Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-23

Iof Oregon will be steered around
these breakers remains 20 be seen in
the next campaign.
Another piece Of Populistic legis-
; lation that was not even asked for in
the state platforms Of the party was
the Inheritance tax law enacted by
the last legislature and so far not
enforced Many wealthy men have
died since that law went into effect
lbut their estates have so far avoided
It's sweeping provisions The life
time habituai tax dodger seems less
able 10 escape the clutch Of the grim
reaper than he does the feebly-con.
strlctlng talons of Republican legls.
alton. The wheels Of the inheritance
tax may begin to revolye at somS
time In the future, but so far their
hum has not been heard in the land
OF Webfoot Our rich men are dying
penniloss or the state has not heard
Of their departure. An equally obnox
lous piece Of Republican legislation
is the existing system or registration.
How easily the sympathies Of the
Republican party can be worked upon
by Populistic sentiment was evlnced
only lately when they gave 100000
TO the Indian War Veterans. These
veterans are old pioneeers who most |
~ got square mile Of virgin terri |
tory in the heart Of Western Oregon
They led an enjoyable life hunting
big game that now only falls to the
lot Of millionaires and presidents.
Indian ponies went begging for any
odd trinket and they had all the ex.
elements Of participating in the gold
and all the opportunities
Tor forty years TO share In the advan.
.ages Of accruIng In the development
Df new commonwealth. And just
IS the government at Washington was
about TO pay all their claims and
live them all a pension the Republi. {
.an party gives them 100000 and
lllows them to flle claims for as much {
more {
These matters are cited 10 show S
he weakness the Republican party Of
oregon has for being stamped into s
he emotional and sentimental realms a
Il demagogy and how It is forced to q
tand for the vagaries of even parties
hat have gone out Of existence. Z
The strength Of the Republican par. L
y has lain In the weakness Of It's op. .
onents, In the high character OF the
ien Il has generally put into it's s
ighest state offices, and especially Il
he Supreme Court, and In it's uni. g
ormly humane and excellent admin G
itration OF state institutions.
II has had all the advantages OF v
winning with the tide Of popular G
ational organization The mlsdeeds Il
4 an average legislature would wipo 4
out Of existence In many states 81
nd anywhere but In Oregon would
Is Portlanddominated phalanxes be
catered to the winds IN single
ampaign, n
How has Il survived? By the In. Il
'insic merit Of the national ofganl 81
alton. A few sessions back the leg. "
.lamre began bringing In two appro. n
riation bills. AZ tha last session III
iree appropriation bills were framed. cI
gain Il faces state election with r'
u the prestige OF national issues 10 u
'ershadow state affairs. Even with u
j the defective work OF the special u
'ssion OF tho legislature Il will pull NJ
trough with almost anybody II nomi. a.
ites on lis ticket. Again Il will 20 III
to power by default Instead of by st
.e deliberate judgment OF the peo h'
e. ia
Il will probably strengthen itself m
putting up a good county and leg. u
la'ive ticket. although as a rule the 10
.edatory elements weaken its per SC
nnel by coming strongly 20 the 10
ont In presidential year Il walks on
ward victory on a narrow margin 10
VIII ha'' TO balance as carefully Is