East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-06-17

The following circular now being I
distributed in Umatilla county, gives |
the principles of the balance of pow !
er leagues which are being organized |
for the purpose of encouraging more
independence in politics in city. coun-
ty and state elections:
Rules and Principles.
l. The object of this Voters
League is TO insure clean politics and
good government by securing the
nomination and election of the best
available men to office, and through
them to secure right measures and
the enforcement of law.
>. This Voters League shall be
strictly non-partisan, and not COM
NIT itself to any political party as
such. nor seek to overthrow any party
organization; but to concentrate votes
from all parties upon the best avail
able candidates for those offices
which involve the suppression of the
saloon, gambling and the social evil.
Each member shall be free as an in
dividual to work outside of this league
for the interests of any party.
g. The headquarters committee of
the Anti-Saloon League shall appoint
a state chairman to serve one year,
or until his successor shall have been
appointed. The state chairman shall
call a mass convention i'm each coun-
ty. to which each church and affil-
lated body in the county shall be
asked to send three special represen-
! In,
ton shall appoint county chairman,
| and an executive committee of from
! five to 10, of whom the county chair
man shall be ex-officio chairman, and
| of whom not more than one-half, if
practicable, shall be members of the
same political party. The executive
committee shall be empowered to ap-
point a chairman for each precinct,
or combination of precincts, and to
| employ a county organizer. The con-
vention may appoint a municipal
committee of from five to Is for each
incorporated town or city, or delegate
this authority to the executive com
mittee who shall act upon the NOM
nations of the municipal precinct
chairman. The executive and muni-
men shall constitute the county COM
mittee. The county committee shall
labor for the candidacy of the best
available men at the primaries, shall
pass upon the qualifications of those
who may ask for suffrage, and shall
recommend only such men as are
honorable and will promise to enforce
existing laws and promote mora
measures. The basis of their decis
ion shall in no sense be that of party
but entirely personal, governed by
these essentials: Gn qualification, (2)
character, (3) record.
4. AS soon as all the parties shall
have made their nominations, the
county chairman shall call a meeting
of the county committee, or the mu
nicipal chairman of the municipa
3 committee, to decide what recon
mendations to make to members o
this league.
Ca) No nominee for a state o.
county office shall be recommended
unless he receive at least two-third
of the votes of the county committee
In municipal elections the recommen
v dations shall be made by at least
3 two-thirds vote of the municipal com
mittee and chairman of the municipa
. precincts.
OBJ When opposing candidates ar
\ equally acceptable no recommenda
tions shall be made.
(c) When there are three or NOR
candidates in the field and only par
of them acceptable, preference shal
' be given to the one on the stronges
party ticket among those that ar
!, acceptable.
i (d) When candidates are PARTIAL
o acceptable, the one most cOmmitte
to desirable measures and of who's
election there is the strongest proba
, bility, shall be recommended, rathe
than an unobjectionable candidat
a who has no reasonable probability O
being elected.
(e) When no acceptable candidat
!, has been nominated by the dominan
4 parties, the committee shall recon
e mend the most acceptable candidat
$ without regard to probability of elec
ton.