East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-07-15

Who will be candidates for the
United States senate next year?
Since the people OF Oregon elect
their United States senators this ques-
ton is already agitating the public
ard considerable interest is being
taken in all parts of the state.
The direct primary law which
brings candidates before the people is
conducive of wider acquaintance be-
tween candidates and voters, and al
ready much activity on part Of pros
pective candidates is noticed.
Leading the republican candidates
for the senate will, of course, be
Charles w. Fulton, who has beld that
position for the past six years. Aside
from Mr.. Fulton's candidacy every
thing seems to "be up In the air." az
1T were. F. w. Mulkey, who was sem
ator for a few weeks last spring I'm
the interim between the terms of
Gearin and Bourne, is already in the
field on the strength of his election
last year. Judge Cake of Portland, Is
also looking anxiously at the field. T.
T. Geer OF this city, is looked upon
by many as a candidate. although Mr..
Geer declines to state definitely his
intentions. Judge Lowell, who was
eastern Oregon's choice last year, will
decline to enter the race with divid-
ed field, and the intentions OF E. L.
Smith, who was also candidate
last year, are so far sealed in his own
bosom.
So the situation is complicated and
is conceded that Fulton can beat any
of the candidates mentioned with a
divided field. But his friends are not
so sure II he has but one opponent
before the primaries. Cake and Low
ell are averse to entering the race
with divided field, but either of
them will make the race with Fulton
alone in the field, It is thought. Null
key will run anyway. He wants II
and Is willing to take chances with
divided field or single combat with
the aggressive Fulton.
Fulton. has hosts of friends through
out oregon and is young and strong.
He has made number of able fights
for Oregon interests but his difficult
ty with the president and his attitude
toward the administration disqualify
him in the minds of many. Many
people dislike Fulton simply because
they like Roosevelt and so even with
his record in favor of him, Fulton
must live down his antagonism to the
president before he can be sure of his
laurels.
As to the democratic nomination,
there is absolutely nothing definite.
1t was thought for time that Cover
nor Chamberlain would be induced to
make the race, but there is nothing
definite about this. 1t is believed that
he could secure the popular vote OF
the state for the position and the fear
that the governor would be a candi-
date caused the Oregonian and two or
three small republican papers in the
state to repudiate statement No. 1, by
which the democratic governor might
be elected senator.
Aside from the governor nobody
has been discussed.
There is an undivided sentiment al
over the state that statement No.
should be observed by cand dates fol
the legislature and the campaign will
be made perhaps on that principle II
order to eradicate any possibility o
machine politics In the election o
senator In the legislature. Senate
Fulton refused to stand for the popu
lar vote five years ago, and trustee
to the legislature. This year he mus
get acquainted with the people.