Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1905-12-29
PLATFORM OF MR.. TOOzE
Congressional Candidate Makes a
Clear Statement of His POSI-
tIOn and Aims.

Hon. Walter L. Tooze, of Woodburn,
candidate for congressman in the
First district, has announced his plat
form, on which he will make the race
for the nomination, in the following
clear-cut statement.
''It is unnecessary for lifelong
republican who has always supported
the principles and nominees Of the
republican party to do more than re-
affirm his belief in sound finance, the
doctrine Of protection and other cardi-
nal principles of republicanism. How
ever, there are some questions to
which candidate for congress should
give special attention.
II recognize the vital Importance
and great necessity for deepening the
channel of the Columbia river and the
improvement of its harbor, so that its
ports shall possess the same COM
mercial advantages as are now en-
ioyed by Puget Sound cities, The
same class Of vessels should be able
to ship cargoes from Portland that
now enter Seattle and Tacoma. /
would firmly stand for the necessary
federal appropriation for the accomp-
lishment of this great undertaking
and for the early completion Of the
Cello canal.
"As congressman from the First
district, would also deem it my duty
to secure appropriations for deep-sea
harbor at Coos bay which shall be
second to none on the Pacific coast
and for the further improvement Of
Yaqltina bay and other west coast
harbors. Every one of them is vitally
important to the people Of the rich
and productive territory tributary to
them. The opening of these harbors
will benefit the producers of the in
terror by affording them competitive
markets for their produce.
''The farmers of the Willamette
valley are paying yearly tribute Of
more than 100000 as lockage charges
at Oregon City. This obstruction to
the free commerce of national high
way should be removed without further
delay. Therefore, the purchase of the
oregon City locks by the government
is a matter of great Importance, and
my best energies would be devoted to
secure this necessary Legislation de-
manded by the people Of the state.
"Oregon has need Of large numbers
of the better class of immigrants, but,
for the direct protection of the laborers
of our country, am unalterably op-
posed to the influx of Chinese and
Japanese coolie laborers into this
country, and would favor the most
stringent laws to secure their total ex-
clusion, and to protect American labor,
both organized and unorganized, from
any degrading competition whatso-
ever. OF every dollar paid to the
Chinese and japanese laborers, more
than IS per cent is exported to Asia
and is lost to the commercial lifeblood
of our citizens,
II favor giving the interstate COM
l&erce commission power to remedy
any existing abuses and iDiustices in
freight rates to shippers growing out
Of discrimination and rebates. All
public officials should be prohibited
by law, both state and national, from
receiving or using passes, franks OF
free transportation.
"The free rural delivery carriers Of
our country do not now receive salaries
commensurate with the arduous and
responsible duties performed by them
I would stand firmly for the enact
ment Of the Fairbanks bill, which il
desired by and has the endorsement
of the National Rural Letter Carriers
Association. 1t is my judgment tina
further relief should be given lura
carriers by granting to them al
allowance OF $3.50 per annum for horse
hire, which will place them on ar
equal basis with mounted lettel
carriers in the large cities of th'
United States.
81 am strongly in favor Of the enact
ment of such laws as would give t.
the railroad employees Of this countr!
adequate protection to their lives Will,
engaged in this hazardous occupation
and to limit their hours of labor whil
engaged in such service.
81 believe in the payment Of libera
pensions to American soldiers ant
sailors, and the enactment Of suel
laws as will grant to the Indian wa
veterans the same pensions and pub
lie land rights now accorded by law L
,, Civil war veterans.
Il stand for the enactment Of law
that shall afford national aid to th
improvement Of our public highways
"The irrigation projects Of this dis
trict and Of Eastern Oregon deman'
and deserve especial consideration
and support. Their prompt and sue
cessful completion means the addition
Of untold wealth to our people, and tn
rapid development Of large area Q
I the state now unproduetive. Ny el
forts would be fearless IN my advocac
A Of the necessity for generous aid froI
the government
8 '.All the provisions Of the direct pr
4 mary law will receive my support.