The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-05-22
A TIGHT SQUEEZE
BOURNE AND WITHYC0MBE UP
AGAINST 1T.
Scarce Two Weeks Before Election
and Bourne Keeps in the
Background.

Portland, May 2l.-Special CORES
pondence. Not in many moon has
Oregon seen such u quiet campaign
from the republican standpoint. AL
though it is scarce two weeks before
the voters assemble to record their
verdict in another election. The re-
publican state central committee is
doing nothing. The chairman aud
secretary sit on their launches, write
few letters, arrange few dates
and that's all. Occasionally somc
one drops in, guesses ut the result aud
goes out. Other times the spacious
rooms adjoining jonathan Bourue's
headquarters ut Sixth aud Oak streets
are uuiateresting and uuinvitiug
Chairman Westgate can't do any
thing. Secretary Spencer is dissatis-
fed and the result is that nothing's
doing. The republican campaign
unaeaiue is almost paTalyzed, for the
committee has no funds. beyond a
few meager contributions from the
candidates and an occasional chunk
pungled from the exhaustless excheq-
uer of Jonathan Bourne. the commit
tee is struggling along and complain
ing about the way things are going.
Most of the candidates on the repub-
lican ticket are travelling around the
state on passes given them by the rail
road companies, making something of
campaign in their own little way.
DR.. Withycomb, candidate for gov
ernor, has put in few days in east
ern Oregon. His reception is frost,
notwithstanding the glowing accounts
printed for political effects about al
legged "ovatiops. He is speaking to
small crowds and is putting in most of
the time explaining why he lived in
Oregon II years without taking out his
naturalization papers and becoming
citizen.
Jonathan Bourne is running an up
hill race. His dilemma is no better
than Withycombe's. Both are up
against the tightest squeeze that ever
confronted pair of candidates in
Oregon. To make matters worse,
Bourne can't take the stump aud let
the people see and hear him, for he
could no more make speech than
cat can climb up its tail. Verify,
Jonathan would shine in the senate
He writes pile of letters just as he
did before the primaries and is just
now moving heaven and earth trying
to explain his actions during the legis-
lative session of 1897. Aside from
this Jonathan Bourne Jr., is keeping
at his headquarters, debating the re-
publican campaign, spending tons of
money and keeping out of sight
Jonathan has long since learned that
money talks.
Governor Chamberlain is taking the
state by storm. His rallies in Eastern
Oregon have been large aud enthusias-
tic. The governor makes friends
wherever he goes The farmers. like
him for he has cut the state taxes.
The working man knows he is his
friend and the people are with him.
Governor Chamberlain record is his
platform and in his addresses to the
people he is standing on this alone.
The governor will stand or fall on
his record.
Everybody knows the condition of
the state school land department when
he was iuaugurated. They also know
that $4,000 acres of vacant govern
ment land have been selected to sat
isfy school sections due the state.
They know it has been sold, netting
the school fund not less than $780,
900.
His administration brought to light
forged applications covering thousands
of acres of school land. The guilty
were detected, convicted of their
crimes and the certificates issued on
the illegality acquired and cancelled.
In addition to this, other forged ap.
pllcations have been discovered and
losses to the state prevented. Nc
other governor of Oregon has such q
record.
Governor Chamberlain work in
cleaning out the land department anG
appointing responsible and capable
land agent has resulted in improve
ment of the state public school system
Through increased school money
That is enough to entitle him to re
election.