into Crolsan's record
in most vigorous manner. He form
erly conducted newspaper at Wood
burn, and was given a warm reception
to the town last night by his old
friends and neighbors.
The Republicans opened the discus
sion, and, after a few Introductory
skirmshes by other candidates, Mr..
Crolsan was introduced. After defln-
ing his position for reform and correc-
tion of abuses in the state govern
ment, as pledged in the Republican
state platform, he defended himself
against McMahan's attack. He had
faithfully discharged the duties of
sheriff, his bondsmen had been exon
Grated, and his books and accounts
were found correct. He said nothing
would ever have come up concerning
his official administration II McMahan
had not been nominated for senator.
Mr.. Croisan then said that he was be-
ing unjustly misrepresented by Nc
Mahan, who had charged him during
his four years term OF Office with hav-
ing received from the county treasury
$4,000 The present sheriff is on a
fiat salary, and receives S2500 per
year, has his own expenses and those
of his deputies paid, and receives fees
from civil cases also. Croisan claimed
that McMahan did not give to the pub
lie his expense Items. which was not
fair. He claimed that during the four
years he was sheriff he received only
S26, $685. "a, and that his expenses for
that time were $16,774.50, leaving
balance of 50 9,S50.Si, or an annual sal.
airy Of about $2i50 He also received
fees on civil cases, In addition TO the
above items, but he was obliged to pay
his own expenses In the service of the
same. Mr. Croisan showed that he re.
ceiyed only the salary and compensa.
tion that sheriffs drew before him, and
for several years since, or at any rate
until the fee system was replaced by
that of fiat salaries
In concluding, Mr.. Croisan became
somewhat facetious. He admonished
the audience not to become scared at
Mcmahon, who would also talk, as he
was not a dangerous fellow. He said
McMahan reminded him of an expert
ence he had at the Worlds fair In
Chicago, in 1898 lie was walking
down the Midway Plaisance when he
heard an awful noise. on the building
whence the disturbance came, he saw
sign reading, South Sea Islanders.
Thinking there was on exhibition ma.
tiyes of the South Seas, he went into
the building, and all he found was Il
man pumping air through machine.
McMahan spoke later on the pro
gram, lie introduced his address by
reminiscent remarks In relation TO
| Woodburn, the place of his former res.
idence. and with tremulous voice and
liberal injections OF boQuets to some
of the prominent citizens, McMahan
told how In 1883 he started the Wood
burn Independent with $214. McMa-
han was introduced as the Initiative
and referendum Independent candidate
on the Democratic ticket for state sen.
ator," and was well received At the
start, he said he did not wish to cast
any aspersions on the private life Of
Mr. Croisan, since II was only with the
Official life of that gentleman that he
desired To deal In reply 10 Croisan's
statement that his books had been ex.
ported and found correct. Mr.. McMa-
han suggested that the books OF q. w.
Davis, former clerk of the school land
board. had been eXperted by three
legislative committees and subse-
Quently shortage of $35, 900 was dis,
closed
McMahan said he had been charged
with being lawyer, aud admitted that
he was. supplemented by the state
ment that he would present for the
consideration OF the voters logical
proposition; II Croisan was legally
entitled to collect the fees ne received
why could he not ylndicate himself OF
the collection OF the same by the
statutesg Under the yagrant law Me
Mahan charged his opponent with hav
ing received fees for receiving and dis
charging fees In the collection OF
which there was not a shadow of Law
TO warrant It. McMahan further stated
that Croisan collected SliSO Jail fees
q which the code said he could not do
The total amount OF fees collected boy
Croisan was between $4,000 and $40.
600, McMahan regretted that the ex
igencies OF a campaign made neces
sary the disclosure OF record OF thii
character, and asked IL the voters in
tended 20 send 10 the high offce o
state senator a man who had been S,
unfaithhl to his public oftlce,
McMahan reiterated his charge tha
In four years Croisan received $3.50
from the county. or S1iS per month
The speaker then attacked Crolsan be
cause he had refused 70 announce him
; self on the senatorial question Mc
Mahan accused Croisan with having
organized the Marion county prl