Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-04-25
MADE
SOME
MISTAKES
Balance of Power Plan De-
feated Some Good
Men

The Balance of Power plan of max
ing ticket by the organized church
vote has beon very successful in Mar
ion county. The purpose of this plan
is to consolidate the Christian voting
population in favor of set of candi
dates who are acceptable to the church.
es. The ticket sent out after recon.
mendation by committee and ratif.
cation by a convention of representa-.
tives of the various orthodox churches
was accompanied by the following let
ter, and resulted in bringing out a
large vote from the people who believe
there should be higher standard of
morals and cleanliness in public office,
This was accomplished by agreeing on
a ticket and sending one to each mem
Der of each of the organizations repre-
sented, accompanied with the follow
ing letter:
Salem, Oregon, April Z, 1906
Dear Sir: The enclosed is ticket
selected by the Anti-SGloon league of
Salem for this county. We think the
matter of state senators and represent
atives is vitally important. If you
can conscientiously do so we wish you
would make point of recommending
the candidates on this ticket, as we
think they are all good men and the
union of Christian voters would do
much toward securing their nomina-
tion. Yours for the cause, ---,
Secretary.
Of course, no such plan will work
perfectly, and some few men who were
deserving of better fate got defeated
by the Balance of. Power plan. Among
the clean men who were defeated were
A. n. Moores for representative and
Fred McIntire for justice of the peace
Mr.. Moores is a graduate of Willamette
university and one of the alumni, and
had recently contributed $500 to the
university funds, but he was not put
on the ticket, while he was a total alb.
stainer, and men were endorsed who
were not. He feels that keenly, but
the Balance of Power program of the
Anti-Saloon league had to select men
who could win, and who were support.
ing its other candidates. Fred McIn.
tire is a well-known church worker
and Sunday school official of the Cen.
trail Congregational church, and was en-.
titled to endorsement. But Daniel
Webster was an ardent supporter of a
church official who wanted higher
office and so he was given the prefer.
ence, although Grand Army men are
not, as rule, over fastidious about
their drinks.
a great injustice was done Fred Me
Intire, because he is a loyal Christian
gentleman who helps support his moth
er and has not blemish on his char.
acter. and the Balance of Power league
was playing pure politics when it dis
carded him for Daniel Webster, a prac.
tical politician and man Of great ex.
perience in the political game. But
as was said, not even the Balance Of
Power plan can prevent mistakes, and
while its general purpose is TO promote
political purity, and select higher types
of citizenship for all offices, it cannot
avoid defeating some of the better
young men who would be a great credit
to any community. No cleaner or bet
ter young man could have been placed
on the ticket than Fred MeIntire, and
the time win come when he will yet be
recognized, and he will have the en-.
dorsement Of the Balance Of Power
league.