Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1903-12-03
ONION
The Wsather.
Tonight and Friday. fair.
THE JOURNAL IN THIS CAMPAIGN

THE JOURNAL IN THIS CAMPAIGN
Not speaking for itself. but for a
large number OF members Of other
parties. who have left the Citizens
movement In disgust, The Journal
makes this statement OF reasons why
any honest man who favors good gov
eminent should leave Il:
The Citizens council abandoned
the popular loan plan Of funding the
city bonds that fell due the past year.
TO save the expense OF a special cleo
ton. when the interest they would
have saved would have several times
paid the expense.
They refused TO give the people the
benefit OF the Australian ballot law.
on the ground OF expense, and, in
stead. force the poll tax law, 10 keep
as many as possible from voting.
They went back on their own light
ing contract. the best the city ever
had. under which they claim the city
has saved 81. 500. after the managers
held a secret meeting at which IL vas
proposed to hold up the contract to
promote real estate interests"
They enacted a restrictive bicycle
ordinance that was uncalled for, then
went back on II. and when Il was re-
vived by veto Of the mayor, refused
to enforce II.
There are but few Of those left in
the Citizens movement. aside from
those In office. and men like Pohle
and Larsen. who were too honest for
the inside mahipulators, and were re.
fused nomination by men who wanted
TO use them.
The Journal for ten years has con.
tended for Direct Nomination primar
les, and the Republicans are the first
10 give that right 10 the people-of
choosing their candidates.
The Citizens have adopted a close
corporation. partisan plan OF nominal
ing candidates. which places the nom.
inees under the direct pressure Of a
few managers who are not above
serving selfish human interests.
Rev. p. S. knight was selected by
an inside committee. headed by Judge
Judah, who placed him before the
convention. and the convention was
not even left 20 choose among a mum.
Der Of eligible Republicans and Dem
ocrats who would have made as good
a mayor
This is not saying that there are not
good men stli holding Office under the
Citizens movement or that there are
not some good men nominated this
year. but they are being dictated &C.
by selfish personal influences op-
posed to progress. aud inimical TO
good government.
The nominations for mayor and
aldermen were hawked about by a
selfconstituted central committee,
not made by the people Of the wards.
or of the city at large. on top OF this
pledges have been eXacted, and Sc.
cured. for them so obey the orders oi
another combination. The Republican
nominees are responsible To the PEG.
pie direct instead OF through two OF
three rings.
These are the plain reasons why The
Journal believes IN eCitizens' ticket as
constituted In this campaign. should
o be supported. This Is said with.
out reflection ON any mans motives
and without sacrificing the right to
sustain an honest independent non.
partisan management OF city anairs
at any time In the future.
In place OF being the protector OF
the electric light company The Jour
nal has been the only paper 20 criti.
else the management, and has de.
manded botter lights and reductions
OF the lighting bills when the service
has failed