The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-06-17
The Oregon Election.


The first important election of 1904
was held on Monday in Oregon. Two
Representatives in Congress Wee chos-
EN-, and. in addition, a Supp one Court
Judge and State Food Commissioner
were voted for. Oregon elects her Con-
gresham earlier than any other State
in the Union, and the vote she casts
especially in Presidential years-can be
taken, for the Far West, at least, as
guaging pretty accurately the drift of
popular sentiment. This years cam
paign was made avowedly on national
issues. 1t was straight-out party fight.
Two years ago republican candidate
for Governor was defeated after con-
test in which one disgruntled republi-
can faction threw its strength to the
democratic nominee. The vote for Gov
ernor stood 39,S62 for Chamberlain,
democrat, to 80, 606 for Furnish, repub-
lican; but the rest of the republican
State ticket was elected by an average
plurality Of 10000. This June no local
and personal antagonisms obscured the
real issue between the two parties. The
republican organization presented a
united front, and, after sharp canvass,
appears to have carried the State by a
plurality of from II, 500 to 10000.
Comparing conditions now with condi-
tions in 1900, the significance of the re-
publican victory becomes more apparent.
In June, 1900 Oregon elected two repub-
lican Congressmen but their combined
pluralities were scarcely half the total
republican plurality now returned in
the two districts. -Four years. ago, in
the 1st District, Thomas H. Tongue. re-
publican, received 81, votes against
| Is. 1913 cast for Bernard DAILY, his demo
cratic opponent. Therepublican plural
| ity in the district was only 1910. In
the I'D District Malcolm Moody, the
republican nominee, received 22,OSS
votes. William Smith, the democratic
fusion candidate, received 2,7O9, but
an independent democrat J. E. Simmons
polled 1884 votes. Mr.. Moody's plural
ity over Mr.. Smith was $685. but the
real republican margin in the district
was only 5,995. This year, in the 1st
District, Binger Hermann is credited
with plurality of $500, and John II.
Williamson, in the lid District, with a
plurality of about 10000. The total
plurality for candidates for Congress
II, 500-is nearly twice as great as the
total plurality in 1900; but for the head
of the State ticket this year the plural
ity claimed is 100000
The result in Oregon is altogether
gratifying 1t shows the steady growth
of republicanism in State and section
in which only eight years ago republican
supremacy was dangerously challenged.
President Mckinley carried Oregon in
1896 by the narrow margin of 9, GAO votes.
California, Oregon and North Dakota
excepted he lost all the States beyond
the Missouri; but the reaction toward
republi canism which set in in 1898 and
1900 seems to be still gathering force,
and Mondays election in Oregon, with
its sweeping evidences of republican
success, points to the redemption this
year Of the whole trans Missouri section.
-Four years ago the republican national
ticket triumphed in California, Oregon,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska,
Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and Washing
ton. This year, unless the signs of the
times fail, republican electors will also
be chosen in Idaho, Colorado, Nevada
and Montana The West has nothing
possible to expect from Democratic re-
viyal which seeks to retie the South to
an alliance with the spoils hunting pol
itcians of New York and Indiana. The
West believes in facing the present, not
the past. 1t does non fancy the states
manship which has to burrow for ideas
into the tomb of jefferson. It will not
cast its vote in 1904 for any figurehead
in politics, however irreproachable.
The Oregon election offers no comfort
to the managers of a Presidential can
vass like Judge Parker's. It demon
strates that the voters of the West know
what they want and are satisfied with
what they have; and there is every
ground for believing that voters the
country over will be found next fall to
be of that same settled and comfortable
temper.
Forcible Facts.