The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-12-27
NEED OF REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WELL or f<Ef u BLlCAN PARTY
The following editorial which ap-
peared in the Portland Journal gives q.
very good account of political condi-
lions in Oregon and it may be read
with profit by politicians in Walla
Walla county, aid in fact, by politi-
clans all over the state of Washington.
These conditions, perhaps, may not
prevail TO such marked degree
throughout the Evergreen state, but
as for Walla Walla county this edito-
rial comes very near to telling the
story.
There has been lately a great deal
OF complaint of republicans by repub-
licans in Oregon, but so far none of
them have hit upon the real source of
the trouble-aside from some bad of
ficiai records. The Journal. not being 4
republican organ, has hesitated to
state the main reason for the republi-
can party's troubles in this state, and
only does so because republican organs
persistently avoid doing so. 1t is sim
ply this: There are too many republic
cans in proportion to the total number
of Voters, and because of that too
many office seekers. aspirants hunters
for spoils.
What happens? Half dozen or moro
inch want every good office. and some
Of them are not fit for the positions.
but depend upon the big party ma
jority pulling them through if nomin-
ated. And this rush of inferior men,
who would ike or would take the of
fees but won't scramble for them
against men less worthy. The conse-
queLce is that some republicans vote
against the nominees or part of them,
some don't vote and many who do vote
the ticket are dissatisfied.
The minority party. on the con-
trary. having small chance to elect
best men TO run. they are .unitedly sup
ported by the party and III an occa-
sional. exceptional case one of them
gets enough republican votes to win.
And these winners. thus chosen. as a
rule, prove to be such satisfactory pub
lie servants that great many republic
cans perceive that breaking away from
an overwhelming party" sometimes is
a very good thing. and become inclined
TO do more and more of it as good OPP
portunity offers.
The lesson of all this is that the
republican party, or any other par
ty. would be better off with a
normal, probable majority of five or
three per cent of the total vote than
with one of IS per cent or more Then
Lot so many unworthy aspirants would
bob up, TO the exclusion of better men:
then. there being better nominations
and S lesst struggle for =. office. the
party Would hang together bet
ter, and there would be less of this
friction and wrangling; and. finally
by eIectiLg only a majority of the
officers of the state and the counties.
about in proportion to the majority of
voters, the public would be vastly bet
ter served.
What the republican party in Ore
gon needs. therefore-and the public
, still more-is to diminish its voting
strength by about % per cent, so that
instead of having nearly 10000 votes
out of 100000 it will have Only a little
over $4,000. Then it would be put upon
its mettle to succeed, all this back
biting and bellyaching would disap-
pear and il would succeed according to
its merits. Now, merits are minus
quantity; it seeks success merely on
its majority.
As 10 the means by which to &C.
d. complish this desirable result for the
people an dthe party, The Journal has
no suggestions TO offer 1t is something
that cannot be brought about by de-
sign. plan and program within the
party. But. fortunately. natural forces
will probably work to bring about such