Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-11-10
the Resignation Of Senator Mitchell.


The Resignation Of Senator Mitchell
The Portland board Of trade has
joined in the request Of the Portland
Oregopian to have Senator Mitchell
resign, as we'll as the two Oregon con
gressmen. The latter organization
takes the position that tho Oregon del
ogation no longer represents the people
Of Oregon, and that these officials are
standing In the way Of the people. ="
These promises are not we'll taken,
as sonator Mitchell and the two con-
gressmcn were the deliberate choice Of
tho people. by overwhelming numbers.
That verdict Of the people has not been
recalled. In the case Of Congressman
Hermann. he was twice reelected IN
Tho face Of an The charges now hang.
ing over him. But we wish to point
out some circumstances In these cases
that have not been sufficiently om-
phasized The Journal does not adj
init that the Oregon senators and con
gressmcn have been guilty Of any Of
fences that have not been common
practices Of senators and congressman
In al the western states and IN many
Of tho eastern statcs These practices
may have become intolcrable abuses
that should be abolished. and doubtless
they are But that Mitchell and Her
mann and Williamson have been guilty
Of any offonse that has not been com.
miited BY their colleagues IN tho aon.
ate and congress, and by tho people
generally We cannot believe. Can
anyone deny that other senators from
Oregon have taken fees from corpora.
iions while IN officei Were not other
Law firms that happened 20 have an
United States senator In the firm been
retained by corporations like tho
Southern Pacific company, and BY The
Northern Pacific and By the o. n. a
NJ Go. Now. admitting that this ia
Oh wrong and we believe 10 IL. aud
would not Tor ourselves sanction any
service by a senator or congressman
against tho interest OF tho common
peoplei and admitting that II would
Do proper for Senator Mitchell 90 70
sign, and that u would be- desirable
90 have him DO no, what are tho oquit.
les aud couriesios % be- observed In
tho maiteFi There has not been any
regard paid 20 nat matter. senator
Mitchell h one of tho oldest senators
IN tho united States. ilo has served
che state with distinction and ability
and has had recognition in places high
mp on tho committees, lle had lived
down, aud his friends had fought .
down, the bitteFest political opposi
tion. Even tho newspaper that has
pursued BIN relenilessly for two gon.
erations, had made up with him and /
buried the hatchet after the most pro-
logged and bitter struggle Of an In
tensely personal nature on the home
run Of a long political career, Senator
Mitchell Is trippod up aud sustains a
bad fall at a time when no one was
looking Tor IT, New standards Of pol.
itieal morality are erected. New pol
ieies OF reetifying abuses In the public
service are introduced aud prosecuted
rolentlessly. In his ola age be is puF,
sued by detectives and tho bitteFesi
animosriy on the part Of the inteFior
department aud the department Of jus
tiee Is displayed, 90 secure his eonvie-
tion, while he Is al a tremendous dis
Then those who have
Joined Ia with this process OF reducing
a statesman al the climax Of his ca
Feer 20 felon come out and demand
that he resign al their behest, That
should be the last thing 20 ask OF a
proud aud sensitive man like Senator
Mitchell in the hour Of bis humiliation.
The result II desired could not have
been made more certainly impossible.
II Il had been sincerely desired 70
have secured the consent OF Senator
Mitchell 20 bringing about the appoint