The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-07-27
arATr CHAIRMAN BAKER.


STATE CHAIRMAN BAKER.
The Journal does not feel that any
one In particular IL responsible for th'
elevation Of Frank G. Baker to the po
aitlon Of State Chairman OF the Re
publican part.
Probably a few men who have a pro
gram a. 20 the way state politics
should be managed worked up th'
meeting OF the committee and saw q
n that the committee was favorable
10 Baker.
The matter Is not very important.
In the last analysis few men always
do things In politics and IN every
other human affalr.
Some OF the newspaper comments
that are reproduced nj Portland are
not helping matters any II the object
be party harmony.
Some OF the Democratic and Popu.
list leaders have always been willing
10 help one Republican faction or the
other.
No matter how much the Oregon
Republican factions are divided. II Is
Republican government the people get
Tor their money.
Under these circumstances no mat.
ter who IA state chairman, he Is the
official head OF the dominent and gov.
prnlng party In Oregon.
A. such Frank Baker occupies an
Important and respectable position
Those who imagine he will not per
form its duties In an energetic and
credltable mann,r do not know the
man.
Some OF the opposition newspapers
refer 10 him az IAN able and unscru-
pulous politician. who viii accomplish
his ends by any means whatsoever"
Well, isn't ihat about the apeclhca.
tlons OF the successful manager OF any
political manager In these days.
When We consider how Democrats
and Popullsts have lent themselves
10 Republican deadlocks and holdups
OF the legislature the word "unacru.
pulous' loses some OF les political
sting
Another Democratic paper cells
Baker a "eraftes and ruiiian" ana
Republican paper at Portland copied
Tho meaning Of CRATER IL getting
pretty broad end Includes all who
make money out OF politics. In that
sense Baker IA a "grafter" lie made
a good sized fortune As State Printer.
hut made Il according TO the laws
Tho word "mfiinn" h actlonahle al
Law and probably could not be proven
or justified against .nakcr.
He was born and raised In Oregon.
hia father IL a pioneer newspaper
publisher Baker probably roughed
u good deal
A. James whitcomb Riley says OF
'one OF his chaiactera-
lie halnt refined AZ he'd orter be
To ht the statutes OF poetry"
Ftank 9, Baker is not a perfect
saint ~ any means TIE lacks a great
Neal 0f thar but he Is not a ruflan.
ana ne man who wrote that did 40
with.
For his opportunltles. growing np as
a poor boy Ia Eastern Oregon. whore
there were few schools. and the aver.
nge community vas running "wlde
open ho h a pretty strong tyne of
western citizen
~NN'NW eNNiNNa AhN oppohitlOu
papers 60 drop personalities and try
70 put up a winning campaign out Of
the abundance of material they have
roady az their hands.
or course Il thore Is 10 be A var ON
ntAio Chairman Rakor within The
hepuoliean party, that Is another mat
ter and no one will blame the oppo.
H'ueh Tor taking advantage OF it
The war ON Jack Matthews as state
chairman cost the Republican marty
the governorship ia the last election
fhat was warfare by Republicans.
warfare nom Democratic sources
VIII noi hurt Frank Bakor. lie ii a
man who has flends enough in tAe
Republican party 20 take care of MIN
MNthews had not
petaocfatlc warfare ON Matthews
Nonid NOT hare doleated Furnish ar
sofefnor u the warfare on naker ho.
eomes strenuous among Republicans
then look o,t.
80 lons a. bis critics are Democrats
~ Nill smile But il they bo those of
ma own political faith. foes in Ms
own household, a viii be dlnersnt
10 mas ~ thar such strife amon,
Nepuollsans can he lomented thar 4
tiNN chairman viii be demanded by
tne 0me iho ueXt siaie convention
4AeiA but Il "a NOT likely.
II Baker keeps tha position nsha
Journal believes he WIN male An M.
tieht chairman, and. as some of he
uHWullatit nant4fa lnflu,ats -,