Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-03-08
Plea of a Prominent
Party Editor
Thinks There Is no Real Ne
publican Authority in
oregon This Year

important position Of L. S. senator
are now announced. They are Jonathan
Bourne Jr, Of Portland and II. NJ.
Cake, also Of Portland. Before this is
put in print there will probably be two
more, likewise Of Portland. Il looks.
therefore, as though that city is likely
TO capture the senatorial plum. Prob.
ably no one will object. There is no
sufficient reason why Portland should
not supply senatorial representatives
provided there Is no undue reaching foi
an over share of Offices
OF more concern to the general public
Is the fac, that probably four aud per.
haps Eve prominent men are satisfied to
ask from the people, direct, an election
that constitutionally belongs 10 the
representatives Of tho people In the
stat Legislature. The fact is very good
violence Of the potency that the pri.
mary elections law has already ac.
quired. and this is further dcmonatrat
ed by the fact that most legislative
candidates 10 far announced have for
mally accepted statement No. Of the
primary law, which pledges tbom 20
support, n elected 20 the legislature,
that senatorial candidate who receives
tho highest number Of tho peoples
votes. The new law is clearly opcrat.
Ing 10 the direction Of governments OF
! thc people by tho people; though u
may not Tor a time be- uoiiccably 81.
feciiyo iu securing government FOR the
people. Established usagcs are not
readily overcome and the habit Of
! government Tor the select few without
regard 20 tho people IL likely 90 hold
for awhile yet. Nevertheless, the pri.
mary election laws has designs upon
that old custom, aud after tho people
get lhtlo familiar with its workings
tho select few will begin 20 dnd it
erowding them more aud more, and in
tho crowding process tho primary law
viii have solid backing II Il happens
20 need L., Ia tho initiative aud refer
endum law, should occasional repre-
senlailyes prove obaTepeFous
Discussing the popular election OF
senators, under the primary Law, tho
Portland OFegonian takes alarm lest the
effect may be- tho break up OF party
government which that Journal justly
considers would be- a calamity, The
danger Is Ia the fact that, under this
new law, a Republican majority Ia tho
legislature may dnd itself obliged 10
elect "a Democrat senator aud vice
versa The possibility OF a happening
Of that Kind no doubt exists under the
apparently accepted Interpretation that
has been given 90 the sections of the
primary law bearing upon senatorial
elections But, IL O majority Of the
people, being Republican, say, delib.
efGely express a preference for a
Democratic candidate for senator
there does not appear 70 be ANY course
open 20 the legislative representatives
Of that paFty but % Fespea their iu-
struetious from headquarters and it
does not appear that in doing 80 they
would not be conforming 20 the es
seuce Of prOfessed American principles
OF government. IL would be contrary
20 hitherto party custom, Of course
but il would not be contrary 70 ayOwci
party principles.
AT any rate, the primary Law is with
us, apparently 70 Eay, and il must be
respected. The conforming with il will
not break parties, but uoneOufOrmity
might. Parties, OF course, will have to
change their methods, and adapt them
selves 70 the new conditions The Re
publieans have not attempted 10 do sol
yet, and be cause they have not are In
condition Of seeming impotence Tue
los Of the privilege Of dividing the
political spOils has broken the oTgani
zatiOn but il has not broken the party.
What is now needed Is reorganization
Of the Republican party in conformity
with the new conditions but for the
old and fundamental purpose Of united
patriotic effort for good government
50 recognized, the call viii be re-
mote for a Republican legislative ma
jority 70 elect, or aid in the election
Of, a Democratic senator.
On the present election occasion can
didates are asking the support Of the
people as party men, merely on the
party name, and for the rest are con
dueting their several campaigns dmP-
IN a. individuals. There is no RePub-
liean platform 70 influence them, andI