Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-04-12
From the Oregonian.
Oregonidn Coast Specially

\OfoySHtuU Nodot CPCCIdl.)
Hood River, Or, March "A
committee of representative business
men and local political leaders last
night rendered a reception to Hon.
E. L. Smith, candidate for the nom
ination for the United States Sem
ate. The reception was held in the
parlors of Mount Hood Hotel. The
affair was in the nature of a love
feast, and those present took occa-
sion to congratulate Mr.. Smith upon
his candidacy and to indorse him.
Mr.. Smith had been i'll for sew
eral days, and although somewhat
weak, his response to the address OF
welcome and Endorsement was de-
livered in happy vein. The open
ing address was delivered by M. P.
Isenberg, who was followed by Hon.
A. A. Jayne. Both speakers con-
graduated the guest of honor and
spoke of his eminent fitness for the
high office of United States Senator.
Mr.. Smith was visibly affected by
remarks of Messrs. Isenberg and
Jayne, and said:
at is difficult for me to thank
you in fitting terms for this gracious
reception. l value your loyalty and
esteem more particularly because
you are my neighbors and friends,
and because your welcome, | am
sure, is not in the least prompted or
qualified by political or other con-
siderations than your good will.
"But l am not permitted to for
get that the occasion of your kind
reception is my candidacy for the
United States Senate That makes
it most appropriate for me to say
first to you, my most intimate as
sociates, and through you to my
wider constituency, what principles
would be my guide in the great Of
flee to which, with some reluctance,
| have consented to stand.
81 fully appreciate the tremen-
dous scope of the office. 1t has re-
lation, not only to the interests of
Oregon, but to the interests of our
great Nation, for the Senate of the
United States is not tribunal
merely for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of
the states there are there repre-
sented, but is a body having in
charge, in the highest degree, the
weightv matters of our duties and
responsibilities of one of the great
est nations of the civilized world. |
To you, my neighbors in our beau
tiful little valley, | may express my
hesitation in assuming so stupen-
dous a task.
WILL LEAVE NO TASK UNDONE.
"But | hope the fact that l ap-
preciate the magnitude of the trust !
will be some assurance to you and to
the people Of this state that | will
omit nothing that my capabilities
or resources can command to per-
form the task to your credit and to
mine.
"Of course, a Senator from Ore
gon must care for the interests of
Oregon. think l know what
those interests are. At least where
| may lack knowledge, l know
where and how to inform myself.
| am not, | never shall be the cam
didate of special interests. The
state, the whole state, and all
that tends to make it great, indus
trially, socially and commercially.
morally and materially, that will be
my great constituent.
Labor and capital, the country
and the city, agriculture and COM
merce, everything that constitutes
the interests of the people, and all the
people, of the high and the low, the
rich and the poor, these are, in my
Judgment, the objects of the trust
reposed in a Senator of the great
state of Oregon. | would not be
willing to undertake the Office with
a lower idea of its responsibilities.
You ought not to accept a baser
standard for your standard.
Il could. perhaps, if | had time.
tell You of some things beneficial
to Oregon that | am in favor of.
But | think | can, without immod-
estv. refer You to my record regard
ing many things that relate to the ,
interests of our people. lis
have not. as YOU know. waited for
times to promulgate my i,
ideas of those interests. They are
recorded in my actions for MANY {
wears. and if YOU and the people of $
this state accredit me to the Senate ,
YOU will but afford me wider field (
and endow me with more potent |
influence to do what, in my private ,