The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-01-22
AsroRIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
THE GAME OF POLITICS.

Politics makes strange oeuIeloWs. Al YOU Pias
the game You make strange-even fantastie--triend
and variety Of enemies. Your friends become you
enemies and your enemies your friends. The ex
tent to which you unconsciousy cook up for yourse
the pill of sentiment depends altogether upon wh'
you are-how important part you play upon th'
political stage
No better evidence of the vagares of the game cal
be offered than the situation of affairs in Portland
The only really ''big" man the Pacific coast ever
produced is mayor of that community. George ii.
Williams was an important factor in our national
life at one time and that he should, in his declining
years. have been cursed with the mayorality OF the
Oregon metropolis, abounding with scheming graft
es and bloodthirsty politicians and overzeaous re-
formers, who have attacked him at every turn, is a
matter Of extreme regret.
Mr.. Williams is the fair mayor of Portland.
The city must put itself in shape for the 1905 cee-
bration. no matter what the cost. To successfully
prepare for the event every possible source of revenue
must be employed. The gambling element was an ex-
cellent source of revenue. ltsmonthly tributes
would provide the hard-pressed municipality with
funds to repair the delapdated streets and other
wise get ready for the fair The reform element pro-
tested loudly, but the commercial interests were too
strong for it. During the agitation the question was
''What will the mayor do?" The state officials, as
should everywhere be the case passed up to the city
the matter Of permitting gambling, Some communi
ties favor ope ntown methods. and in such matters
it is always advisable to permit the city authorities
to regulate affairs. The reform element had the un
qualified backing of the three Portland newspapers
which took turns at denouncing the fine old gentle
man who is at the head Of the municipal government
AT that particular stage of the proceedings, which
doubtless was ''the time see George C. Brownel S
Aemoirs) it stood certain class of politicians in
hand to vify the mayor. The interests of an as
piring gentleman demanded it.
! But things have changed somewhat. and the mayor
is now immune He needs no more abuse, thanks to
amagamation Of the designers who have taken sides
in the struggle If any other scapegoat can be found
he shall be put upon the rack. The mayor declined
to close gambling because the city needed the money
He is not personally favorable to open town methods
but there was no other course open to him. 1t was
up to the city to get the money, and the mayor was
forced to accept the only situation offering itself.
i Now, however new man has come to the front tO
receive the abuse that erstwhe went to the dsting
ushed mayor. District Attorney Manning is the
gentleman upon whom the Oregonian has turned its
heavy guns, and he IS hereafter to be the fall guy
in the centennial drama. The district attorney has
been appealed to by the woman whose husband lost
her money playing "21'' at Erickson's He has
stated his intention Of recovering it for her For
this act he is derded in the columns Of the wabby
0regonian which holds up the circumstance as proof
conclusive that the mayor whom it formerly vlifed
is not to be blamed for the gamblers carnival. "Why
has not the district attorney done his duty and closed
the games7" it cries out "Why should he take
cognzance Of this particular case after having ig
nored others for months?" it walls; and attributes
it all to "hghly respectable and contemplate hum
bug" Even the Journal, possessed Of fiery dem
ocratic spirit" ridicules the matter and suggests to
the district attorney that he is afforded rare oppor-
tunity of playing to the galleres-such as galleries
go in Portland.
Portland is practically all Of Multnomah county
and it is only fair that the state should permit the
city to decree irf problems directly affecting the nun