Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-05-09
REPUBLICANS
COT STARTED
TN BENTON
Withycombe for Governor and Mulkey
for Senator Make Good Speeches

Wltn Speclal tram. Inere were also
Republicans from Marion county and
Portland present.
Anvils were booming and the opera
house was decorated with hundreds Of
flags and arches trimmed with the ma
tional colors. Every seat was taken on
the main floors and gallery. There
were many ladies and college girls in
the audience. It was an inspiring
gathering, and nothing like it has ever
been witnessed in Oregon politics for
many years. The stage was occupied
by. about 40 of the Republican leaders
of Benton and Linn counties.
StateChairman Westgate opened the
meeting with a few well-chosen re-
marks, reviewing the past and stating
fairly the purpose of this campaign.
There was just claim for pride in the
progress of the state, industrially and
politically, and it was up to the Re.
publicans to give the ticket this year
a record-breaking majority. He won
several rounds of applause, and gave
Withycombe a fine send-off.
The enthusiasm was interspersed
with college yells from the throats Of
hundreds of o. A. C. boys. DR.. Witty.
combe recognized the support the col.
lege boys had given him all over the
state. He referred pleasantly to his
competitors for the high honor. There
should be clean and moral men in high
Office, to whom every citizen could
point with pride. He said he would
engage in a straightforward contes.
fer the Office of governor. He favored
obliterating the factionalism of the
part, and applying the principles of
Republicanism for the upbuilding of
the state and nation. He reviewed his
platform pledges made early. in the
campaign. Taxation in the past has
been inequitable, and the farmer had
borne too much. Franchises should be
limited, and intangible property should
be taxed. He opposed government
ownership of railroads and street car
lines. He believed in strong individ-
ualism, but favored the public control
and ownership of some of the most
needed public utilities. Laws should be
enacted to give equal protection to la.
Dor and capital.
He believed the state should protect
the forests and all natural wealth of
the state. He favored river improve.
ments and water transportation, with.
out restriction or taxation at the locks
at Oregon City. 1t was a constant tax
on the producer. The locks on the viii.
lamette and Columbia should be oper.
ated at the lowest possible expense.
He favored working the $50 or 800
convicts on the public roads, instead
of competing with high-class labor.
With good roads, free rural mail and
other improvements, there was future
for the farmers such as woud make farm
life enjoyable. He spoke of Governor
Chamberlain as the gentleman who had
given the state good administration,
but he was human, and liable to err.
He said he denied that Governor
Chamberlain was the father OF the in.
iative and referendum and the direct
primary. The governor had made that
claim in his Mount Angel speech. but
the Populist party had incessantly de
manded those reforms. and finally the
Republicans adopted them, and the Re
publican party enacted them before
governor Chamberlain came into Office
He denied that there was any justice
in log-rolling appropriations, and the
failure Of the governor to veto that
million-dollar bill that contained bad
features was a mistake Of judgment on
his part. II Chamberlain had exercised
his veto power the bill would never
have gone to the people. II it was
wrong he should have vetoed the bill
and he would have saved the state
fifty TO a hundred thousand dollars. He
would veto any appropriation bill that
was sent to him containing obnoxious
or improper appropriations, and give
the legislature chance to correct such
legislation before saddling upon the
state and its employees charges for in,
terest and discounts running up into
the hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
Hs closed with a magnificent tribute
TO Oregon, and the young and growing
manhood "Let Us have a grander and
greater Oregon. Let Us all labor for
the development Of this state. and roll
up . majority for the whole ticket that
viii show our appreciation Of the Ia