The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-05-26
CHARLES AUGUSTUS.
Politician in "Maverick. ~

When Hon. Charles Augustus
Johns, of Baker City, gave way in the
Oregon republican state convention
three years ago, to Billy Furnish, of
Pendleton, and allowed the dominant
party's nomination for governor to go
to the wheat town banker, republican
leaders of the state said: 1--WE will
see more of Johns four years hence. "
And when the votes in the campaign
of 1908 were counted and Furnish
was pulled from under the landslide
which resulted in the seating Of Hon.
George Chamberlain in the guberna-
torial chair, those same republican
leaders said: "Why the devil didn't
we nominate Johnsl''
It's good safe bet that had the
Honorable, Charles Augustus been chos-
en- to make the race, instead Of the
Pendleton banker, there would be q
republican in the governors chair to-
day. And Charles Johns wouldn't be
mayor of Baker City.
The Maverick has no particular rea-
son to regret that these things didn't
come to pass, because George Cham
berlain has been one of the best If not
the very best governor of Oregon since
the beginning of her statehood.
Chamberlain's campaign was made
on aIpure democratic platform, with
personal plank or two that won votes.
During the heat of the campaign it
pleased some republicans orators to
ring the changes on the oft repeated
assertion that Chamberlain was a
''good fellow - His election tends to
show that the average Oregonian adj
mires good fellow, and one pleasing
result has been the discovery that a
good fellow can be a good governor.
AS a general proposition, nominees
for governor are chosen from the
upper stratum of political society.
Consequently, they are seldom demo-
crats--in the broad sense of the term.
They fail to get down and mix with
the people. They pin their faith to
a machine. They ''wait where they
are'' in dignifled silence for the peo-
pie to come to them and for the or
ganization to get out the vote. In the
first place, he had no machine to de-
pend on. In the second place, he lived
in state normally republican by q
large majority. 1t was up to him to
get out and hustle. He did. He made
"good fellow" Of himself. He is a
brilliant orator, cultured and polish
ed southern gentleman, student Of
national as well as local political
affairs.
Contrasted, during that memoir
able campaign of 1908, with his OPP
ponent, Chamberlain was veritable
Demosthanes of eloquence and Solo
mon of wisdom Furnish. also took
the stump--forced thereto by his fool
friends. He never made speech in
his life. The republican state central
committee prepared typewriter ad-
dress for him, which he read from the
platform in many towns in Oregon.
It was never varied. 1t was pitiful.
Chamberlain--the good fellow
WcnJ 4HtO OltICo Oh bHc tOp VI q tAutA
wave. He is still good fellow.
Above all he is good governor.
None of which should be construed
as meaning that Charles Augustus
Johns is not himself good fellow, !"
nor that he would not be rattling
good governor. He is and he would.
Furthermore and likewise, it is not
impossible that next year Hon. Chari-
es Augustus will be given an oppor-
tunity to prove it. Events are trend
ing his way. The signs of the times
are that he win bob up serenely at the
next republican state convention with
all of Eastern Oregon in his vest pock-
ct, and with voting strength and pow
er from the famed Willamette, his old
home. If he does, or rather. when he
does, there viii be no Furnishs to butt
in, and there will be JOY in Baker.
There is no apparent precondition
nor predication for these remraks as
applied to Mr.. Johns. He is not
candidate for governor. Ask him.
and he will tell you so. Neither does
he occasionally dream of seat in the
United States senate. Ask him, and
he will tell you that be does not But