Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-05-22
THEIR Willy WAYS.
Local Politics are Manipulated by Experts
-Burning the candle at Both Ends.

beld IN COrVali1S last Monday,
that the contest was of tsfriend- |
ly character and no i'll feeling
was manifested. This is very
true. The election, however,
proceeded more along political
lines, than has any city election
held here in many years. To
the casual observer this may not
be understood. To those who
have been familiar with the po-
litical practices of Messrs. Wat
ters and McFadden for years, 1t
becomes as plain as the ''hand-
writing on the wall.n For over
a quarter of a century it has been
the constant daily work of Mr..
MeFadden to practice politics.
He has carried this policy to a
pint where he attempts to nomi-
nate, according to his choice, the
candidates for all parties; and he
has been surprisingly successful.
A few years ago, Mr.. Waters
Joined him, and they have since
worked together as intimately as
"Siamese twins" At first their
efforts were expended in winning
and controlling the support and
influence of the saloons and their
adherents.> Mr.. McFadden, as
much as any man in Corvallis,
has encouraged and aided the
"saloon element by working in
timately with it. He has courted
: the support of the saloons in fur
thering his political designs.
But change has come over
his dream. He and Mr.. Wat.
tiers induced the populist party
! to fuse with the democrats for a
: time carefully guarding the point
THAT all the best-paying offices
E should be slated for democrats,
giving the 1eavings to the popu
+ lists. But the disciples of popu-
Y lism refused longer to accept The
e elcrumbs thrown to them, wher
e they felt assured that withou
their support the democrats coule
II not have elected a single officer
Then another brilliant ides
dawned upon these politica
adopts. They knew thata strong
wholesome temperance senti
e ment has prevailed in CorSalli
5 for many years; that this senti
Il ment is shared by all citizens
: considerable numbers of whom
q have allied themselves with til
{ -lprohibition party and are active
: ly asserting their influence.
e being the desire of all to max
I Corvallis model college town
members of the various churcl
e organizations are also pressin,
e strongly along the lines of tenn.
q perance. Through this influence
e sentiment was growing in favo
e of stringent enforcement of tn
: laws regulating and controllin,
y the liquor traffic. The republi
u cans had always worked in har.
't mony with these promoters O
Il morality, progress and modera.
o ton.
81 Mr.. McFadden, ever since tax
/ ing up his residence in this coun
;, try, had been a consistent co
laborer with the saloons, con
t trolling them in the furtheranc'
q of his political schemes, lookin,
q to the placing of his candidate
h in Office. With the Temperance
e sentiment becoming so active
o something had to be done.
: Thereupon, Mr.. McFadde1
e aad Mr.. Waters called them
: selves together and brought thei
Q combined wisdom to bear on th,
Il perplexing dilemma. They rea
S soned that Mr.. McFadden had
for nearly quarter of century
5 worked hand in hand with the
}. saloons; that by force of habi
't and his personal influence he
e would be able to secure their sup
r port in future. On the othel
v hand, Mr.. Waters, since his ad
0 vent into politics, had Joined the
o church and was in position te
$ enlist the vote of the temperance
8 people in support of the demo
e cratic candidates. Happy thought
for perpetual political power
1 The plan approved soon brough,
1 confusion, but not without re-
e suits.
T The temperance people being
sincere and earnest in thei1
q support of vital principle,
: and honestly desirous of build.
$ ing up and improving the world,
/ l