The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-03-27
TALL TIMOTHY TALK
THE EX-GOVERNOR "R0AsTs" A
PARTY WING.
His Statement as to His Attitude in
the Republican Campaign
of 1909.


interview in the Moro, Sherman
county, Observer, of March 20, 1906,
by T. 7. Geer, ex-governor of Oregon,
and candidate for nomination for the
came position at the republican pri-
niaries, April Goth:
Certainly, am willing, and al
ways have been, to make full state
ment as to my attitude in the cam
paign of 1902. In fact, ] have made
1t many times before, but in travelling
over the state | find that here and
there a man, usually one who was
already opposed to me before that
campaign began, asserting the absurd
statement that / am in some way re-
sponsible for the defeat Of the republi-
can candidate for governor. Let us
see.
In the middle OF my term there
was passed by the legislature what
was known as the Portland Charter
Bill, the result of an organized
bolt in Multnomah county against
the regular republican ticket there,
the only distinctive feature of which
was provision to turn over to the
democrats the principal departments
Of the city government in return for
the support the democratic members
of the delegation might give to re-
publican United States senator.
"When this bill was presented to
me for approval l vetoed it, for the
reason that scarcely business man in
Portland wanted it, practically all of
them protesting against it; the re-
publicans had already secured their
part of the agreement, and, not being
a party to the deal, | could very
properly cut off its democratic end
and save the city OF Portland from
the confusion of an unnecessary new
charter. Since there was from every
standpoint good business reasons for
this action of mine, considered it
my political as we'll as official duty,
as republican governor, to inter
fere with its consummation.
"But imagine my surprise to find
that small band Of republicans in
Multnomah county Immediately jump
ed upon me with all the fierceness Of
savages, not only attacking my judg-
ment, but adding that I had been
paid large sum of money for my ac-
tion.
"Of course, I have never censured
any one for opposing my Judgment up
on any official action. That is always
the privilege of any man, aud is not to
be specially objected to by any official,
but when these men attacked my
official integrity, drew the line, and
it stays drawn to this day--and always
will.
From that moment small ring of
republicans who were temporarily in
control, ceaselessly circulated this in
famous lie, and added various other
stories to the effect that / was max
ing money out of the executive Office
In every way that / could, and in
dustriously circulated them in every
part of the state. They were used in
oessantly among the delegates as they
came to the state convention as a
means of convincing them that I
could not be elected il nominated.
TO know precisely how man
feels under such circumstances, you
must be placed in that position. No
man ever lived in this or any other
state who has been more careful to
preserve his official integrity than I
have been, and not one dollar did !
ever receive from any source what
ever, even remotely, for any official
act of mine while governor of this
state, except that which was paid ac-
oording to law, and any man who says
did has it directly from me that he
is an infamous, cowardly. lying
scoundrel. No other words will de-
scribe him.
lin all the past thousand years all
tha lies told by the entire human
race, ii combined, would not surpass
in magnitude or malice the one of
which | have referred; and hereby
challenge, as have before publicly
done, any man in the State of Oregon
to the proof. And now is the time.
$50 the dirty work was done aud
was told to step aside for more
eligible man; but when after two
weeks had decided to become re-
publican candidate for United States
senator under the law of the state,
this same gang revived these lies and
began their recireulation. asserting
that they were glad was going be-
fore the people, since they would see
that my popular vote was so small
that i would be ashamed of it.
1T was at this time, to- wit, on the
s7th of April. believe. that MIR.
Furnish came to my Office in Salem
aud requested me to take the stamp
for him, saying that there was re-
volt against him in every county IN
Oregon, aud he was sure that could
do him more good by few speeches
than any other man. TO this ! re-
piled that since had been set aside
as unworthy of recognition, though
oil my colleagues had been renomin-
ated by aoclamation, | was under no
obligation to do more than any other
voter; that / would vote for him
under any circumstances, but that /
was going to be on the same ticket
with him, and for higher office, and
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