Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1906-05-18
HOW ABOUT CHAMBERLAIN?
Democratic Campaign Managers OBJ
jectiOns to DR.. WithycOmbe
Not Well Founded.

Driven 10 desperation Dy Cn0 mani
fest failure of their attack upon DR.
James Withycombe because of the
place Of his birth, the Democratic
campaign managers are endeavoring
to abandon that issue and raise
another. They have found that the
people Of Oregon will not be misled or
preiudiced by vehement protestations
against the Republicans giving one
place on their ticket to a man who
came to Oregon from a foreign country
and spent 35 years of his life aiding
in its development. Discouraged in
their efforts to force an issue in this
narrow fashion, they have sprung a
new issue, narrower still, If possible,
and on a lower plane. With glaring
headlines they proclaim that DR..
Withycombe has held two offices in
Oregon, one paying salary of $1,000
to $500 year, and the other salary
of $4,000. Because Withycombe came
to Oregon in 1871, and was appointed
to $1OOO-a-year Office in 1889, and
filled that and one other Office since,
they protest that he is unworthy to be
elected Governor. Now, let us remem-
Der that this is a Democratic issue,
which Chamberlain's friends deem
important, and let US see to what it
leads.
The Democratic nominee for Cover
nor came to Oregon in 1876, and in
less than four years was candidate
for the Legislature in Linn county.
The people raised no objection to his
time Of residence or the place Of his
birth, but elected him. Two years
after his term in the Legislature
ended he became a candidate for
District Attorney in the Third Judicial
District, and was elected. His COM
pensation, under the then existing fee
system, amounted to about $4,000
year. He served nearly four years as
Attorney General at salary of $4,000
year, two and a half years as District
! Attorney in Multnomah County at a
salary of $4,000 year, and three and
half years as Governor, receiving a
salary and perquisites amounting to
over $4250 a year. 1t will thus be
seen that the Democratic candidate
for Governor has received from the
public in Oregon in the neighborhood
Of $4,000 for his services, while the
Republican nominee has received
$4,000, Of which sum $16,0On was
from the Federal Government. In
proportion to the length of time they
have been in the state there is little
difference in the length of time they
have been in public service. Now,
what have the Democratic campaign
managers gained by raising an OBJ
lection to DR.. Withycombe upon the
ground that he has been upon the
pay rolls of the state and Govern
ment? If the Republican nominee is
Objectionable upon this ground, he is
less SO than the Democratic nominee.
But it is to be regretted that the
leaders Of Oregon Democracy choose
to pursue such childish methods in q
contest for the Governorship of the
state. The Republicans have desired
to conduct their campaign upon
higher level, assuming, for the sake
Of argument, that each of the nomi-
nees is a man Of good character and
fitness for the Office, but insisting chat
one stands for Republican principles
and policies while the other Is for
Democratic principles and policies,
and that the people should make their
choice accordingly. AS experience
has shown in the last three years, the
election Of a Democratic Governor
means the appointment of Democrats
to fill vacancies and the aid Of Demo
Gratis to secure election. The election
of Democrats to Office constitutes
Democratic victory. If this is not
party contest, and if party lines should
be ignored, as Democrats insist they
should be, why did Chamberlain and
Gearin and others seek nomination
in Democratic primaries when they
could, with less trouble and expense,
go upon the ballot as non-partisan
candidates? This is a contest between
parties and the Democrats know it is,
but they seek to conceal the issue by
resort to petty methods, beneath the
dignity of full-grown men.-Ore-
gonian.