Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-05-10

CAMPAIGN
is OPENED
or Geer Makes Some Remarks
Criticizes Chamberlain s Methods and
Makes Some Remarks on
General Issaes

Salem Wednesday night. The largest
crowd seen at a political meeting in
this city in many years attended, and
the enthusiasm Of the Republicans of
the city and county was boundless.
Early in the evening the Salem Military
Band appeared on the street and rem
dered a good program and before the
meeting the Republican clubs marched
to the hotel, where the candidates were
assembled, and a parade through the
streets with 500 men in line escorted
the eanddtes to the armory, where the
rally was held. Thousands of people
lined the streets and cheered the can.
didates. Arrived at the armory, the
great hall was quickly crowded to the
very doors with a cheering multitude
Mayor Frank W. Waters, as state
central committeeman, called the meet
ing to order, and, after briefly welcom-
ing the crowd and the visitors, he in
troduced the chairman Of the evening
Ex-Governor T. T. Geer. Mr.. Geer de-
livered q short but interesting speech
on the campaign, and, urging party
harmony and support of the entire tick
ct, predicted the election of every man
nominated by the people of the state.
Mr.. Geer announced that he was
pleased to preside at the meeting and
TO assist to the best of his ability in
opening this campaign in Salem. His
dress is summarized as follows:
"On a straight party vote, and that
is what we should have on the 4th of
June, Oregon is Republican state by
fully $4,000 majority. And there is no
reason why we should not have il.
Moreover. we are entering upon a po-
litical campaign, the contest being be-
tween the Republican and Democratic
parties, although from the efforts being
put forth by Governor Chamberlain
and his newspaper supporters one would
think il is to be a friendly contest be-
tween unallied citizens to see which can
take the first prize in mere debate
upon the questions usually discussed
by the Willamette Valley Development
League, or some kindred organization
"It is as amusing as it is amazing to
see the apparent ,esrnestness with which
il is contended there is no politics in
the pending campaign. The pace has
been set by his exeelleney, Governor
Chamberlain, and have wondered how
he could expect to hold the Democratic
vote by means of a carefully prepared
speech in which neither the word
"Demoerat" nor Democratic" occurs
single time. There appears TO be a
misapprehension abroad somewhere.
There has been q general belief that the
governor is, or has been, Democrat
born and reared in Mississippi, even,
and that he has always been a Demo
cratic candidate, but no stranger could
read his opening campaign speech and
gain the slightest idea whether he is a
Democrat, Socialist. Populist-or Meth.
od6st.
"of course, when you want to fool
a part of the people all Of the time
or all Of them part Of the time. this is
god tactics, IL you can make il work
but IN this instance it is going to prove
a miserable failure. 1t is generally be-
lieved that this is 20 be political cam
paign in which our principal opponents
are understood TO be Democrats, nomi
mated as Democrats and by Democrats
and that the Eastern Democrats are
looking with great expectation to the
result Of the Oregon election as so.
lar plexus' to the so-ealled infamies of
the Republican party and yet the Dem
oeratic candidate for governor makes
not a single reference in his opening
campaign speech to the party TO which
it is generally believed he belongs. nor
TO It's policies nor 30 any other party
or its principles. This would be q pref.
ty smooth disguise il its transparency
did not 80 plainly reveal the hidden
form beneath.
"It reminds me Of the little boy who
was sent by his mother to sall doc
tor who had recently settled in the
town. and who was exceedingly thin In
hesh. emaeiated and eadavero0s TIE
boy went 70 the doctors once, and, And
ing nobody in, allowed the natural GU
riosity Of yootA to move him and went
70 investigating what he could d6ssov.
sr. He ogsnsd = dooz 70 . elosst In tie
corner, and. 20 his horror, s@~ = fun,
sizsd skeleton standing there In its well
known Aideousasss Scared half 70