The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-03-15

The announcement IN Sunday s Ore
lonian that E. l.. Smith had decided
tO bcco ne candidate for U. S, Sena-
or was read with much interest by
iood River citizens. Mr.. Smith had
been announced as a candidate so tre-
Iuently by various papers in the state
that his fellow townsmen had become
somwehat skeptiCal in regard to his
entering the political arena. The
announcement in the columns Of
the above mentioned paper tells
how it wss brought about and gives
his views in regard to his canpidacy.
It says:
Latest of the Republican aspiIants
for the United States Senatorship in
Oregon to announce his candidacy Is
4. l.. Smith, of Hood River, who con
sented early in the week to run for
that office instead of for the Govern
orship, for which he has been doomed
several months.
Mr.. Smiths announcement was
made surprise in political circles,
for it was supposed he would run for
the Governorship, if for any office at
all. The Senntorship has been his
choice all the time, but many of his
friends insisted on his running for
Governor, and for time he yielded
to their wishes to the extent of saying
he would do so IL substantial assurance
should cuMe to Lim from the state
that he was wanted for candidate.
His friends found a strong sentiment
for him for Senator; besides, the time
vas growing late for new man in the
race Tor Governor Consequently Mr..
Smith Is pursuing the wish he ex-
pressed before group of his friends
in the Perkins Hotel, when he said he
preferred to run for Senator than for
Governor.
Before return Ing to Hood River Sat
urdag, Mr.. Smith said:
"a n mber of the representative
men Of the stale, finding that | would
not become candidate for the guber-
material nomination, have united in
requesting NE TO become a candidate
for the nomination for United States
Senator. They profess confidence in
my ability to render the ate valuable
service at Washington.
81 have yielded to their wishes SC
far as to consent to their filing petit
tions placing my name on the nom.
mating ballot ! have said to them
that | believe it to be the spirit OF
the direct primary law that nomina-
tions should come direct from the
people, without undue influence.
also said that prior to the primary
election | would not make canvass
nor personally ,olicit support.
My friends k0ow that | have not
sought to make uysrlf candidate,
and that / was slow to consent to it.
Further con liberation OF my candi
dacy rests with the voters of Oregon,
Mr.. Smith has been a stanCh hepub
lican since he cast his maiden vote il
1860 FIR Abraham Lincoln. He is ont
OF the 40 surviving members of the
California legislature Of 1860 &C. Or
the recommendation of William II.
Sewell he was appointed Secretary o.
Washington territory in 1866 and sub
ssuently took part in the deliberations
of the council of the territory.
In 1876 Mr. Smith established hi
residence at Hood River, where ht
4tin lives. His capacity for business
organization soon made itself mani
fest in Eastern Oregon end this, to
gether with his devotion TO the utter
ssts Of the community of which h'
vas a member, led the Republicans o
Wasco County, in 1883, to nominate
/ him by unanimous vote as representa-
( tive.In the State Legislature, lie wal
elected and became speaker of thu
! house in the session of 1889. During
/ that session h secured, with the assis
tancs Of bis colleague, Il. o. Mccoy
/ the passage by the house Of the bill
upproprIating sG5, GOO for construct
/ ing portage road around the rapid
at Cascade Locks. This bill was re
ported FROM the House committe,
4 originally with tie recommendation
that il do not pass.
Fifteen years ago, when the oIgani
aztion called the "Colubmia Rive
Waterway Association" was founded
composed of delegates appointed b,
Mayors and County Courts, Mr.. SmitI
was selected as president Of the body
and served with eminent success TO