The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-06-10
THE LESSONS OF THE ELECTION.

There is no other state in the entire union NOR
uncertain politically than our state of Oregon
The normal republican majority here is fully 2000l
now out of total vote of about 1921 and every
county in the late election gave the state republican
candidates majortes. In presidential elections som'
of the counties have given the democratic candidate
majorities but this year every county lines up fol
the republicans.
Despite the republican complexion of the state
the voters are decidedly Independent, at times refus
ing to support the nominees for whom the strongest
fight is made. In Multnomah county Daniel Man
ming elected district attorney over his republican
opponent by $500 and Tom Word is elected sheriff
by 22O0 over Stott, republican These results were
achieved by the democrats, Notwithstanding that
Judge Thomas ODay, prominent resident of Port
land received about 5000 votes less in his home coun-
ty than were cast for Frank A. Moore, republican
candidate for justice of the supreme court The
victory Of Manning was cean-cut; Word was sue
cessful because other asprants split up the repub-
ican vote.
Here in Clatsop county the republican ticket for
state officers receives something like $50 plurality
over the democratic ticket. The socialist vote
amounts to about 225, and practically all Of this
vote would, were there no socialist candidates, go
to the democrats The increase in the socialist vote
maintains the normal republican majority. The city
of Astoria cast 802 votes for Williamson, for con-
gresham, and 452 for Simmons the plurality being
350 The socialist candidate received 141 votes, the
republican majority being 209
DaSnita fhic ranuhlica,, load IN +ho damo
Gratis carry it for all of their county candidates ex
cept one. Burns for representative, received 789
votes and Laws for representative, 678 votes while
Lester received but 526 and Pamberg but 586 Burns
carries the city by POI and Laws by 80. Morton
defeated Linville in the city by 92 votes and Allen
led Larson his republican opponent for commission
er, by 65 Heilborn, for treasurer receiving plu-
ralty in the county Of over 400 leads Bergman in
the city but 131.
The voters here are evidently not bitterly parti-
san. This applies to the democrats as well to the
republicans, those who were present at the various
precincts during the progress Of the count well
know Voters who cast their ballots for the state
democratic candidates and enough such ballots were
counted to bring about the election of Thomas Lin
vile. On the other hand, many republicans who
voted the state republican ticket voted also for Mr..
Morton, Mr. Linvilles opponent.
The independent element controls elections When
George E. Chamberlain ran for governor on the
democratic ticket this element reduced majority
of more than 700 for 7. T. Geer to only 100 for W.
]. Furnish, thereby defeating the republican candi-
date, who was beaten by 276 votes in the entire
state
1t is further evident from the vote in Clatsop
county that the popularity of candidates has much
to do with the outcome Of the election, and that per-
sonal friendship destroys party lines in most cases.
The outcome of the vote in Clatsop upon the d-
rect primary law is another interesting showing The
Astoran fought this law with all the force it could
command. The secretary of the league which faith
cred the bill discussed the matter with this paper
through its columns, and every argument which he
advanced in its favor was shown to be of no adj
vantage Yet the proposal carried by 300 majority.
The only conclusion that could reasonably be reached
is that the bill would have received about $50 more
votes had it not been for The Astorians fight Still
where newspaper makes stand against a measure
1f the kind in a small county like Clatsop and there
S absolutely no defense of the BILL it seems singular
hat the amendment should have been so generously
supported, especially in view Of the fact that the
ieht against it was absolutely without political sig
liicance as the term political is generally under
TODD. It is to be presumed, no doubt, that the
oters expected to get closer to the conduct of pot
sal affairs by supporting this measure c