The new age. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1896-1905, 1906-03-31
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 09000009
EDITORIAL
GENERAL INTEREST IN UNITED
STATES SENATORSHIP
CAMPAIGN.
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become aware Of their privilege, their
power and their duty, both to them
selves and to the commonwealth, in
the matter of selecting a candidate
for the United States senate-in fact,
strictly in accordance with the letter
of the new law in Oregon, in the mat
ter of selecting a United States sena-
tor. The general interest manifested
in the campaign for the nomination
of a United States senator suggests
that the great mass of voters have al
ready concluded to cast their ballots
in this controversy between individ-
uals with the greatest care. Their
candidate will be the man who cham
pions the interests most common to
them-interests which have, hereto
fore, been shamefully neglected. For
many years congress after congress
has met, debated and adjourned
without the compliment of touching
many of the interests most vital to
the common people. In this slight, be
it purposeful or otherwise, they find
the germ of a grievance-a grievance
which they will outline through the
little slot in the ballot-box at the
primary election on April 20. Not
much time will be lost between the
present and that date in the important
work of rallying their forces in self
defense They have already begun
this work with a vigor that suggests
success at the polls.
The people find in the platform pre-.
pared and presented by Judge E. B.
Watson, the popular candidate for the
nomination for United States senator,
an expression of the policy on which
they desire to have their claims for
recognition presented to the United
States government through that great
body. 1t is, altogether, an exponent
of the principles Of their protests and
their rights. It presents the scheme
raaJfIxy
most easily and most logically acquire
relief from the evil of conditions from
which they have long suffered with
patience and in silence. 1t is, in short,
a plain, business-like and patriotic
expression of their position in mat
tiers most important to them and,
therefore, of great Importance to the
state in which they represent the in
telligence and the Drawn of progress.
Letters have been received at the
Office of The New Age, since it's issue
of the oath instant, which express the
general feeling, no doubt, Of the peo-
pie Of the state concerning the ques-
tons which ought to have predomi-
nant consideration in the present SEN
atorial campaign. They are the ques
platform. No other candidate has
heretofore so effectively touched the
popular chord of public sentiment
along the line of the contest for the
senatorial nomination. One writer,
who is a resident Of Central Oregon,
says:
Hon. E. B. Watson has certainly
reached the hearts of the people in
this part of the state in that portion
of his platform which refers to the
land grant subsidies and the manner
in which he would compel those who
hold the Oregon Railroad and Wagon
IOdu ldllu 81 anus W lSOpSSI IAC plONl-
sions under which they hold them. We
have for long time been outraged
by the indifference of our national
legislators respecting that important
matter. Claimants under the land
laws of the government as he de-
clares through your paper, are enti-
tied to protection from the evil of
such conditions as these corporations
have produced without the least
thought of their responsibility as hold
ers of these grants in the very heart
: OF the rich domain of the state. Their
policy has certainly been that of the
dog in the manger. The honest set